The Storyteller's Daughter follows two generations of women in the same family, Beth in 2008 and Nita in 1940. After Beth visits her dying Great-Aunt Nita she's set on the trail of uncovering long-buried secrets.

This book was dual-POV and switched between Beth and Nita each chapter. It worked really well and, unusually for me, I enjoyed both perspectives and I liked reading the parallels between both characters' lives. I liked Beth, but I adored Nita's character, her spirit and strength were fantastic and the pressures and attitudes she encountered felt accurate to the 1940s setting.

There was a mystery that ran throughout the book, tying both timelines together, and some common themes between Beth and Nita. Although we switched character and time each chapter, the book flowed really well and didn't feel disrupted by the change. Each character added depth to the story and both felt like fully-formed main characters in their own right. There was also a connection to Wicca which was more prevalent than I'd initially thought, and it was portrayed well and added to the story.

This was a slower paced book, but that gave me time to get to know the setting and the characters, and really connect with both. I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down (I sped through it across 2 days) and I'll be looking out for more of Victoria Scott's work.

I really enjoyed this book! There is nothing better than a well executed dual timeline and that is exactly what this book delivered. I nearly finished this book in one sitting and would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in mystery and history. A great read!

A dual time line story set between 1940 and 2009 featuring two female members of the same family. A little predictable and overlong, I wanted more from the love story between Nita and Joe. An enjoyable, gothic type mystery.

What a wonderful read The Storyteller's Daughter turned out to be. I was absolutely spellbound from beginning to end and didn't ever want it to end.

Sometimes a book isn't there to be rushed and this was one of those, I wanted to be able to connect with the characters on a deeper level, savour the story and solve the mystery.

It's a dual timeline read and the story is told from the POV of Beth in present day and Nita, Beth's Great Aunt back in the forties.

A charming story of family ties and secrets steeped in mystery and intrigue.

An engaging dual time line read which is set across 1940 (WWII) and 2009. In 1940 Nita Bineham lives a privileged life in Melham Manor and wants to be a writer. Thanks to her father she takes up a voluntary job at the local towns newspaper ‘The Bugle’.
In 2009 Beth Bineham is struggling with working for her father’s company and going through a divorce. Her great aunt is Nita and when she hears of her ill health she travels to Melham Manor. As Nita is dying she tells Beth there is a box in the attic with a secret that needs to uncovered.
This is a great historical fiction story full of intrigue and family drama as Beth tries to uncover Nita’s secret.

This is a story of Nita in the 1940s and her great-niece Beth in 2009. This dual-timeline novel tells the story of how decisions made several decades before will affect life now. There was excellent character development with a touch of mystery. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened in both their lives. Often, I find with dual timelines I care about one more than the other but that was not the case with this one!

Victoria Scott takes you on a journey through different times, Nita went through so much in her lifetime and Beth being able to dive into her history to find the secrets. The twists and turns tugged at my heart wondering what was going to happen next. Beths Journey to finding herself again during this process was amazing to read aswell after her own heartbreak.

Publication date: 15th January, 2025
Read dates: 9th January – 15th January 2025

The Storytellers Daughter by Victoria Scott

A great book set in 1940 and present day .
Loved the dual timeline of the book.
The characters were so interesting and the book kept up my interest all the way through.
Highly recommend this one.

This book follows a dual timeline, with one set in 1940/41 and the other in 2008/09. As usual, I found myself drawn more to the earlier timeline. The story alternates between the perspectives of two main female characters: Nita, a determined reporter in the past, and her great-niece, Beth, in the present. Nita’s journey was especially captivating as I learned about the challenges she faced as a woman reporter, particularly given her influential family background. What stood out to me is how many of the struggles Nita faced are still relevant today—women still battling to break through the glass ceiling in a male-dominated world while desiring a family life. Both Nita and Beth navigate these hurdles in their own ways, 70 years apart. I found both characters compelling and rooted for them every step of the way.

I love when a fictional story also teaches me something, and this one did just that. I gained new insights into the war, espionage, and Wiccan practices. This book deepened my appreciation for the time we live in and the ancestors who fought in WWII. It also reminded me to value and celebrate our differences, regardless of beliefs or rituals. I highly recommend this novel to historical fiction lovers who enjoy a rich, atmospheric read.

Beth finds herself drawn into a decades old mystery: about a long-buried secret, and an enemy dangerously close to home.

This is an engaging, dual timeline story with a little bit of mystery and a touch of magic. I couldn’t put it down. Being the historical fiction fan that I am, I did enjoy the 1940 timeline of Nita a bit more than the 2008 timeline featuring Beth, Nita’s great-niece. However, both kept my interest, and I loved noticing the similarities in Nita’s and Beth’s stories, despite the large gap in time.

I also adore stories featuring old manor houses and this story had the addition of featuring spies during WWII and women practicing Wiccan. Everything flowed together seamlessly and I had no issues traveling back and forth in time.

I especially enjoyed rooting for Beth and Nita and watching each character come into their own. I felt all the emotions as I read along, and despite some truly heartbreaking moments, the story is full of hope and love. Highly recommend.

Beth Bineham's life is falling apart. Her husband wants a divorce, and she made a terrible gaffe on National TV which lead to her being stood down from her role in the family firm. When her great-aunt Nita passes away, her family charges her with sorting out the house before they can sell it!

Beth made it to the family home, Melham Manor, just in time to see Nita before she passed, and her last words have intrigued Beth. There is a box in the attic which contains some documents that related to Nita's past, in particular in relation to her short period working at the nearby town's local newspaper during WWII.

Nita is what you would call eccentric, but Beth has great memories of spending time with her at Melham Manor, until suddenly the visits stop, mainly because her mother didn't like Nita. Now, Beth is trying to work out what Nita's secrets are.

Nita had been raised as the privileged daughter of a wealthy industrialist. Her brother Frank is off fighting in the war, but Nita is expected to marry and have children. Nita is given the chance to work as a volunteer at the local newspaper, never expecting that she would have the chance to be a reporter. When she and her colleagues hear a story about the possibility of a German spy working in their area, they are all determined to track him down.

This is a dual timeline book, so whilst we hear Nita's story, we also get to see Beth as she follows the clues of her great-aunt's story, and navigates her own trials. She was a bit blindsided by her husband's determination to divorce and so she is trying to figure out what comes next for her and her young children. When she is offered the chance to do a little reporting of her own for the same small town newspaper that Nita worked for, she begins to see a way to reimagine her own life, away from the control of her family.

I love a book where an old house is a character in a book. In this case, Melham Manor is a place which has clearly been loved over the years, but as Nita has gotten older she has been unable to keep up. She does have many items hoarded within the house, including some items that are worth a lot of money, if only Beth can uncover them all before her father sells the house, unless Beth can perhaps change his mind.

This was a good read, and there were some really interesting things that came up, including some Wiccan practices, old secrets, secret identities, WWII intrigue and more.

I hadn't read Victoria Scott before either under that name or her other name of Victoria Darke. I will be looking for more from her at some point.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews, and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

I dont have much to say on this book sadly. I enjoyed the dual timelines but I really didn’t like either of the main characters. The story was very predictable, honestly I felt like I have read this story a hundred times. Just the same overall story redone. I really struggled to finish the book. The only reason I didn’t DNF it was because I hopped the ending would some how surprise me but it didn’t. Aso I have no idea how the author got this title, The Storyteller’s Daughter. If I really think about it I guess I can see how it came about at the very very end but even so its a stretch.

This book I am sure is enjoyable for some people but it just didn’t do it for me, sadly.

Thank you Netgally and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoy a dual-timeline book, and this one just gets it right. The split between the wartime era and the early part of this century felt just right. We spend more time in the contemporary era than in wartime, but the narrative effortlessly straddles the two, gradually revealing the gripping story.
Although from two different eras, Beth and Nita struck me as very similar. Of course, they were related, but their similarities were unmistakable. I was struck by Nita’s drive and determination to reveal the truth about a sinister rumour during the war years. What she could not have anticipated was the impact that truth would have on her life.
Nita is a character who will stay with me, and I’m happy for her to live rent-free in my mind. The treatment she received from her immediate family saddened me, and I felt genuine sympathy for her plight.
Beth had a strong bond with Nita, so it comes as no surprise that she was mentioned in Nita’s will. That mention impacted her parents' plans, and she took great pleasure in standing firm and insisting that Nita’s memory be respected and her wishes honoured.
There were plenty of additional characters in the supporting cast, but I’m loathe to go into too much detail as I would hate to include any spoilers. What I will say is that the similarities between Nita and Beth are at their strongest when viewed through the lens of their families.
Whilst the themes of this story are serious, the lightness of touch left me feeling hopeful that Beth's future may be brighter if she can simply embrace Nita’s legacy and accept the friendship of the local community.
Absolutely brilliant and an author I will look forward to reading more from.

I felt very drawn to this book, as I thought the cover was beautiful, and I was intrigued by both the title and description.

This is a dual narrative novel following Beth in 2008, and Nita in 1940. The story takes place at a manor house in Surrey, and I felt the author brought this setting to life beautifully. I pictured Melham Manor as somewhere beautiful but mysterious, and after a few chapters, I was very drawn into the story.

In 2008, Beth is visiting her great-aunt, whom she hasn't been in contact with for many years. In 1940, Nita is investigating a story for her local newspaper. I connected with both protagonists; in fact, I became so emotionally invested that I didn't want to stop reading until I'd finished. At one point, I also found myself close to tears. This beautifully written book provided me with an escape for a few hours, and once I stopped reading, it took me a few minutes to come back to reality.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC! *The Storyteller's Daughter* by Victoria Scott is a poignant and beautifully written tale of resilience and the power of stories. Scott masterfully weaves a narrative that explores grief, hope, and the bonds between family members. The protagonist's journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, drawing readers into her struggles and triumphs. With its lyrical prose and emotional depth, this book is a testament to the healing power of love and imagination.

A new to me author I was first attracted to this title as when reading the blurb I discovered it was set in rural Surrey. Imagine how delighted I was then to discover later that not only was it set in the Dorking area, my birthplace, but that the country estate Melham Manor is based on a place I know well!

The protagonist Nita Bineham is based on a real person who is a distant relative to Victoria Scott. She has carefully blended this lady into an entirely fictional but credible account of her WWII secrets that were buried for decades. Until in 2008 her great niece Beth is drawn into a family mystery.

An engaging dual timeline story of secrets and loss which is recommended to fans of historical family drama and intrigue. With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review 'The StoryTeller's Daughter.’

I loved this book. Set in 1940 and present day this book really caught my attention. The characters were so interesting and the book kept up the pace all the way through. Highly recommend this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is not a book I would have chosen to read normally but loved it from start to finish. It is set in 1940 and 2008. In 1940 Nita finally gets to help out at a newspaper as her mother is against it. While their she discovers their might be a German spy in their village and proceeds to find out who it is.
In 2008 Nita passes away but her great niece Beth arrives that night and Nita tells her there is a secret up in the attic for her.Beths marriage is not going well as her husband wants a divorce.Beth finds papers in the attic and start’s Nita’s journey to find out who the German spy was.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood.

An engaging dual timeline story set mainly in Dorking in 1940/41 World War Two, and 2008/9. The point of view during the war is that of Nita who wanted independence from her parents. She takes a position at The Bugle. The story tells how she coped with life at that time. Nita’s great niece Beth visits her at the end of Nita’s life in 2008, and unravels the past. At the same time Beth’s own life is unravelling.
It’s a story of secrets and loss, and the solidarity of women, of friendship and trust (or at times lack thereof). Was there really a German spy?