Having read a few books by this author, I thought they were all a bit samey. However, I had the chance to get this as a #netgalley #arc earlier in the year, so I thought I'd give it a go.

It actually felt a little bit different, maybe down to the Australian setting, although it was still the same twisty-turny double timeframe storyline. Probably my favourite of hers.

I guessed the 'big' twist but not many of the others.

Another impressive read from Kate Morton, full of the historical detail that you would expect from this author.

Set in Australia with a dual timeline following the lives of granddaughter and grandmother, dark secrets are revealed and perhaps finally the secrets behind the fatal incident in Tambilla. The female leads are beautifully drawn and feel like your own family by the end of the novel as you experience each revelation with them.

Woven against the main story, Morton threads themes of isolation, loss, bereavement and the need for belonging. Although hefty at over 650 pages the immersive experience of Morton's prose is worth the commitment to completion.

I’ve been following Kate Morton’s books for a while and this latest one did not disappoint!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I really enjoy reading Kate Morton's books and this one was no exception. Others may not enjoy the slower build, and I don't always, but in this instance, I did. The mystery was good and I liked the vast majority of the characters, being interested in what was happening to them. For me, the twist wasn't completely predictable, and I enjoyed the outcome as a result of the characters discovering the truth (even got a bit teary!). Whilst not a part of the story but I also really liked Jess' situation (returning to Australia) was somewhat reflected by Morton's own situation after covid-19, especially having read so many of Morton's books, it was nice to feel more connected to the real person writing the story.

I was looking forward to this book but I am afraid I found it very slow going but did like the latter half of the book.

It is a dual time line with the present and in 1959 when a family is poisoned who did it will we find out.

I kind of knew part of the story but as I say the twist at the end was good. I think the book maybe should not have gone on and maybe cut a wee bit out of it.

Really disappointed in this book. I have loved all of her other books but this is definitely not on a par with them. I have given up reading it just 10% in. It's boring, not engaging in any way and life is just to short. After reading reviews it appears the first and last 10% are all you need to read anyway. The rest is just pointless padding.

I loved this book I was instantly engrossed and was swept away for its entirety and beyond. I couldn't put it down

Australian Jess is struggling with her life in London as a freelance journalist, when she is informed that her beloved grandmother is in the hospital. As she flies back home to be at her side, and tries to come to terms with Nora's sickness, she discovers a shocking secret - a family connection to a notorious crime committed decades earlier. Narrated from different points of views, including Nora, Jess, her mother Poly, as well as people involved in the Tambila Mystery, this chunky novel is a family saga spanning generations, an unresolved mystery that has an impact on the whole town and all involved. This is a whirlwind story of a family affected by the past, relations strained and broken, secrets and mysteries. It is beautifully told, and despite its length, a captivating and immersive read, that covers themes of truth, honesty, toxic relationships, betrayal and jealousy. As we learn details of Nora’s, Polly’s and Jess’ stories, we discover half-truths, lies and omissions that make us to look at the characters in a totally different light. Kate Morton makes their characters unreliable, but the most impressive thing about them is that they reveal their true nature as we read the story. This as well as the excitement of discovering truth about past events, make the “Homecoming” an thrilling read. It also speaks to the readers looking for a novel dealing with the themes of home, belonging and coming back to your roots. The book has also a very special house in its core, and this place is a centre of a drama – and I love reading books in which places are as important as the people. As a big Kate Morton’s fan, I loved coming back to her writing after a long break. Her evocative style helps to engage a reader with the story and create the world which is hard to leave behind.

I've previously enjoyed other Kate Morton books, and so was looking forward to this one.

The story is good - back in 1959 a whole family (except the husband who is away) is found dead in the Australian countryside, perhaps poisoned? Come back to the modern day, and journalist Jess uncovers the story and starts to investigate.

Having enjoyed the actual story, I found this book to long-winded and slow, the first half in particular just takes forever to happen. So a good read, but would have been much better if it had been half the length.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot or publisher's blurb - plenty of reviews like that out there already.

I've read several of Kate Morton's previous novels, so was delighted to be invited to read this one. As usual in Kate's stories, there's a double timeline theme running through - weaving together the past and present to solve a longstanding mystery.

The characters are extremely well written. Nora in particular is a very strong and determined woman, and Jess and Polly are very believable characters. The plot is well thought out, with more than a few twists that I wasn't expecting. I did however guess part of the truth, and was pleased when the mystery was finally unravelled and the truth revealed.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. An amazing read, as always from Kate Morton

I love Kate Mortons book and this didnt disappoint
Once again she proves she is an expert at a dual timeline story and she explores the dark secrets of families
There were plenty of twists and although I worked some parts out others were a surprise

A multi layered family saga/ mystery with a dual timeline. I found it a slow burner at start but then the pace really picked up and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed both timelines equally and the ending neatly tied it all up. Plenty of twists and turns in the story. The story is told in different timelines from different characters adding depth to the story
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

Wow Kate Morton is a wonderful writer. I adore her books and this one no less. It was a beautiful and entrancing read. Thankyou for sharing

A great read set in a very interesting era.Kates books are always fabulous.Loved the baby storyline.

A truly captivating read! The thin gossamer threads are all artfully set out and then twisted and turned in so many ways to make this an unpredictably amazing read. This is a book that is hard to put down! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading this book. The descriptive language takes you to Australia. Highly recommended!

Thank you Netgalley

Kate Morton never disappoints. I always eagerly await her new books and for good reason. Always thoroughly researched, it will bring you back and forth between the past and the present, weaving an amazing story.

The latest epic tome from Kate Morton concerns Jess and her grandmother, who largely raised her. When the grandmother is hospitalised Jess starts to unravel the secrets of her grandmother and semi-estranged mother's pasts. As is usual with Kate Morton's writing the narrative takes place in two time periods so you discover the dark family history in contemporary time.

This is a good read, although a few plot points do stretch credibility, but provided you can overlook those it's very engaging.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

Having not read a Kate Morton book for a few years I was very much looking forward to reading this new novel from the author. However, I was torn with this new novel. There were parts of it I liked and parts not so much.
Things I liked.
The overall story was interesting and entertaining. The story in itself kept me invested in the book and I wanted to know what would happen.
As usual with this author the descriptions of the outdoors was enchanting, the reader could really feel like they were there.
The characters within the 1950-60 element of the story were fabulous. Particularly Percy, a wonderful character. The past storyline was by far my favourite and I was turning the pages quickly wanting to get back to it.
Things I didn't enjoy so much.
The present time story line did not keep me as engaged. I personally felt that at times it was just filling the book out, although it had to be there.
The female character of Jess annoyed me at times, I found some of her actions very unbelievable. There was a lot of mention about how worried she was for her Grandmother yet every time see came home from the hospital her actions were the opposite, like not listening out for the phone in case they rang, doing other things that made her late for visiting hours.
I also did not like the character of Nora, not warming to her at all.

So therefore some of the writing i really liked and some annoyed me and felt repetitive.
A mixed bag for me this one.