Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #55 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-15
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
A charming mixture of love and mystery. --Lancashire Evening Post

Judy Finnigan, Richard and Judy, Channel 4
'It's a corker...probably my favourite of all the Summer Reads'

Richard Madeley, Richard and Judy, Channel 4
'It's one of the best pieces of writing on the First World War
that I've ever read...I can't think of a bad thing to say about this book'

Customer Reviews

A good read
From the very begining of this book I was hooked and I really loved it. However, I was slightly disappointed with the ending as I felt it was rushed. Would any one else agree with this? I would recommend it to others and am looking forward to reading Kate Morton's next book.

A lovely, gently mysterious read
A lovely and very enjoyable read, the sort of book it's nice to curl up on the sofa with for a few hours undisturbed on a rainy day and just immerse yourself in the mystery of the secret held by some of those at the old house called Riverton. We see the workings of an lavish home of a rich family prior to, during and after the First World War, both from the point of view of the owners, most importantly the sisters Hannah and Emmeline, and what goes on below stairs, primarily through the eyes of the main character Grace, who works as a servant at Riverton as her mother did before her.

Don't be put off as I was initially by the length, the story pans out well and the characters are interesting enough to engage the reader and the length is then not an issue, in fact I found myself thinking I could have enjoyed reading on even more. Very enjoyable, intelligent but not terribly demanding at all. Looking forward to reading her new novel 'The Forgotten Garden' next.

slow going
Like some of the other reviewers I have to agree that the book started off with good intentions but about half way through became stale, the secret and the mystery surrounding the book was a good idea, but it had a predictable disappointing ending. However all in all it was a pleasant read and it didnt put me off reading this authors second book, which in my view gives the reader everyhing this book didnt deliver.