I was so excited to get a review copy of the new Kate Morton novel from NetGalley, and it did not disappoint! Do not want to post spoilers, so I will just say I highly recommended for anyone who loves a great mystery, ghost story, and/or historical fiction.

Stories within stories are told in this intricately woven tale of love and loss, light and shade. Told from multiple perspectives over more than 150 years. Beautiful, wondrous, satisfying.

I could not put this book down! It's a wonderful, mysterious story that spans generations. Little by little the story unfolds, starting with a murder and a disappearance, and then leading us through the lives of those affected and connected in both known and unknown ways. Kate Morton's writing is lyrical, her descriptions vivid. I highly recommend this story; it's one of the best I've read.

In true Kate Morton fashion, this is a mystery that spans generations but the key difference is that there are so many narrators you might need to keep a pen and paper handy. An artist's retreat to an English manor house in 1862 which began as a lark ended in tragedy with a woman dead, a love affair gone awry, a priceless pendant missing and an artist who was never quite the same again.
Fast forward through all the various owners of the manor and family members and we come to Elodie who is trying to understand her mother and also solve a puzzle which involves the contents of the artist's valise both of which will bring her to the doorstep of Birchwood Manor. We also have a quiet but persistent ghost who must now spend her time trying to guide the inhabitants of the manor. I always enjoy Kate Morton's unique combination of an interesting property, characters that draw you in and a lasting mystery that begs to be solved. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. From the beginning, it enthralled me. I've read several of Kate Morton's books, and when I was thrilled to gain an electronic copy from Net Galley. She has such a beautiful way with words. I felt myself highlighting parts that resonated with me, and making notes for the connections I made with the text or how they made me feel. That, in my opinion, is a talented author.

The Clockmaker's Daughter is a multi-generational tale told partly in first person, partly in third person. It is the story of a unique, ancient house, and the entwined stories of the people who inhabited it during a 150 year span of events. We first meet the ghost, and the intrigue begins. Who is she, and how did she get to the house to begin with? The story line goes back and forth from the realms of history to the modern world, and the author weaves a tightly woven tale of each character. The storytelling reminds me of the pendulum of a clock; it arcs back and forth until it winds down to a the end. This is such a great book - thank you Kate Morton, for writing it, and thank you Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read it.

I read this book in every spare moment of my time, and still, I was not ready for the story to be over.

For centuries, Birchwood Manor has sat at a bend in the Thames, offering a safe haven for those living inside its walls. More than 150 years after a tragic event took place at the house-- in which then-owner Edward Radcliffe’s fiancee was murdered and his priceless family heirloom stolen--a London archivist unearths some of Radcliffe’s belongings, including a sketchbook of a house and a framed photograph of a beautiful woman. Determined to figure out who the woman is and why the house feels so familiar to her, Elodie embarks on a search to uncover Radcliffe’s story and what happened on that fateful night in 1862; her journey is also one of self-discovery, as she realizes some truths about her own life in the process. As always, Morton manages to expertly weave together several characters’ points of view and their stories, which take place during different, culminating in a great “aha!” moment in the end. Reading a Morton masterpiece is always a satisfying literary experience and The Clockemaker’s Daugher is no exception!

This was a beautiful story that seamlessly wove together multiple stories and characters. I really enjoyed the narrator and it kept me guessing to the end. Because there were so many people and timelines introduced, I didn’t get really attached to anyone in the book. However, I think fans of Morton’s other stories are really going to enjoy this book!

If you are looking for a quick and breezy read you can finish in a day then forget about, The Clockmaker's Daughter is not for you. But if you want a book that gets under your skin-really consumes all your senses-then September cannot come fast enough. The Clockmaker's Daughter is a grand story that travels across several centuries and multi generations with the grace and strength of an eagle, and carries you along on its wings. Starting in 1862 at Birchwood Manor, an isolated estate on the banks of the Thames river that is the heart of the story - to present day London and a female archivist who stumbles across a photograph of a beguiling young woman that appears to be from the Victorian era-The Clockmaker's Daughter demands your attention from the first page. The plot can be hard to follow-it crisscrosses between alternating times and characters that don't seem to be related-and Kate Morton has a command of the English language few can match (don't feel bad if you need to keep a dictionary with you while reading). Filled with star crossed lovers, orphaned children, petty thieves, gifted artists, and a voice that reaches from beyond the grave to roam the mysterious Birchwood Manor-the story is a giant clock with pieces that don't seem to fit but ultimately connect to create a brilliant timepiece. The Clockmaker's Daughter is lengthy but worth every minute you spend in its sphere. Kate Morton has a resume of best sellers-The Forgotten Garden, The House at Riverton, and The Lake House-come September she will add The Clockmaker's Daughter to the list.

I’ve been a huge Kate Morton fan ever since I discovered The Distant Hours several years ago. I quickly read the two novels before that and then have waited not so patiently for every release since so when I got the opportunity to read her newest, I was over the moon. And this may be where my high expectations got me in to trouble.

The Clockmaker’s Daughter is structured so differently from Morton’s other work and I’m curious what led to that decision. I’m all in favor of writers challenging themselves. However, in this case—and it pains me to say it—it didn’t work.

Like her other work, we get past-present storylines revolving around a mystery. Unlike her other work, there are multiple narrators and here’s where it got tricky. The timeline shifted around as much as the narrators, which made shifting between past and present jarring and at times confusing. There’s also one narrator who readers will either find intriguing or gimmicky. I was intrigued at first but found it didn’t work for me by the end.

This may also be because I found less of a connection between the present narrator Elodie and the past narrators. Elodie’s lackluster engagement really detracted from my enjoyment of her storyline. She so clearly did not want to marry this guy and I didn’t understand why she was going along with it. I was annoyed with her for using the mystery as an excuse for not dealing with her life. But that could just be me.

Morton is a gifted writer and I enjoyed seeing the way she crafted her sentences and built the plot, just as usual. The Clockmaker’s Daughter has some interesting things to say about class, privilege, and the things we do to survive.

There was a neat reveal or two along the way as the mystery unfolded. When we ultimately learned what happened, I was both horrified and let down. It seemed so utterly ordinary—therein lay the horror—but it also didn’t entirely hold up.

If you’re a Morton fan, go in with low expectations and you may be pleasantly surprised. This may have been a misstep for me but I still look forward to whatever she has for us next.

I was so excited for a new Kate Morton book because I just love her writing, but I must admit I am underwhelmed with this book. Though Morton has a wonderful way with words, this book had so many characters with similar "voices" and so many time periods that I was having trouble knowing who was narrating and which "story" I was reading about. While there were some really engaging parts, a lot of the book rambled on. I found the book easy to put down and difficult to pick back up...and I only kept on because I like this author.

This is a literary tapestry. It has been woven with care, intertwining lives and emotions over time and places to create a marvelous whole for the reader. The mysterious muse with no name and the archivist gone rouge were my favorite characters. I love how the whole experience starts with incorrectly stored archival material (a valise and a sketchbook). These items spur a young archivist's curiosity and we are off on another Kate Morton journey.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, found it thoroughly enjoyable. Giving it four stars, though that's a round up from about 3.5, only because I had more trouble than I expected with the flipping between settings/time periods. Knew it would be worth it to persevere.

An intriguing and intricate mystery about a missing diamond, a ghost, an artist and a dead fiancee that spans almost 100 years.

By the time I finished the book, I really liked it, but there were many times I almost gave up. The story switches back and forth in time and there are many characters in each time period. There were moments of confusion since there were few markers indicating who was talking and in which time period the action was taking place. Only when the ghost "spoke" (since her moments were in first person) was it clear who was the focus.

By the end, however, all characters and their relationships had become clear and we are left with a love story/mystery that is a satisfying read. It's not the best book I've read this year, but the writing is lovely and the characters are actually endearing. All in all, a fine book that should especially appeal to fans of art related fiction since there are many references to late 19th and early 20th century art and photography with some science and literature thrown in.

I'm a longtime Kate Morton fan and this one does not disappoint. I couldn't put it down. The scenery detail for Birchwood Manor was perfectly done, and the repetition of place and its meaning was lovely.

I wish with all my heart that I could give this book more stars, but it simply doesn't live up to Morton's other novels. This sprawling story is hard to even describe, because it's chock full of characters, time periods, and places. While jumping back and forth across history is usually an aspect I love most about Morton's work, in this instance it was too much. I was left wanting more from each character, which is ironic considering it felt like it took AGES to read this one. I wish she could have pared down the number of characters and concentrated instead on creating well-rounded stories for them.

The book focuses on Birchwood Manor, a country house that seems to be a magical place of safety and security. However, after a young woman is murdered and a family jewel is lost, we spend the entire book waiting for the big reveal about what actually happened that day. Unfortunately, the reveal is rather unimpressive and the circumstances surrounding the murder of the girl and death of another character don't quite add up. After an enormous buildup, there are still a few important points left unexplained.

Do yourself a favor and go read literally any of Morton's other novels because they're all wonderful. The Clockmaker's Daughter just doesn't quite meet her usual standards.

Kate Morton wows readers with The Clockmaker's Daughter, a gothic gem of historical fiction. Morton cleverly frames her novel with a ghost's narration, taking readers back to the summer of 1862 when Edward Radcliffe, brilliant young artist, invites his fellow members of the Magenta Brotherhood to his bewitching house on the banks of the upper Thames, Birchwood. But a quiet summer does not a good story make, so the idyllic interlude shatters when one woman is shot dead, another goes missing, and a family heirloom jewel disappears, leaving Edward's life ruined.

Fast forward to the present when archivist Elodie Winslow discovers an old leather satchel containing an old photograph of a beautiful woman and a sketchbook with a drawing of an oddly familiar house. Why does Elodie feel so drawn to the house in the sketch? Who is the woman in the photograph?

The story of Birchwood and, ultimately, the fateful summer of 1862 is intriguingly told by various narrators connected to the house through time. Morton explores the importance of place, the purposes of art and story, and the fluid nature of time, but mostly she tells a ripping good story that captures the imagination. Her fans will not be disappointed in her new novel, and she stands to gain many new readers with her tale of art, love, and loss. #TheClockmaker'sDaughter #NetGalley

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an egalley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*The Clockmaker's Daughter* by Kate Morton is one of those books that is seeped in mystery and though it goes slowly it keeps you wanting more.

This story centers around a centuries old mystery and the many lives that intertwine over the years to add something to the overall story. It begins with Elodie, an archivist finding a old satchel with a sketchbook and a mysterious picture of a woman inside. She is drawn to the picture and the sketches and determines to find out where they are from and their connection.

This is the first book by Kate Morton that I have read and it will not be my last. I loved how it wasn't fast paced but still kept you wanting to read more. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and mystery as well.


I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I received an advanced reading copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I usually do not read a book based on recommendations from others. This book however has been raved about by many that I share reading habits with. The synopsis intrigued me and I was not disappointed. This book was compelling right from the very first page. To put it simply, it was beautifully written. The story unravels throughout multiple time periods and multiple characters. The reader does have to pay attention to the timeline and the narrator at any given moment to truly follow the story. While one might think it is a typical rags to riches story, it isn't. Morton crafts an intricately woven story about choices, relationships, and consequences. Anyone who loves a good gothic style mystery will want to read this book.

The Clockmaker's Daughter is the latest novel by Kate Morton that centers around a murder mystery that occurred in the 19th century in England in a stately manor house. A present day archivist stumbles across a sketchbook and photograph that leads the story back to the manor and a ghost that has been trapped . in the house ever since the murder took place. The tale is often told through the perspective of the ghost as she observes the comings and goings f people throughout the years. All of the characters are connected in some way and all pass through the house at some point. The mystery of the ghost is solved before the end of the book and the author takes time to wrap things up neatly.

This story spans generations and is comprised of love stories, tragedies, misguided actions with the intersecting point an amazing house. The house is alternately a creative retreat, a place of respite and merely a place to shelter. All entwined with just enough mystique to engage even the most practical. Kate Morton has crafted a masterpiece of literary entertainment. Any fan of a great story and exquisite writing needs to read this book.