Review:
THE CLOCKMAKER'S DAUGHTER by KATE MORTON
From the bestselling author of The House at Riverton and The Secret Keeper, Kate Morton brings us her dazzling sixth novel, The Clockmaker's Daughter.
My real name, no one remembers.
The truth about that summer, no one else knows.
In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe's life is in ruins.
Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist's sketchbook containing a drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.
Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?
Told by multiple voices across time, The Clockmaker's Daughter is a story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss. And flowing through its pages like a river, is the voice of a woman who stands outside time, whose name has been forgotten by history, but who has watched it all unfold: Birdie Bell, the clockmaker's daughter.
My real name, no one remembers.
The truth about that summer, no one else knows.
In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe's life is in ruins.
Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist's sketchbook containing a drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.
Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?
Told by multiple voices across time, The Clockmaker's Daughter is a story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss. And flowing through its pages like a river, is the voice of a woman who stands outside time, whose name has been forgotten by history, but who has watched it all unfold: Birdie Bell, the clockmaker's daughter.
Many many thanks to the publisher (and NetGalley) for a free electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
I was super excited to get my hands on an arc.
"(...) the story of a love affair and a mysterious murder that cast their shadow across generations, set in England from the 1860's until the present day" I was hooked from the very premise and I'm quite happy to let you know that the Clockmaker's Daughter didn't disappoint. Yes, I had a couple or more issue with it but I did enjoy it, more than that... I still fell in love with it.
My main issue with the book was Eloise and her-er-dull romance with Alistair. (though, dull is still an understatement). She and the romance (if you can call the thigh they share "romance") were a real bother to read. I wanted to slap her out of it most of the time from page one it was painflully clear that she didn't love him, too bad she needs 3/4 of the book to understand it. I really couldn't stand her attitude <spoiler> (what woman in her right mind lets her future mother-in-law organize her wedding from start to finish without basically getting a word it. WTF?!<)<spoiler>
Another main issue was the time lines, at times it was really confusing (and I'm used to Doctor Who and jumping timelines after all—just sayin’).
Anyway, to me real treat were the parts dedicated to Lily, Edward and their past. More than that I loved every bit of it . I really can't explain but at the end I felt like crying (and I rarely do). I felt sad on their behalf not that I was expecting an happy ending but still... The end tore my heart apart and left me with a bitter aftertaste, so much I did care.
I will be buying a paperback copy of the Clockmaker's dautgher so I can enjoy this wonderful and tear-stained read time and time again.
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