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The Secret Keeper


"An intriguing mystery, shifting between past and present." - People, 4 stars
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Did you see the ending coming?

Created: 07/09/13

Replies: 38

Posted Jul. 09, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Did you see the ending coming?

What did you think of the big twist at the end of the book? Did you see it coming?


Posted Jul. 14, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

It's funny - I did NOT see that ending coming... and it made me like the book more! There were a couple of times where I thought I knew what was coming, but the "big twist" was not it. I made some notes as I read the book but I think I left that list in the book - which I have already passed on to a sibling to read with the advice to not give up, finish the book, and don't scan the ending.


Posted Jul. 14, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pate

Join Date: 03/15/13

Posts: 36

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I loved the ending and absolutely did not see it coming at all. That really surprised me because I have read so many books and very often have it figured out ahead of time. Not this time, and that is just one of the many reasons why I loved The Secret Keeper so much!


Posted Jul. 14, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianac

Join Date: 04/02/13

Posts: 91

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Absolutely did not. I figured a few of the other issues out (like Dolly's perceived friendship with Vivien) but not the ending.


Posted Jul. 15, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I certainly did not see that coming. I was more leaning toward thinking that Dorothy had suffered a terrible trauma during the war and combined with the loss of her parents had just blocked it all out. The Dorothy Laurel knew had suffered horribly during the war but not in the way I was thinking. Sure did make me appreciate the ability of Kate Morton to tell a story.


Posted Jul. 15, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lindav

Join Date: 04/23/11

Posts: 6

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I definitely did not see it coming. I always thought that Dorothy was the children's mother all along, but when
the author switched gears, it made a lot of sense that it was Vivan, particularly when the reader knew how much she hated her husband.


Posted Jul. 15, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jeannew

Join Date: 04/23/11

Posts: 118

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I kind of did see it coming. About 2/3 of the way through the book, I suddenly started feeling that young Dolly and Dorothy the mom didn't seem like they could be the same person and the idea that it could be Vivien kind of popped into my head. I was just sure that Vivien was being abused and it made more sense that her husband would not have stopped trying to find her than that he would have bothered tracking down Dolly. It didn't detract from the end at all; in fact, it kept me racing through the book to see how it happened. The tatty white fur coat threw me off because I couldn't find a way to get it into Vivien's hands.


Posted Jul. 15, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 407

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

No way. In fact I felt a bit manipulated by the sudden twist, because I found the pace of the story as it developed a bit frustrating - lots of descriptive stuff that seemed to no purpose (in fact I still feel there were lots of rabbit trails, and I hate that). All of a sudden the last 70 pages hit and bam!


Posted Jul. 16, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JulieAB

Join Date: 07/16/13

Posts: 117

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I agree! I actually started off not really liking the book very well. I felt it was rather slow starting and some parts too long. But, then it suddenly picks up. I'm glad I stuck it out because I seriously considered moving on to something else.


Posted Jul. 16, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sandrah

Join Date: 07/18/11

Posts: 68

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Yes, but it was late enough in the book that it didn't interfere with my enjoying the story. In fact, it made perfect sense and because of it, I think I enjoyed the ending even more because it was absolutely satisfying.


Posted Jul. 16, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mariannes

Join Date: 12/17/12

Posts: 206

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I did not see the ending coming, but I usually don't. I guess my mind just doesn't work that way.


Posted Jul. 16, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
christinep

Join Date: 07/16/13

Posts: 45

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I agree with sandrah. I did not see the ending coming until the late in the book and then when I figured it out, I knew it couldn't be any other way. I give kudos to Kate Morton for the way she revealed the ending. I loved it.


Posted Jul. 16, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I'd read somewhere that there was a twist, and at some point I wondered about the two women switching places... but I couldn't make it work, forgot about it, & then was shocked at the ending after all.

This is one of those books where the ending really made it for me. My biggest issue, as others have posted, was that young Dolly and old Dorothy seemed like two completely different people all along, and I was frustrated with the author for not demonstrating how Dolly could have changed so completely. And then I hit the ending and... well, it all made perfect sense, everything clicked into place and I ended up liking the book after all.


Posted Jul. 16, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lucyb

Join Date: 03/09/12

Posts: 29

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I did suspect it but I was nearly done reading the book when it occurred to me.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
wendyf

Join Date: 05/11/11

Posts: 76

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I was very surprised by the ending. It was one of those instances where you suddenly feel that O. Henry twist right in your stomach.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Navy Mom

Join Date: 04/12/12

Posts: 294

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Like "jeannew" I felt the disconnect with the early Dolly and Dorothy the mother. But I kept looking for the defining moment that changed Dolly rather than catching on to the switch in the characters. I think the author masked the ending very well. It surprised me and I liked the book because I was surprised. The ending also made it all make sense. It's satisfying when the author brings closure and it felt good to see the two "nice" people survived.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
virginiap

Join Date: 03/01/12

Posts: 24

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

No, I did not. Like the other readers I felt that Dorothy and Dolly did not have the same basic personality and all along wondered how a person could change that much. I did not particularly like Dolly so was glad to learn that she was not really Dorothy.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
bettyt

Join Date: 05/12/11

Posts: 228

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I did not see it coming. The first part of the book was so slow I almost gave up. But I stayed with it -- there was a thread of interest there. I'm glad I did because about halfway through I got interested.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joycew

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 107

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

No, I didn't. The author pulled a big surprise, which tells you how good she is.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
robynr

Join Date: 05/31/12

Posts: 4

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Absolutely not! upon looking back there was the clue, but I didn't catch it. i think this is my favorite book of the year so far.


Posted Jul. 17, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sallyh

Join Date: 09/07/12

Posts: 142

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Nope, didn't see it. I recently read Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden, and there's quite a twist there too - she is a master of the surprise ending.


Posted Jul. 18, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
nancyd

Join Date: 07/18/13

Posts: 8

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

No I didn't at all, and I am usually pretty good at figuring out plot twists. That said I felt it was a great way to pull the story together and answer some questions I had. Those questions included "How did such a self-absorbed Dolly turn into a caring Dorothy?" Also, "If Dolly was so in love with Jimmy, how did she fall so completely for Laurel's father?"


Posted Jul. 18, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Terry R

Join Date: 12/26/11

Posts: 18

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

It began to dawn on me near the end of the book. The mother she remembered was just so very different than what unfolded. Great read... But I have to agree it was a little slow in developing!


Posted Jul. 19, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kathygant

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 14

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I did not see the ending coming in The Secret Garden nor did I see it in The Secret Keeper. Both books were page turners. I almost have to read the last 50 pages again, I read them so fast! Kate Morton is a wonderful author!


Posted Jul. 19, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
judyb

Join Date: 10/20/10

Posts: 23

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

No, I did not. I figured out that Vivien was being abused by her husband, and that was why she rejected Dorothy so coldly, and I could not believe that the very shallow and immature Dorothy could possibly be Laurel's loving mother, or that the loving mother could kill a man so easily. But I didn't put the clues together before the author revealed all. Kate Morton is a deft and gifted writer.


Posted Jul. 19, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
christineb

Join Date: 10/13/11

Posts: 120

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I did think of it halfway through the book- but then wasn't sure. I am so glad it was Vivian and was happy to find out that Jimmy had been saved. Wonderful that they both could meet people to love.


Posted Jul. 21, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
leew

Join Date: 07/18/13

Posts: 11

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I was completely surprised by the ending! I have read a few of Kate Morton's other books and knew a twist would probably come and tried to keep myself from peeking ahead::;-)::.


Posted Jul. 22, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tracyb

Join Date: 09/22/11

Posts: 102

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Not a clue! I was as surprised as most of the other readers. The time & place made for a very believable turn of events.


Posted Jul. 23, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joanp

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 102

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Not at all. Usually I'm pretty perceptive and notice clues early but this one was a real surprise. It also changed the way I imagined Dorothy's complete personality change.


Posted Jul. 24, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
billb

Join Date: 07/23/13

Posts: 5

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

Glad to see that I was not alone to be surprised by the BIG Switch. I didn't have a clue.
Best part of the book and made my perseverance worth while.
Thought it was about family secrets but never about domestic abuse even though I knew Vivian was being abused in London.


Posted Jul. 24, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianec

Join Date: 03/15/12

Posts: 22

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

No, not until just before it was officially revealed. I was relieved, to tell the truth. The character of young Dolly did not sound like Laurel's mother.


Posted Jul. 25, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jeanniet

Join Date: 06/20/13

Posts: 27

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I did not see the ending coming but I loved the twist. This is what makes the story unique and why I would definitely recommend it to my book club.


Posted Jul. 25, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marshas

Join Date: 07/09/11

Posts: 7

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I did not see it coming, but once it was revealed it made total sense. I couldn't reconcile the earlier events with the seemingly wonderful mother she was to her family.


Posted Jul. 28, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
BethD34

Join Date: 07/28/13

Posts: 16

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

I, like some others here, did see the ending coming, but not until Jimmy and Vivien began working on the play together. I worried, actually, as the end drew closer, that I was going to be wrong about my guess. She kept us waiting until the very end, didn't she?!

I was so happy with that turn of events because I strongly disliked Dorothy, yet I liked Laurel's mother quite a bit. As others mentioned earlier, it seemed like it would be an impossible task to reconcile the two.

I think the author handled the physical evidence and the personal histories/stories elegantly. It is difficult to pull off such a twist, but it was believable.


Posted Jul. 29, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothyt

Join Date: 04/10/11

Posts: 102

RE: Did you see the ending coming?

No, I didn't. It really answered my question about what had caused such a change in Dolly, to become such a great mother and woman. Her endings are one of the reasons why I like Kate Morton's work.


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