Publication
Atria Books (2015), Edition: American First, 512 pages
Description
"From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Secret Keeper and The Distant Hours, an intricately plotted, spellbinding new novel of heartstopping suspense and uncovered secrets. Living on her family's idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure. One midsummer's eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined. Decades later, Alice is living in London, having enjoyed a long successful career as an author. Theo's case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather's house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked, setting off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone yet more present than ever. A lush, atmospheric tale of intertwined destinies, this latest novel from a masterful storyteller is an enthralling, thoroughly satisfying read"-- "A suspenseful new novel from beloved and internationally bestselling author Kate Morton, author of The Secret Keeper, The Distant Hours, The Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member hubblegal
Kate Morton is known for weaving stories that span several generations so it wasn’t surprising that this was such a book also. However, there were parts that really dragged for me and I felt just weren’t necessary. But I was glad that I hung in there and stayed with the story as all those
The mysteries, and there are several of them, are complicated ones, with many red herrings leading you in erroneous directions. While the story was a very good one, I can’t say that I was riveted to the pages. The only thing that I can think of that would be the cause of that was that it seemed too drawn out for me. I became tired of some of the back stories and felt they were a bit repetitive. I enjoyed the story of Sadie Sparrow and her investigation into the cold case of the missing Theo the best. And I did enjoy seeing the solutions to each of the mysteries and how everything connected together. However, while I had to keep reading to find out what happens and admire the intricate plot, it was just an OK book for me and nothing too memorable.
I was given this book by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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“unnecessary” parts actually were eventually shown to be necessary and Morton connects all the dots expertly.The mysteries, and there are several of them, are complicated ones, with many red herrings leading you in erroneous directions. While the story was a very good one, I can’t say that I was riveted to the pages. The only thing that I can think of that would be the cause of that was that it seemed too drawn out for me. I became tired of some of the back stories and felt they were a bit repetitive. I enjoyed the story of Sadie Sparrow and her investigation into the cold case of the missing Theo the best. And I did enjoy seeing the solutions to each of the mysteries and how everything connected together. However, while I had to keep reading to find out what happens and admire the intricate plot, it was just an OK book for me and nothing too memorable.
I was given this book by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
I have enjoyed every single one of Kate Morton's books, and The Lake House is no exception. Extremely few writers have Morton's knack for interweaving multiple storylines, time periods, and characters.
Throughout the entire book the Cornish estate of Loeanneth kept me spellbound, no matter the time
Young police detective Sadie Sparrow is the perfect character to bring those secrets to light. She is an absolute terrier at digging them up... although she has a secret or two of her own that she doesn't want to share.
Pitted against young Sadie is the much older and wiser Alice (A.C.) Edevane-- a strong character no matter the age at which Morton portrays her. We see Alice's parents falling in love, and we see Alice, her parents and siblings happily ensconced in Loeanneth. At the age of sixteen Alice is already writing novels. She's such a bright, inquisitive child, and so eager to become an adult. But her world comes crashing down around her after a party at Loeanneth. Hundreds of people attended, but only one cannot be accounted for: Alice's eleven-month-old brother Theo. The infant is never seen again, and the tragedy shatters the Edevane family.
The Lake House has so many interlocking secrets and so many possible solutions to what happened to Theo-- more than enough to keep all our little grey cells hopping. We learn about all these secrets as the time period swings to and fro naturally from present day to 1911, 1933, and 1941. Kate Morton has done it again: created a world, characters, and a story that kept me fascinated from first page to last.
Throughout the entire book the Cornish estate of Loeanneth kept me spellbound, no matter the time
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period. From beloved home to neglected shell, Morton's descriptions held me in the palm of her hand because no matter the state of the place, Morton described a home that was loved, not hated. All that needed to be done was to have the secrets brought out into the light.Young police detective Sadie Sparrow is the perfect character to bring those secrets to light. She is an absolute terrier at digging them up... although she has a secret or two of her own that she doesn't want to share.
Pitted against young Sadie is the much older and wiser Alice (A.C.) Edevane-- a strong character no matter the age at which Morton portrays her. We see Alice's parents falling in love, and we see Alice, her parents and siblings happily ensconced in Loeanneth. At the age of sixteen Alice is already writing novels. She's such a bright, inquisitive child, and so eager to become an adult. But her world comes crashing down around her after a party at Loeanneth. Hundreds of people attended, but only one cannot be accounted for: Alice's eleven-month-old brother Theo. The infant is never seen again, and the tragedy shatters the Edevane family.
The Lake House has so many interlocking secrets and so many possible solutions to what happened to Theo-- more than enough to keep all our little grey cells hopping. We learn about all these secrets as the time period swings to and fro naturally from present day to 1911, 1933, and 1941. Kate Morton has done it again: created a world, characters, and a story that kept me fascinated from first page to last.
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LibraryThing member kbranfield
In Kate Morton's latest release, The Lake House, the seventy year old unsolved kidnapping of eleven month old Theo Edevane takes center stage when DC Sadie Sparrow stumbles across the family's abandoned home while out for a jog. Told from multiple points of view and through flashbacks, this
In 1933, the Edevane's annual midsummer house party is a time of heartbreak for many of the family members and cherished friends. Sixteen year old Alice, an aspiring mystery writer, has just completed her first novel and her schoolgirl crush on one of the family's gardeners is about to end in heartache. Oldest daughter Deborah's relationship with mom Eleanor is fraught with tension as they plan Deborah's upcoming wedding. Youngest daughter Clementine is a tomboy clinging tightly to childhood but she absolutely adores Theo. Longtime family friend Daffyd Llewellyn is anxious and fighting not to sink into another depression. Grandmother Constance is embittered and her relationships with all of inhabitants reflect her dour, strict nature. Parents Eleanor and Anthony are deeply in love and they are shattered by Theo's kidnapping. In the wake of Theo's unsolved disappearance, the entire family departs from the estate with no one returning for the next seventy years.
In 2003, Sadie's own personal history plays a role in her belief that Maggie Bailey did not abandon her young daughter, but with little evidence to support her theory, Sadie goes a little too far once the case is officially closed. Now trying to salvage her career, she is spending four weeks with her grandfather when her curiosity about the Edevane's abandoned estate leads her to begin an off the books investigation into the unsolved kidnapping. Stunned to discover one of the policeman from the original case is still living in the local area, she gets a firsthand look into the original file. This information, along with her discoveries from her personal research, provide her with a few theories about what happened to Theo.
Deciding she needs to take a look inside the house, Sadie contacts Alice who is now living in London where she is still writing a popular detective series. Although now in her eighties, Alice shows no signs of slowing down and she still has a keenly analytical mind. Alice is convinced she knows what happened to Theo and she is wracked with guilt over what she perceives to be her role in the events of that long ago night.
The narrative seamlessly flips back and forth in time and through different characters' points of view, the truth about the Edevane family is slowly revealed. These shifts in perspective and time periods are clearly marked but the story gets a little bogged down in superfluous details. The characters are well-developed with distinct voices and the Edevane family dynamics are quite fascinating. The revelation of long held family secrets effectively keeps readers guessing the truth about Theo's fate and Kate Morton throws in a whopper of plot twist that is as delightful as it is unexpected.
Atmospheric with plenty of family secrets, The Lake House is an intriguing mystery that I recommend to readers of police procedurals.
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perplexing mystery is brimming with history, family secrets and colorful personalities.In 1933, the Edevane's annual midsummer house party is a time of heartbreak for many of the family members and cherished friends. Sixteen year old Alice, an aspiring mystery writer, has just completed her first novel and her schoolgirl crush on one of the family's gardeners is about to end in heartache. Oldest daughter Deborah's relationship with mom Eleanor is fraught with tension as they plan Deborah's upcoming wedding. Youngest daughter Clementine is a tomboy clinging tightly to childhood but she absolutely adores Theo. Longtime family friend Daffyd Llewellyn is anxious and fighting not to sink into another depression. Grandmother Constance is embittered and her relationships with all of inhabitants reflect her dour, strict nature. Parents Eleanor and Anthony are deeply in love and they are shattered by Theo's kidnapping. In the wake of Theo's unsolved disappearance, the entire family departs from the estate with no one returning for the next seventy years.
In 2003, Sadie's own personal history plays a role in her belief that Maggie Bailey did not abandon her young daughter, but with little evidence to support her theory, Sadie goes a little too far once the case is officially closed. Now trying to salvage her career, she is spending four weeks with her grandfather when her curiosity about the Edevane's abandoned estate leads her to begin an off the books investigation into the unsolved kidnapping. Stunned to discover one of the policeman from the original case is still living in the local area, she gets a firsthand look into the original file. This information, along with her discoveries from her personal research, provide her with a few theories about what happened to Theo.
Deciding she needs to take a look inside the house, Sadie contacts Alice who is now living in London where she is still writing a popular detective series. Although now in her eighties, Alice shows no signs of slowing down and she still has a keenly analytical mind. Alice is convinced she knows what happened to Theo and she is wracked with guilt over what she perceives to be her role in the events of that long ago night.
The narrative seamlessly flips back and forth in time and through different characters' points of view, the truth about the Edevane family is slowly revealed. These shifts in perspective and time periods are clearly marked but the story gets a little bogged down in superfluous details. The characters are well-developed with distinct voices and the Edevane family dynamics are quite fascinating. The revelation of long held family secrets effectively keeps readers guessing the truth about Theo's fate and Kate Morton throws in a whopper of plot twist that is as delightful as it is unexpected.
Atmospheric with plenty of family secrets, The Lake House is an intriguing mystery that I recommend to readers of police procedurals.
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LibraryThing member flourgirl49
I guess it must just be me, but aren't all of Kate Morton's books kind of the same? - a mystery, secrets kept, an old estate in Cornwall, dual story lines between the present and the past which all come together neatly at the end - mystery solved! Everybody is happy. In addition, this book was
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about 150 pages too long, and the extremely neat tie-up at the end was simply preposterous. Nevertheless, I've read all of her books, and I finished this one. Still, I think Ms. Morton needs to branch out a little, spread her wings, try something different. Show Less
LibraryThing member librarian1204
This has to be my favorite of Kate Morton's books, so far.
Set in Cornwall, and centered around a Lake House that has been closed and empty for seventy years, there are several plot lines that all eventually tie together in the end.
Told by most of the main characters and going back and forth from
Sadie Sparrow is a police inspector who is advised to take a holiday after she leaks information to the press about a case that in her mind is not resolved.
Sadie goes to Cornwall to visit her grandfather, while she is out running she finds the abandoned lake house. Closed after the family's youngest child disappeared and was never found.
Alice Edevane, a very successful mystery writer, is 93 years old. She grew up in that Lake House and it was her brother who disappeared all those years before.
Sadie decides to look into that long ago case and eventually she will cross paths with Alice.
This will be a Book Club favorite.
Read from NetGalley.
Set in Cornwall, and centered around a Lake House that has been closed and empty for seventy years, there are several plot lines that all eventually tie together in the end.
Told by most of the main characters and going back and forth from
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1931 -2003, the story moves quickly. The descriptions of the countryside, life in the 30's are well done. Characters are detailed so well, and their depth of feelings, flesh out a plot that is wide spread but not random.Sadie Sparrow is a police inspector who is advised to take a holiday after she leaks information to the press about a case that in her mind is not resolved.
Sadie goes to Cornwall to visit her grandfather, while she is out running she finds the abandoned lake house. Closed after the family's youngest child disappeared and was never found.
Alice Edevane, a very successful mystery writer, is 93 years old. She grew up in that Lake House and it was her brother who disappeared all those years before.
Sadie decides to look into that long ago case and eventually she will cross paths with Alice.
This will be a Book Club favorite.
Read from NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member dom76
Great story. A mix of the past and present well executed. Many layers told by different characters. A bit slow at times but an enjoyable book about about finding the thruth.
LibraryThing member BookDivasReads
In the summer of 1933, Alice Edevane is 16-years-old with two sisters and an infant brother. The Edevanes live in Loeanneth, the lake house, in Cornwall. Alice is a burgeoning writer with a crush on a visiting gardener. The morning after the family's big Midsummer party, the youngest Edevane, Theo,
The Edevane household consists of father - Anthony, the mother - Eleanor, eldest daughter - Deborah, middle daughter - Alice, youngest daughter - Clementine or Clemmie, infant son - Theo, Eleanor's mother - Grandmother de Shiel, the elderly Daffyd Llewellyn - an author and former physician, and a host of servants. Mr. Llewellyn was a friend of Eleanor's father and wrote a book featuring a young Eleanor. We learn that Eleanor had a tumultuous relationship with her mother after her father's death, falls in love at first sight with Anthony Edevane, and marries him. Anthony's family is wealthy, but as the third son it is presumed he'll have to work for his living. Tragically, his parents and older brothers die on the Titanic and he and Eleanor become wealthy overnight. Although Anthony studied to become a surgeon, World War I leaves him suffering from severe shell shock and unable to control tremors in his hands. The family quite happily resides at Loeanneth until Theo disappears. Loeanneth is closed and the family moves to London. The Edevane family is destroyed by the secrets kept as much as their grief over Theo's disappearance.
In 2003, Sadie Sparrow is advised to take time off from the London police department after she commits the unpardonable sin of talking to the press about a case. She decides to visit her grandfather, Bertie, in Cornwall. Sadie's professional career hangs in the balance as she awaits a decision from administration. Her personal life is also on tenterhooks as she's been contacted by the child she gave up for adoption 14 years earlier. In an effort to ignore both situations, she decides to investigate the 70-year-old cold case relating to Theo's disappearance. Sadie contacts A.C. Edevane, a renowned mystery author, seeking questions about the Edevane family and Theo's case, but is rebuffed. Is it possible she can discover the truth after all these years? Should the secrets of the past be kept in the past?
If you couldn't tell by now, I loved The Lake House. This isn't a fast or quick read, but it is a story to be savored and well worth the time invested. I enjoyed Ms. Morton's ability to weave the stories of Constance and Anthony from the early 1900s, the Edevane family in the 1930s and 1940s, and the contemporary action taking place in 2003. Yes, there's a lot of information provided, but this is essentially a story within a story within a story, namely those of Eleanor de Shiel Edevane, Alice Edevane, and Sadie Sparrow. These stories are all linked and it is necessary to know them all in order to understand what happened, what is happening, and why. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing who did what and why. As soon as it appears an answer is found, the story takes a major turn and a new theory is presented. The Lake House is a hauntingly beautiful story about secrets, promises kept, second chances, love, family, and more wrapped in a 70-year-old mystery. If you're looking for the perfect fall read (okay the perfect read for any season), then I strongly suggest you read The Lake House. Something tells me this is going to be one book I pick up to reread every now and again.
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is missing. A search ensues, but the mystery of Theo's disappearance is never solved. Fast forward to 2003 and disgraced police detective Sadie Sparrow visits her grandfather in Cornwall. When Sadie learns about the mystery surrounding Theo Edevane's disappearance, she launches her own investigation in The Lake House by Kate Morton.The Edevane household consists of father - Anthony, the mother - Eleanor, eldest daughter - Deborah, middle daughter - Alice, youngest daughter - Clementine or Clemmie, infant son - Theo, Eleanor's mother - Grandmother de Shiel, the elderly Daffyd Llewellyn - an author and former physician, and a host of servants. Mr. Llewellyn was a friend of Eleanor's father and wrote a book featuring a young Eleanor. We learn that Eleanor had a tumultuous relationship with her mother after her father's death, falls in love at first sight with Anthony Edevane, and marries him. Anthony's family is wealthy, but as the third son it is presumed he'll have to work for his living. Tragically, his parents and older brothers die on the Titanic and he and Eleanor become wealthy overnight. Although Anthony studied to become a surgeon, World War I leaves him suffering from severe shell shock and unable to control tremors in his hands. The family quite happily resides at Loeanneth until Theo disappears. Loeanneth is closed and the family moves to London. The Edevane family is destroyed by the secrets kept as much as their grief over Theo's disappearance.
In 2003, Sadie Sparrow is advised to take time off from the London police department after she commits the unpardonable sin of talking to the press about a case. She decides to visit her grandfather, Bertie, in Cornwall. Sadie's professional career hangs in the balance as she awaits a decision from administration. Her personal life is also on tenterhooks as she's been contacted by the child she gave up for adoption 14 years earlier. In an effort to ignore both situations, she decides to investigate the 70-year-old cold case relating to Theo's disappearance. Sadie contacts A.C. Edevane, a renowned mystery author, seeking questions about the Edevane family and Theo's case, but is rebuffed. Is it possible she can discover the truth after all these years? Should the secrets of the past be kept in the past?
If you couldn't tell by now, I loved The Lake House. This isn't a fast or quick read, but it is a story to be savored and well worth the time invested. I enjoyed Ms. Morton's ability to weave the stories of Constance and Anthony from the early 1900s, the Edevane family in the 1930s and 1940s, and the contemporary action taking place in 2003. Yes, there's a lot of information provided, but this is essentially a story within a story within a story, namely those of Eleanor de Shiel Edevane, Alice Edevane, and Sadie Sparrow. These stories are all linked and it is necessary to know them all in order to understand what happened, what is happening, and why. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing who did what and why. As soon as it appears an answer is found, the story takes a major turn and a new theory is presented. The Lake House is a hauntingly beautiful story about secrets, promises kept, second chances, love, family, and more wrapped in a 70-year-old mystery. If you're looking for the perfect fall read (okay the perfect read for any season), then I strongly suggest you read The Lake House. Something tells me this is going to be one book I pick up to reread every now and again.
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LibraryThing member SilversReviews
Alice the author and sister of Theo and Sadie the detective.
Would these two women be able to find information about the disappearance 70 years ago of 11-month old Theo if they worked together on this cold case even though the police had not been able to find one clue or to find Theo?
Alice had
I LOVED exploring the estate and finding the clues of the case with Sadie and finding things that were left by the family. I would have loved to live on the estate as well as to be a part of the investigating.
THE LAKE HOUSE goes back and forth in time and is filled with mystery, hidden passageways, intrigue, family secrets, and all of Ms. Morton's wonderful, creative writing skills, marvelous story lines, and descriptions that get better each time you turn the page and that put you right at the scene or definitely wanting to be there with the characters.
Ms. Morton knows how to keep her readers interested and not want the book to end. Twists and turns seem to be Ms. Morton's trademark along with marvelous, surprise endings. And what a spectacular ending THE LAKE HOUSE has. You will love it!!
Ms. Morton had me hooked on her book THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN, and THE LAKE HOUSE is going to be right up there with it as one of my all-time favorites. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Would these two women be able to find information about the disappearance 70 years ago of 11-month old Theo if they worked together on this cold case even though the police had not been able to find one clue or to find Theo?
Alice had
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lived the nightmare of her brother's disappearance, and Sadie wanted to investigate the years-old case after she found the sprawling, abandoned estate of the Edevane family.I LOVED exploring the estate and finding the clues of the case with Sadie and finding things that were left by the family. I would have loved to live on the estate as well as to be a part of the investigating.
THE LAKE HOUSE goes back and forth in time and is filled with mystery, hidden passageways, intrigue, family secrets, and all of Ms. Morton's wonderful, creative writing skills, marvelous story lines, and descriptions that get better each time you turn the page and that put you right at the scene or definitely wanting to be there with the characters.
Ms. Morton knows how to keep her readers interested and not want the book to end. Twists and turns seem to be Ms. Morton's trademark along with marvelous, surprise endings. And what a spectacular ending THE LAKE HOUSE has. You will love it!!
Ms. Morton had me hooked on her book THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN, and THE LAKE HOUSE is going to be right up there with it as one of my all-time favorites. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member BooksCooksLooks
I think this is my third book by Ms. Morton and I have a couple sitting on my “to read when I get some spare time” shelves. I was very happy to have the opportunity to read The Lake House and I was not disappointed. It’s a story that goes back and forth in time – this does drive me a bit
It all begins in 1933 when a young child goes missing at a family’s beloved lake house. That crisis and the War following so closely after cause the Edevanes to abandon the house. It’s only rediscovered in the present when a young woman, a detective finds herself on a leave and she goes to visit her grandfather. As she explores the surrounding countryside she finds the run down lake house and she soon is caught up in its mystery and wanting to solve it.
There were moments where the book moved a bit slowly but overall I was very intrigued by the mystery presented and the story surrounding the house of the title. Ms. Morton knows how to set her scenes so that the reader is caught up in time and place. The characters are well developed and unique. I enjoyed my visit to Cornwall – even for the bad parts.
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batty in a novel but it mostly works here – as a mystery from the past is explored in the present.It all begins in 1933 when a young child goes missing at a family’s beloved lake house. That crisis and the War following so closely after cause the Edevanes to abandon the house. It’s only rediscovered in the present when a young woman, a detective finds herself on a leave and she goes to visit her grandfather. As she explores the surrounding countryside she finds the run down lake house and she soon is caught up in its mystery and wanting to solve it.
There were moments where the book moved a bit slowly but overall I was very intrigued by the mystery presented and the story surrounding the house of the title. Ms. Morton knows how to set her scenes so that the reader is caught up in time and place. The characters are well developed and unique. I enjoyed my visit to Cornwall – even for the bad parts.
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LibraryThing member celticlady53
"Cornwall, August 1933
The Rain was heavy now and the hem of her dress was splattered with mud. She'd have to hide it afterward; no one could know that she'd been out."
Thus begins this epic novel of 512 pages by bestselling author Kate Morton. Alice Edevane lives on the family estate in Cornwall,
Fast forward decades later, Alice lives in London as a successful author. Her brother's case was never solved but a detective Sadie Sparrow who is on an leave pending an investigation regarding a case that she was involved in. Staying with her grandfather in Cornwall, Sadie comes across an old abandoned estate that is in disrepair. It appears that the owners just up and left, everything left as if they still lived there. She finds out that the estate is the home of Alice Edevane when she was a child. At the same time, Sadie is battling her own issues with a case that involved a grandmother, daughter, and her child. Sadie made some decisions that
Through flashbacks, we learn about the Edevane family from Theo to Anthony, the father. Family secrets are uncovered, even though Alice wishes they were not. With Sadie's help the mysteries surrounding Loeanneth, Alice's siblings, Deborah and Clementine and parents, Eleanor and Anthony and grandmother Constance are eventually brought to light for an enjoyable novel of destinies that are linked. This is the first novel by Kate Morton that I have read, I do have others and after reading this one I will definitely be going back and reading more by this author.
The Rain was heavy now and the hem of her dress was splattered with mud. She'd have to hide it afterward; no one could know that she'd been out."
Thus begins this epic novel of 512 pages by bestselling author Kate Morton. Alice Edevane lives on the family estate in Cornwall,
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England. A very precocious and talented 16-year-old, she aspires to be an author so carries around a journal so she can record her thoughts. On the eve of Midsummer's Eve, Alice's young brother Theo disappears, never to be found. Was he kidnapped, murdered or did he get lost? No one knows, but there is a lot of speculation. This is a tragedy that all families fear especially families in the Edevane's position, moneyed and titled. Waiting for the ransom that they are sure that will come, but it does not.Fast forward decades later, Alice lives in London as a successful author. Her brother's case was never solved but a detective Sadie Sparrow who is on an leave pending an investigation regarding a case that she was involved in. Staying with her grandfather in Cornwall, Sadie comes across an old abandoned estate that is in disrepair. It appears that the owners just up and left, everything left as if they still lived there. She finds out that the estate is the home of Alice Edevane when she was a child. At the same time, Sadie is battling her own issues with a case that involved a grandmother, daughter, and her child. Sadie made some decisions that
Through flashbacks, we learn about the Edevane family from Theo to Anthony, the father. Family secrets are uncovered, even though Alice wishes they were not. With Sadie's help the mysteries surrounding Loeanneth, Alice's siblings, Deborah and Clementine and parents, Eleanor and Anthony and grandmother Constance are eventually brought to light for an enjoyable novel of destinies that are linked. This is the first novel by Kate Morton that I have read, I do have others and after reading this one I will definitely be going back and reading more by this author.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Kate Morton has done it again - her latest release, The Lake House, is an absolutely fantastic read.
I was hooked from the opening page...
1933. "Back when it first happened she'd considered confessing, and perhaps, in the beginning, she might have. She'd missed her chance though and now it was too
What happened? Who is speaking?
Morton again employs a then and now narrative from 1933 to the current 2003. (I love this format - but it keeps me up very late reading 'just one more chapter'!) One of the main characters is writer Alice Edevane, who pens "crime novels reviewers liked to describe as 'psychologically taut' and 'morally ambiguous whydunits' as much as they were whos or hows." But, the greatest mystery in Alice's life is what happened to her wee brother Theo in 1933. Alice now makes her home in London, but still owns the Edevane family's Cornwall country house, unlived in for over seventy years. Detective Sadie Sparrow is on forced leave from the London force and retreats to her grandfather's home in Cornwall. While on a run, she stumbles across the abandoned estate deep in the woods.
Delicious, delicious premise!
Morton transports us back to 1933, a time of innocence, a time of stricter social mores, a time where duty and responsibility took precedence, a time where 'things' were kept quiet and secrets were born. Morton's description of the country estate, Loeanneth, the rooms, the halls, the grounds - and the lake house, were vivid and detailed, creating a rich backdrop for the events that take place. And in seventy years, we see the estate through the eyes of Sadie. The grounds seem to echo and exude the memories of the family and its past glory. "Something niggled about this place. An odd feeling had come over her since she'd climbed through the gate, an inexplicable sense of things being not quite right."
The characters were just as richly drawn. I had a strong mental image of every character, no matter how minor their role. (I must admit to Alice being my favourite.)
And then there's the plotting. Brilliant. The past is slowly revealed in the 1933 chapters, with bits and pieces being added as the book progresses. Morton has the reader thinking one way, then changes direction with each new revelation added. In the present, that same past is being just as slowly uncovered. The reader is lucky enough to be privy to both stories - we know more that Alice and Sadie. Or do we? I was quite sure I could predict where and what the endgame would be - and I'm happy to say I was wrong. Along with the intensely intricate plot Morton has woven, a secondary theme of mothers and motherhood is explored.
As Sadie says..."there was nothing as thrilling as unravelling a puzzle, particularly one like this..." The Lake House is absolutely, positively recommended - it's one of my fave reads for 2015.
I was hooked from the opening page...
1933. "Back when it first happened she'd considered confessing, and perhaps, in the beginning, she might have. She'd missed her chance though and now it was too
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late. Too much had happened: the search parties, the policemen, the articles in the newspapers pleading for information. There was no one she could tell, no way to fix it, no way they would ever forgive her. The only thing left was to bury the evidence."What happened? Who is speaking?
Morton again employs a then and now narrative from 1933 to the current 2003. (I love this format - but it keeps me up very late reading 'just one more chapter'!) One of the main characters is writer Alice Edevane, who pens "crime novels reviewers liked to describe as 'psychologically taut' and 'morally ambiguous whydunits' as much as they were whos or hows." But, the greatest mystery in Alice's life is what happened to her wee brother Theo in 1933. Alice now makes her home in London, but still owns the Edevane family's Cornwall country house, unlived in for over seventy years. Detective Sadie Sparrow is on forced leave from the London force and retreats to her grandfather's home in Cornwall. While on a run, she stumbles across the abandoned estate deep in the woods.
Delicious, delicious premise!
Morton transports us back to 1933, a time of innocence, a time of stricter social mores, a time where duty and responsibility took precedence, a time where 'things' were kept quiet and secrets were born. Morton's description of the country estate, Loeanneth, the rooms, the halls, the grounds - and the lake house, were vivid and detailed, creating a rich backdrop for the events that take place. And in seventy years, we see the estate through the eyes of Sadie. The grounds seem to echo and exude the memories of the family and its past glory. "Something niggled about this place. An odd feeling had come over her since she'd climbed through the gate, an inexplicable sense of things being not quite right."
The characters were just as richly drawn. I had a strong mental image of every character, no matter how minor their role. (I must admit to Alice being my favourite.)
And then there's the plotting. Brilliant. The past is slowly revealed in the 1933 chapters, with bits and pieces being added as the book progresses. Morton has the reader thinking one way, then changes direction with each new revelation added. In the present, that same past is being just as slowly uncovered. The reader is lucky enough to be privy to both stories - we know more that Alice and Sadie. Or do we? I was quite sure I could predict where and what the endgame would be - and I'm happy to say I was wrong. Along with the intensely intricate plot Morton has woven, a secondary theme of mothers and motherhood is explored.
As Sadie says..."there was nothing as thrilling as unravelling a puzzle, particularly one like this..." The Lake House is absolutely, positively recommended - it's one of my fave reads for 2015.
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LibraryThing member Alphawoman
I shed tears at the end even though I suspected the twist it was still very satisfying and out came the tissue. The same type formula she uses, entwining the past and present bringing each to a conclusion. I am not sure which of Kate's books I enjoyed most maybe the first one just because it was
I was on the hold list at the library, number five I believe, and I had a slew of books in a pile to read. It's due back Tuesday and I read it in a motivated frenzy.
Hope the next reader enjoys it as much as I did but has more time to savor an excellent plot and worthy characters in a magical tale.
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the gateway to the other three and now the 5th. Each one holds certain charm.I was on the hold list at the library, number five I believe, and I had a slew of books in a pile to read. It's due back Tuesday and I read it in a motivated frenzy.
Hope the next reader enjoys it as much as I did but has more time to savor an excellent plot and worthy characters in a magical tale.
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LibraryThing member mchwest
Oh my, I'm finally finished with this wonderful book. I have always loved everything written by Kate Morton and I loved this too but it took me forever to finish it. I do believe I lagged in the middle because it was drawn out but I don't think it was Kate's writing that made it lag. I think I just
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had one of those times I couldn't get myself to sit down and read, sometimes that happens. Anyone that reads her stuff will read this quickly and love it and be sad, as am I, we have to wait another year for her next! Show Less
LibraryThing member c.archer
When I was younger, I was crazy about Gothic mystery/romance novels. They were so readable and filled with intrigue. I quite gobbled them up and fed my curious nature by guessing how they would end. There were always suspicious characters, mysterious settings, and twists and turns, but in the end,
This is not a book that takes off with a bang, in fact, it's more of a slow burn with lots of pages of introductions to various characters moving back and forth in time from more recent years to as far back as the early 1900's. The plot revolves around the mysterious, but never solved disappearance of a baby from the lake home of a prominent family in 1933 Cornwall, England. The event was distressing enough that the family left and never returned to live in the home. A young detective discovers the vacant home in the woods during a run with her granddad's dogs. She has come to visit him in Cornwall to put some distance between herself and a case in which she has gone against her supervisor and passed on information to a reporter. Now she runs the risk of an investigation and discovery that would very likely make her lose her job. She can't shut off her investigative curiosity though, and becomes intrigued by the home's history and the cold case of the missing child.
The build up might be a bit slow to readers who don't have a bit of patience and curiosity themselves, but they would be making a big mistake to assume that the book doesn't provide a real roller coaster of possibilities in the solving of this case. I, along with the detective, found myself with potential solutions that each seemed to dissolve when a new tidbit of information became know. Ms. Morton has a wonderful way of giving you just enough hints to think you've figured things out before the protagonist, only to find out that there is another possibility. Through her talented style, I became totally absorbed in the mystery and had to know the end.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Kate Morton's previous novels. It will not disappoint you. If you enjoy amateur detecting, it will also provide much entertainment. The ending will satisfy most readers, but will provide one final surprise.
I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title.
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there was finally a conclusion and an answer to the mystery. The Lake House is like a modern take on those Gothic novels and just as magnetic to someone like me who loves to try to solve the mystery .This is not a book that takes off with a bang, in fact, it's more of a slow burn with lots of pages of introductions to various characters moving back and forth in time from more recent years to as far back as the early 1900's. The plot revolves around the mysterious, but never solved disappearance of a baby from the lake home of a prominent family in 1933 Cornwall, England. The event was distressing enough that the family left and never returned to live in the home. A young detective discovers the vacant home in the woods during a run with her granddad's dogs. She has come to visit him in Cornwall to put some distance between herself and a case in which she has gone against her supervisor and passed on information to a reporter. Now she runs the risk of an investigation and discovery that would very likely make her lose her job. She can't shut off her investigative curiosity though, and becomes intrigued by the home's history and the cold case of the missing child.
The build up might be a bit slow to readers who don't have a bit of patience and curiosity themselves, but they would be making a big mistake to assume that the book doesn't provide a real roller coaster of possibilities in the solving of this case. I, along with the detective, found myself with potential solutions that each seemed to dissolve when a new tidbit of information became know. Ms. Morton has a wonderful way of giving you just enough hints to think you've figured things out before the protagonist, only to find out that there is another possibility. Through her talented style, I became totally absorbed in the mystery and had to know the end.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Kate Morton's previous novels. It will not disappoint you. If you enjoy amateur detecting, it will also provide much entertainment. The ending will satisfy most readers, but will provide one final surprise.
I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title.
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LibraryThing member SquirrelHead
The very beginning of this book was slow going for me. After reading and enjoying Morton’s first book, The House at Riverton, I was expecting to be caught up immediately. After all, the setting is Cornwall, it’s a multi-generational story line and it’s a mystery. I love all of those things. I
The Edevane family and London detective link up to tell a story through two different timelines. It’s a tapestry, the story threading through and told in varying perspectives as you hear 16 year old Alice Edevane’s story, then Alice looking back over 70 years where she is an established mystery writer living in London. You hear the mother, Eleanor’s back story and learn about her youthful days and then the sadness of her life after the war.
The main focus is the young son of the Edevane family, 11 month old Theo Edevane. Sometime during the Midsummer party young Theo disappears. As I read along it wasn’t clear if Theo was murdered, killed accidentally, kidnapped or perhaps just wandered away to be lost in the surrounding woods or the lake, his body never found. Obviously the family is shattered and overcome with grief. After a police investigation they move back to London and never return to the Lake House again.
Now in 2003, DC Sadie Sparrow has a backstory of her own but suffice it to say she ends up at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. She is on enforced leave from the Metropolitan Police Department and must while away her time in the country until she is allowed to return. So she runs….she runs as much as she can, one day running into the brambles and trees that surround Loennaeth. The house was abandoned in 1933, furniture still in the original placement, a cup and saucer sitting on a table where it was left 70 years ago, dust covering a life that was simply abandoned. Being a copper Sadie wants to investigate this cold case and she starts a personal inquiry.
From there on out you read about the family secrets each sibling and parent has. There are many twists in the story and I can say I never saw the ending as a possibility. In some ways the ending was very cool but in others, it’s too neatly wrapped up for all of the characters. I’m on the fence about what I would have liked to see as an ending. Nonetheless I enjoyed the book and will be reading more of Kate Morton’s work.
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persevered through the first chapter set in 1933 and learned about the estate Loennaeth, the Edevane family and the Midsummer party. After your introduction to the main characters we jump to 2003 and meet Detective Constable Sadie Sparrow in London. The Edevane family and London detective link up to tell a story through two different timelines. It’s a tapestry, the story threading through and told in varying perspectives as you hear 16 year old Alice Edevane’s story, then Alice looking back over 70 years where she is an established mystery writer living in London. You hear the mother, Eleanor’s back story and learn about her youthful days and then the sadness of her life after the war.
The main focus is the young son of the Edevane family, 11 month old Theo Edevane. Sometime during the Midsummer party young Theo disappears. As I read along it wasn’t clear if Theo was murdered, killed accidentally, kidnapped or perhaps just wandered away to be lost in the surrounding woods or the lake, his body never found. Obviously the family is shattered and overcome with grief. After a police investigation they move back to London and never return to the Lake House again.
Now in 2003, DC Sadie Sparrow has a backstory of her own but suffice it to say she ends up at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. She is on enforced leave from the Metropolitan Police Department and must while away her time in the country until she is allowed to return. So she runs….she runs as much as she can, one day running into the brambles and trees that surround Loennaeth. The house was abandoned in 1933, furniture still in the original placement, a cup and saucer sitting on a table where it was left 70 years ago, dust covering a life that was simply abandoned. Being a copper Sadie wants to investigate this cold case and she starts a personal inquiry.
From there on out you read about the family secrets each sibling and parent has. There are many twists in the story and I can say I never saw the ending as a possibility. In some ways the ending was very cool but in others, it’s too neatly wrapped up for all of the characters. I’m on the fence about what I would have liked to see as an ending. Nonetheless I enjoyed the book and will be reading more of Kate Morton’s work.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
This mystery begins in the summer of 1933, when the Edevane family is celebrating with their traditional Midsummer party at their country residence called Loeanneth (a name meaning Lake House) in Cornwall, England. Tragedy strikes however, when little eleven-month old Theo goes missing. Search
Seventy years later, Sadie Sparrow, on leave from her work in London as a police detective after having committed a job-endangering indiscretion, is visiting with her grandfather Bertie in Cornwall. While going on her morning run, she stumbles upon Loeanneth, and becomes fascinated by it, and by the unsolved crime that left it abandoned and shuttered. She tries to contact Alice, now at 86 known as mystery writer A.C. Edevane, but Alice wants to protect her secrets. Indeed, almost all of the characters have secrets, which only unfold gradually as the story moves back and forth in time.
Discussion: I so loved the ending of this story that it tipped my feelings about the whole book. Although it seems very sinister most of the way through, and is not without a great deal of tragedy and sadness, the ending was as wonderful as it could be under the circumstances, and I could not help shedding tears.
In addition, I once more was given cause to admire the author for the elaborate way in which she kept readers guessing as to what really happened.
Most of the characters were quite likable, another important part of a novel for me. But interestingly, some of them were not at first; we had to get to know them, which of course wasn’t easy in light of the intentional misdirection and obfuscation.
Evaluation: I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would when I began it. Readers are rewarded for making their way through the elaborately constructed mystery with an ending that will satisfy most.
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parties come up empty-handed, and the family - parents Eleanor and Anthony, and Theo’s siblings Alice, Deborah, and Clemmie (Clementine) - is never the same.Seventy years later, Sadie Sparrow, on leave from her work in London as a police detective after having committed a job-endangering indiscretion, is visiting with her grandfather Bertie in Cornwall. While going on her morning run, she stumbles upon Loeanneth, and becomes fascinated by it, and by the unsolved crime that left it abandoned and shuttered. She tries to contact Alice, now at 86 known as mystery writer A.C. Edevane, but Alice wants to protect her secrets. Indeed, almost all of the characters have secrets, which only unfold gradually as the story moves back and forth in time.
Discussion: I so loved the ending of this story that it tipped my feelings about the whole book. Although it seems very sinister most of the way through, and is not without a great deal of tragedy and sadness, the ending was as wonderful as it could be under the circumstances, and I could not help shedding tears.
In addition, I once more was given cause to admire the author for the elaborate way in which she kept readers guessing as to what really happened.
Most of the characters were quite likable, another important part of a novel for me. But interestingly, some of them were not at first; we had to get to know them, which of course wasn’t easy in light of the intentional misdirection and obfuscation.
Evaluation: I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would when I began it. Readers are rewarded for making their way through the elaborately constructed mystery with an ending that will satisfy most.
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LibraryThing member khiemstra631
This was the first of Kate Morton's books that I have read, and I loved, loved, loved it. The book tells the story of the Edevane family and their lake house in Cornwall. The youngest child, Theo, disappeared from his room one night after a Summer Solstice party thrown by his parents in 1933. The
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crime was never solved, and 70 years later, Sadie Sparrow, a young police investigator reopens the investigation. A parallel modern story concerning a mother who appears to have abandoned child forms a parallel story. Great writing and an unusual take on a closed room mystery. Show Less
LibraryThing member arielfl
I will always pick up a Kate Morton book. I love her twisty Gothic tales of family secrets. In her latest book the Edevane family in the 1930's is hosting their Midsummer Eve party when their infant son goes missing. Meanwhile in the present we are introduced to disgraced cop Sadie Sparrow who has
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more than a passing interest in the Edevane family estate. The two stories weave together until they cumulate in the perfect conclusion. Morton does a flawless job of interweaving the events of the past with the present drawing them ever closer until the end. Her wrap ups are always fantastic and she never leaves a plot point danging. It's like all of the balls that have been juggling in the air are caught and the performer takes a bow. If I have one small complaint, it's that she relies a lot on coincidences. At times you have to suspend your disbelief and she just enjoy the story. Her strong suit is fantastic tale telling and the satisfaction you get when you finish her books and feel that everyone has reached their just conclusion. Show Less
LibraryThing member terran
This was the perfect book to read as my last book of the year. It was a fast read with lots of twists and turns, secrets and a neatly wrapped ending. A disgraced London police detective escapes to Cornwall to avoid being fired. While visiting her grandfather in Cornwall, she discovers a fascinating
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abandoned home with secrets that bring out her detecting instincts. The time frame moves back and forth, but it's fairly easy to follow the action and characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member haymaai
I was anxious to read the new book by Kate Morton, which, after some wait, became available through the public library e-book withdrawal system. The story transcended a couple of time periods from the present to the 1930s, with flashbacks offering several points of view throughout. Morton seemed to
Otherwise, I must say that Morton cleverly portrayed an ambitious plot consisting of three simultaneous stories which all wove together well by the end. Sadie Sparrow, who experienced her own personal issues regarding motherhood, was a young police investigator who was forced to go on leave due to her indiscretions regarding a child abandonment case in London. She went to Cornwell, England where she stayed with her grandfather Bertie. While there, she one day stumbled upon the abandoned Edevane estate and became involved in a 70 year old unsolved mystery regarding the disappearance of eleven month old, Theo Edevane. Theo’s sister, Alice Edevane, once a young, aspiring, but precocious author, was depicted as an elderly, well-established mystery novelist living in London, and over the years she wrestled with her own suspicions about what might have occurred seventy years ago. Through Sadie’s persistence, no stone was left unturned, and a very tidy resolution awaited the reader’s perseverance at the end.
Not having read Kate Morton’s books before, I’m now anxious to read ‘The Secret Keeper’ which had even further acclaims and was professed to be a wonderful story.
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adeptly move from one period to the next, drawing the reader into the story with intimate details surrounding each event that occured, perhaps excruciatingly so, in which I sometimes felt like the author was toying with me, trying to slow down the pace with exacting detail, when I just longed to get the story moving along. At times the deluge of description was too much, and my interest did wane a bit.Otherwise, I must say that Morton cleverly portrayed an ambitious plot consisting of three simultaneous stories which all wove together well by the end. Sadie Sparrow, who experienced her own personal issues regarding motherhood, was a young police investigator who was forced to go on leave due to her indiscretions regarding a child abandonment case in London. She went to Cornwell, England where she stayed with her grandfather Bertie. While there, she one day stumbled upon the abandoned Edevane estate and became involved in a 70 year old unsolved mystery regarding the disappearance of eleven month old, Theo Edevane. Theo’s sister, Alice Edevane, once a young, aspiring, but precocious author, was depicted as an elderly, well-established mystery novelist living in London, and over the years she wrestled with her own suspicions about what might have occurred seventy years ago. Through Sadie’s persistence, no stone was left unturned, and a very tidy resolution awaited the reader’s perseverance at the end.
Not having read Kate Morton’s books before, I’m now anxious to read ‘The Secret Keeper’ which had even further acclaims and was professed to be a wonderful story.
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LibraryThing member sbenne3
I love everything by Kate Morton and this is no exception - historical fiction with multiple characters past and present and magical settings - what is not to like!! If you like Morton's other books get this right away. I loved the story and was obsessed with finishing - can't wait for the next
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one!! Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
While not one of her best, it is still a lovely novel and what fans have come to expect from Kate Morton.
LibraryThing member nicx27
The Lake House is right up there with the best of Kate Morton's works. Set in Cornwall, it follows disgraced policewoman, Sadie Sparrow, who followed her instincts and wound up in trouble. Having escaped to her grandfather's house in Cornwall, she stumbles across an abandoned house, The Lake House,
It's a beguiling story and, although it was a bit of a slow-burner as the story was set up, I was completely hooked from the beginning. The story twisted and turned and just when I thought I knew what had happened I was surprised by another turn of events. The end tied up a bit too neatly but I liked it anyway. Kate Morton is a brilliant storyteller, weaving thread after thread together, going backwards and forwards, until it all makes sense. I absolutely loved this book, its characters and the magical setting.
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and finds out about the mystery of a child who went missing there in the 1930s. She decides to investigate and so we follow her as she does so, along with Alice in the current day, and Alice and her family in the 30s. It's a beguiling story and, although it was a bit of a slow-burner as the story was set up, I was completely hooked from the beginning. The story twisted and turned and just when I thought I knew what had happened I was surprised by another turn of events. The end tied up a bit too neatly but I liked it anyway. Kate Morton is a brilliant storyteller, weaving thread after thread together, going backwards and forwards, until it all makes sense. I absolutely loved this book, its characters and the magical setting.
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LibraryThing member gpangel
The Lake House by Kate Morton is a 2015 Atria publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
While Kate Morton has written several highly praised novels, I’m embarrassed to admit this is the first of her books I have read. So, I had
Alice, a successful mystery writer and Sadie Sparrow, a detective visiting her grandfather while on leave, have their lives intersect in the most unlikely of ways, but it almost feels like fate is working overtime because the odd circumstances that place them together will unravel years of secrets, lies, guilt, and will ultimately lead to the truth about a seventy year old cold case.
Seventy years ago, Alice’s youngest sibling, Theo, disappeared, and has been presumed dead. But, his body was never found, and no one was ever charged with a crime. The lake house was abandoned just as it was, nothing moved or packed away, and has stood empty for decades, when Sadie happens upon it.
Sadie is in some hot water at work and her partner is trying to keep her from being fired. So, he suggested she lay low for a while. But, what caused her to make such a huge career blunder, is a distraction from her past.
With nothing to keep her mind busy, Sophie begins to delve into Theo’s disappearance. What she uncovers is absolutely astounding….
I love it when a mystery novel is written in a literary prose, and this story certainly has that advantage, but in the beginning the story was sort of disjointed and moved very slowly. The truth is, nothing all that exciting comes to pass until the half way mark, when all that came before begins to take shape. From that point on, the story became so absorbing, I couldn’t stop reading and found myself still awake at one a.m., totally spellbound.
This is such a compelling story, which goes far beyond the initial mystery that brings Alice and Sadie together. They don’t write enough of these types of stories anymore, which is sad. Although there are heartbreaking elements to the tale, the ending is simply perfect.
I highly recommend this story to those who love historical mysteries, contemporary fiction, and great story telling.
While Kate Morton has written several highly praised novels, I’m embarrassed to admit this is the first of her books I have read. So, I had
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no idea what to expect when I started reading this one, but I had a feeling I was going to like it. Alice, a successful mystery writer and Sadie Sparrow, a detective visiting her grandfather while on leave, have their lives intersect in the most unlikely of ways, but it almost feels like fate is working overtime because the odd circumstances that place them together will unravel years of secrets, lies, guilt, and will ultimately lead to the truth about a seventy year old cold case.
Seventy years ago, Alice’s youngest sibling, Theo, disappeared, and has been presumed dead. But, his body was never found, and no one was ever charged with a crime. The lake house was abandoned just as it was, nothing moved or packed away, and has stood empty for decades, when Sadie happens upon it.
Sadie is in some hot water at work and her partner is trying to keep her from being fired. So, he suggested she lay low for a while. But, what caused her to make such a huge career blunder, is a distraction from her past.
With nothing to keep her mind busy, Sophie begins to delve into Theo’s disappearance. What she uncovers is absolutely astounding….
I love it when a mystery novel is written in a literary prose, and this story certainly has that advantage, but in the beginning the story was sort of disjointed and moved very slowly. The truth is, nothing all that exciting comes to pass until the half way mark, when all that came before begins to take shape. From that point on, the story became so absorbing, I couldn’t stop reading and found myself still awake at one a.m., totally spellbound.
This is such a compelling story, which goes far beyond the initial mystery that brings Alice and Sadie together. They don’t write enough of these types of stories anymore, which is sad. Although there are heartbreaking elements to the tale, the ending is simply perfect.
I highly recommend this story to those who love historical mysteries, contemporary fiction, and great story telling.
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LibraryThing member smik
Where do I begin? I suspect this will remain at the top of my "best for 2016" list for a very long time.
The author cleverly weaves a number of strands of mystery together. It is not just what happened on Midsummer's Eve at the Edevane's country house, Leoanneth in 1933, but what actually happened
The stories are told so cleverly that you feel there is always something new to learn. The characters are so well drawn but even then some are wrapped in mystery. There are red herrings galore and just when you think you have it all worked out you realise there is something else to consider.
The author cleverly weaves a number of strands of mystery together. It is not just what happened on Midsummer's Eve at the Edevane's country house, Leoanneth in 1933, but what actually happened
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to Alice Edevane's father in World War One to give him recurrent nightmares and to make him a man who is dangerous to his own children. And then there is what Sadie Sparrow actually did to cause her to be sent on an enforced holiday.The stories are told so cleverly that you feel there is always something new to learn. The characters are so well drawn but even then some are wrapped in mystery. There are red herrings galore and just when you think you have it all worked out you realise there is something else to consider.
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Awards
Australian Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — General Fiction — 2016)
BookPeople Booksellers' Choice Award (Shortlist — 2016)
This Mystery is Amazing! (#4 — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-10-22
Physical description
512 p.; 9 inches
ISBN
9781451649321
Other editions
The Lake House: A Novel by Kate Morton (Hardcover)
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