Has anyone read any of Kate Morton's other books? Are they similar or different to the tone/themes explored in this one?
Created: 07/14/13
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The only other one I've read was The House at Riverton. It was equally well done, set in post WWI England. Like The Secret Keeper, the plot revolved around family secrets and gradual revelations. I think maybe there was a bit darker feel to it when compared to The Secret Keeper. I'd give the edge to The Secret Keeper for me, personally, since I really liked the aspect of someone investigating their past, finding out there's a part of their parent's past they never suspected. There's a bit of that in The House at Riverton, but it's a reporter vs. a family member, so the feel is different.
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While I enjoyed "The House at Riverton (the only other of Morton's books I have read)," I did not find it as compelling a read as "The Secret Keeper." I felt that "Secret Keeper" was not the same old gothic plot. I liked the contemporary setting, the WW II setting, the flashbacks, and the characters.
Join Date: 04/23/11
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I've only read The House at Riverton thus far and I really liked it, but The Secret Keeper completely outshone it. This story seemed much more complex and twisty. Kate Morton's skills as a writer are obviously growing; I can't wait to read her past books and I can't wait to see what she has planned for the next book.
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I love Kate Morton's writing. I have read one other book of hers and I was not disappointed at all with this book. She captured my interest from the beginning and held my interest throughout the book. I couldn't lay it down. I will be reading her other books.
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I read The Forgotten Garden for another book club and loved it. When I started The Secret Keeper, I didn't like it as much - it seemed a bit more like a love story, in spite of the mystery angle of Laurel's investigation - but by the time I finished it, I loved it too. I think Kate Morton draws things out a bit too much - both books could have been a little shorter - but that isn't a major criticism. I have her other two books but haven't started them yet.
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When I read House at Riverton I thought it was a great book, but I followed with Kate Morton's Forgotten Garden and was disappointed. The second book made me think she may be another formula writer -- with the same story theme each time, but different setting and characters. The Secret Keeper followed the same concept of covering several generations of women however, this one was a nice surprise in the end. Morton does take us on a journey with much too much descriptive imagery that threatens to lose the reader through much of the first half of the book. Yet, once the main character was revealed as questionable if not weak, and various plot lines were introduced, the story became riveting. The surprise ending tackled me and I was certainly down with the book through the final chapters.
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I've started the Secret Keeper and am at the same time listening to The House at Riverton. I have found that in both books that it's hard to follow what's going on in the beginning. I don't feel that she gives enough information...everything is sketchy which makes it difficult to get into. Anyone else find this? Also the audio for House at Riverton has a lot of sketchy jumping back and forth in the beginning with "letters, notes or diary entries". When I pulled out the book to re-read that first part, it was not in the hard copy. What's that all about?
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This is the third book by Kate Morton that I have read and she has become one of my favorite authors. I loved The Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton, but my favorite is definitely The Secret Keeper. I enjoy the character development and historical backgrounds in all the books, but I found this one to be the most unpredictable for me, loved the twist at the end!
Join Date: 07/23/13
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Read The Forgotten Garden and House At Riverton and this was my least favorite. I like the WW2 setting and am familiar with the skipping back and forth in time. But until the last 10 pages I was sort of disappointed in both the plot and characters. Seemed sluggish compared to the others.
Dorothy was ditzy and delusional in London.
I couldn't imagine why Laurel waited so long to discuss the stabbing
Kate Morton will remain on my favorite author's list but I liked her other 2 books more.
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The Distant Hours is the only other Kate Morton book I read. I loved it, but actually loved the Secret Keeper even more. I think Kate Morton is an excellent writer who draws you into her stories. With both books I ended up staying up late to finish, and then was immediately sad I finished so quickly. I definitely want to read her other books.
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I have read all four of her books--found The House at Riverton by chance and when I read The Forgotten Garden, which is probably my favorite (can't wait for a chance to reread it), I knew Kate Morton was going to be one of my favorite authors. The Distant Hours was good, and I loved The Secret Keeper, probably my second favorite. I am eager to read what she does next. Her gift for writing two or three stories in various settings simultaneously is the best thing she does, really keeping the novels moving.
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