This book felt so long sometimes. It dragged on like so much and some of the things that happened felt predictable in a bad way. I did not like this, but I didn't hate it. The book does start by painting a very different light of WW2 because they leave Europe just at the very early stages of the War and you hear about things from far away.

I don't know. This just didn't click for me. 3.5 stars.

I have read almost all of her books and have enjoyed everyone of them. She has a way of bringing the characters, and the settings to life so beautifully.
This story goes back and forth from the 30's-40's to present day.
Rani is the main character in the book, and as she grew up, her father from a royal Indian family and her mother a German who is Jewish, raised her and her brother to think for themselves and to fight against the injustices in the world, which was one of the reasons why he left his life in India.
But then he was summoned back to India, as he was told his father was dying, and he was the one to take over his role.
Thinking it's temporary,the family moves back to India, but Rani and her mother are living in the woman's quarters , and the husband and son live in a different area, seeing each other once a week.
Rani who cannot stand this life and her father assuming a role that was the very opposite of what he had preached all their lives.
So Rani disobeys her fathers, first with a new love, and then betrayal, and she is sent off to Cambridge in England, pretty much being disowned by her father.
WWII is starting and after her studies she becomes a code breaker for the British because of some strong skills she had. While there she meets another code breaker and his young son, and she falls in love, but of course nothing seems to go according to plan , and hard times return to haunt her.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book

The Secret Keeper by Renita D’Silva was beautifully written from start to finish and Renita always writes her books from her heart, she alway describes places and has a way of writing that draws the reader into the book. Every book I have read by this author I have loved and didn't want the book to end. This book The secret keeper was jus the same. A beautifully written book that will just have your turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Always grateful for different aspects portrayed in stories of the Second World War, and especially when it comes to anything to do with Bletchley Park. This sees an Indian young woman, Rani a lonely isolated woman who wants nothing than to be educated an play a part in the world. The future she thought she was going to get, is changed when her father chooses the path that seemingly takes him far away from his beliefs.

The estrangement that follows leads Rani to England, to Cambridge and Bletchley Park when war is declared. She finds solace in a different future but it seems her past is about to step out of the shdaows. And she iesn;t really fr from her past.

This is more of a book about beliefs and cultures, set on the backdrop of the war. There are some rather horrific scenes each are portrayed which strengthen the idea of belief. Weaved amongst it all is a more modern day story, of Esme trying to understand her past and her own beliefs of what she has been told. Only the death of the woman who brought her up will provide her the answers.

It took me a long time to develop into the feel and plot of this book. I had little feeling or connection to the majority of the characters, but certainly could feel the anger behind those who had to watch their loved ones capitulate to what was expected as opposed to what they believed. The ripple effect of that has clearly lasted years.

For me a different sort of read than I was expecting.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was a dual timeline story told between the present , 1990 where Esme is trying to get over the death of her father and goes to see her old housekeeper who is ailing, hoping to learn more about her own history and most importantly about her mother, who she never knew. Esme learns of a picture and letter that were left by her mother, a woman she has never known and the secrets held within shake her whole foundation. Esme learns about herself and her brother and finally starts to understand her father.

In the past, we follow Rani’s story in the 1930s-1940s from India to Cambridge. Rani is close to her father as a child, he has left his family behind, and married for love, he has taught to speak and do for herself, but then his father dies, and as the Crown Prince, he must go home and take the throne. This throws Rani and her family into turmoil, as her and her mother are forced to live within the palace walls and the hope of going to university at Cambridge seems further away every day. But the Rani starts sneaking out dressed as a maid and falls in love. Rani betrays her family and in the end, her love pays the price. Rani is sent to Cambridge to study but her family has cut ties with her. Rani eventually becomes a code-breaker at Bletchley Park and finds another chance at love, but when her past comes back to haunt her, will she make better choices this time.
This was a wonderfully written book. It was so full of feeling, it was about passion, love and the sense of being that only comes when you understand yourself. I look forward to more books by this author.

In this complex and powerful World War II historical fiction novel, readers follow Rani, daughter of an Indian Crown Prince and herself a wickedly intelligent and modern woman, from her struggles with the confines of life in India to college at the University of Cambridge to her time at Bletchley Park during the war. After a relationship forces her into exile away from her family, Rani seeks out a new life in England with Bletchley colleague William and his son until her past in India catches up to her. Torn between her past and her present, Rani’s choices will shape her future and perhaps the outcome of World War II itself. Rani is a complex and modern woman, and she undergoes some fascinating ideological changes over the course of the novel. The focus on her ideology and the cultural differences between her life in Europe and life in India are critical to her choices in the novel, and D’Silva has done an incredible job bringing so many historical and cultural nuances to the forefront of the novel. With a strong and compelling heroine and some fascinating ideologies and lives at stake, readers interested in a different kind of World War II historical fiction novel are sure to enjoy D’Silva’s latest book.

In 1938, Rani's life is dramatically changed when her father takes his place as a crown prince in India. She despises her new life, confined to the women's quarters, and misses the freedom she used to have. She especially misses how her father used to be, always proud of her outspokenness. When she starts to sneak out of the palace, she meets Prasad, a poor villager, and falls in love with him. She stages a plan to introduce Prasad to her father and get his blessings. Unfortunately, her plan doesn't work, and she is banished from the palace.
Distraught at losing her family and her love, she studies at Cambridge and then is chosen to become a code breaker to help the Allies during WWII.
She slowly moves forward with her life and even opens her heart again. When the past suddenly comes back to haunt her, Rani must make the most difficult choice.
Renita D'Silva has been one of my favorite authors for a very long time. I'm always excited to read her books. I have to say, this was my least favorite. I was really disappointed with the book, while the story was great, the ending felt rushed. One of the things I loved best about her books was that there were no loose ends, yet this one left me with so many unanswered questions. While the main story was somewhat wrapped up, there were so many characters that were either not accounted for or just haphazardly thrown into the quick epilogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The secret keeper

It took me a while to get into this book but when I did I couldn’t put it down.
We are introduced to Esme present day and Rani 1930s-1940’s.
Esme has struggled to make relationships all her life as does her brother, Andrew. They were raised by their housekeeper and mother figure Mrs Lewes as their father was a quiet and distant man.
Rani, an Indian princess escapes her Royal family life as she is sent to Cambridge University in London due to her forthright ways which didn’t hold stead within the Royal ways. She misses her family but her father has declared her dead to him.
We journey through Rani’s life leading to Rani’s secret war code breaking work with Bletchley House where she meets William who has a child, Andrew. Rani marries William and life seems happy for all of them until someone from Rani’s past finds her.
This is a story of family secrets, loyalty, trust and romance. How the lives of Esme and Rani connect makes for a heartbreaking read.

Review · August 17, 2024

The Secret Keeper by Renita D’Silva | Book Review
The Secret Keeper by Renita D'Silva | Book Review

This was my first experience with this author’s work, and I was thoroughly captivated. The story weaves together secrets and passions in a way that is deeply moving and unforgettable.
The Secret Keeper by Renita D’Silva | Book Reviewfive-stars
The Secret Keeper by Renita D'Silva
Genres: Historical Romance
1938: Rani, the bright and spirited daughter of an Indian Crown Prince, leads a privileged if lonely life. Longing for freedom and purpose, she escapes the confines of her father’s palace and meets Prasad – a poor young man – with whom she falls deeply in love. But her plan to gain her father’s approval for the match disastrously backfires.

Estranged from her family and haunted by guilt, Rani’s path takes her from Cambridge to Bletchley Park and a new world of intrigue and secrets. Against the backdrop of war, Rani finds comfort and a sense of belonging with fellow codebreaker William and his young son. Could they heal her heart and become the family she craves?

Then Prasad reappears – and past and present collide, shattering Rani’s fragile happiness. As retribution for the hurt she caused him, he demands she pass him secrets from Bletchley. But at what cost?

Torn between her past and her present, love and loyalty, Rani must face up to a heart-wrenching sacrifice . . .

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I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review
This is a wonderfully crafted story that blends love, loyalty, and the power of secrets, all set against the intriguing backdrop of Bletchley Park during World War II. I am just going to say this is an era I adore then add in Bletchley Park and I was hooked from the first page.

Told through a dual timeline, alternating between Rani’s life in the 1930s and 40s and Esme’s story in the 1990s kept me on the edge of my seat. The connection between these two women gradually unfolds, revealing the hidden truths that bind them. I loved how part of the story is conveyed through letters Rani writes to her family in India.

Renita D’Silva’s writing brings each setting to life, from the winding corridors and lush gardens of an Indian palace to the top-secret world of code-breaking in England. The exploration of cultural differences, particularly around gender roles, added depth to the story and made it stand out among other World War II fiction.

Rani was a standout protagonist—strong, feisty, and truly ahead of her time. Esme, too, was a compelling character, and I enjoyed watching her development throughout the novel. The supporting cast was equally well-drawn, with some characters appearing in both timelines in ways I won’t spoil. But I have to say, little Andrew was a scene-stealer, lighting up every page he appeared on.

Overall, The Secret Keeper is a powerful piece of historical fiction that will linger with you long after you’ve turned the last page. It was a fantastic introduction to Renita D’Silva’s work, and I’m eager to explore more of her books.

In The Secret Keeper, secrets and consequences make this historical fiction story one page-turning and heartfelt read.

The story begins in India as we are introduced to Rami, the precocious daughter of an Indian Crown Prince. When her father is crowned King, they move to the palace. Rami is lonely and is angry about living in the women’s quarters with her mother and younger brother. Out of boredom, she disguises herself as a servant and explores the city. She meets and falls in love with Prasad, a peasant farmer. Their plan to marry goes awry and Rami is sent away to school (Cambridge). She ends up at Bletchley Park where her past catches up to her and she’s forced to keep more secrets and make a sacrifice.

Rami “plays with fire” her entire life, so, in that respect, perhaps she is well suited to work at Bletchley Park. However, the secrets she’s keeping in her personal life will ultimately test her loyalty to Bletchley Park and lead to tragic consequences.

I need to note that aside from the “sworn to secrecy or be tried for treason” aspect of Bletchley Park, the author provides minimal details about what the work actually entailed. We read about her going to and from work but not about what she was doing at work. If I hadn’t read other books about Bletchley Park, I might have had more questions. Having prior background information helped me imagine what she was doing during work hours.

The 1930s/1940s timelines are the most engaging and the heart of the story. The 1990s timeline serves as a vehicle to uncover the past. Weeks after reading the story, I struggle to remember the modern timeline. The timelines are brought together in the end when the secrets of the past are revealed and a family becomes stronger.

The most likable character in the story is the man at Bletchley Park whom Rami marries. I feel sorry for him. He and the children deserved better.

I won’t spoil the ending, but I can report that it’s realistic and the circumstances are difficult. When you keep secrets, you can expect that it may catch up to you and you will have an ultimate price to pay.

Content Consideration: toxic relationship

Fans of settings in India and Bletchley Park and a complicated character will appreciate The Secret Keeper. The story is well-told and engaging from the first pages.

Thanks #NetGalley @BookwoodBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheSecretKeeper upon my request. All opinions are my own.

4.5 sparkling stars! The Secret Keeper by Renita D’Silva was a captivating historical fiction novel. It was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Renita D’Silva but it will definitely not be my last. Her storytelling was masterful and her research for this book was impeccable. The Secret Keeper was written in a dual timeline from the third person perspective of the two strong yet complicated women protagonists, Rani Raj (1930’s - 1940’s) and Esme Strong (1990’s). Their connection to one another was a little confusing in the beginning but Renita D’Silva brilliantly wove their stories together through the course of the book. The Secret Keeper took place in Germany, India and England.

Rani Raj was the beloved daughter of a German Jewish mother and a father who was the crown prince of Divanpur, India. When her father was sent to Cambridge to further his education, he made the acquaintance of friends who were sympathetic to the Marxist movement. Rani’s father went on holiday with these friends to Germany. While in Düsseldorf, Germany, Rani’s father and his friends entered a jewelry store that was owned by Rani’s mother’s father. Rani’s father fell instantly in love with Rani’s mother. The two were married but Rani’s father was forced to renounce his title of crowned prince. Her father was more than happy to do that. He had quite a different view on life now than when he was living in India. Rani’s father believed in equality and encouraged Rani to voice her opinions, pursue her education and not let gender issues deter her from anything she set her mind on achieving. Rani was an only child for a long time. She traveled to many countries with her parents. She was quite talented, like her father, of picking up languages easily and quickly. After many years, Rani’s parents were blessed with the birth of a son that they named Arjun. Rani and Arjun were extremely close and loved each other as only siblings were able to. Rani led a happy and magical life that provided Rani with endless opportunities.

One day a letter had been delivered to Rani’s house. It had been addressed to her father. Rani’s father learned that his father was very ill and was not expected to live much longer. Her father’s father was requesting that Roni’s father return to India immediately. Rani was sixteen years old when this occurred. She was hoping to apply to Cambridge and study languages as her father had when he was at Cambridge. The family had recently begun to talk about moving to England. It made sense. They had been residing in Austria and the threat of a Nazi invasion was very real. The contents of that letter and her father’s reaction to it changed all of their lives in the most unimaginable ways possible. It had been decided, they were going to India.

The changes in their lives were not gradual or slow. They occurred quickly and immediately. As soon as they arrived in India, Rani noticed profound changes in her family’s lives. For one, Rani and her mother were forced to wear veils that covered their faces. The family no longer lived as a loving unit under the same roof. Rani and her mother were subjected to living in the Zenana, or the women’s quarters. To Rani, living in the Zenana was like living in a prison. Rani became more and more frustrated by the person her father was becoming. He had lost sight of all the ideals and values he had taught Rani to believe in over the course of her childhood. Rani made a plan. She was determined to leave the palace and find a way to appeal to her father’s former beliefs. On one of her excursions outside the palace, Rani was determined to find one of her father’s childhood friends, Murli, the milkman he spoke of so often. Instead, Rani found Prasad, the son of her father’s childhood friend, Murli. Rani and Prasad soon realized that they possessed similar dreams for a world where there was equality. Their lives couldn’t have been more different from one another, though. Prasad had grown up in a one room hut and lived in poverty. Rani had traveled the world, lived a very affluent lifestyle and was well educated. The two started to develop feelings for each other. Prasad was Rani’s first love. She would do anything for him. When that was put to the test, Rani was sent to England to Girton College in Cambridge, England. Rani studied languages just as her father had all those years before her. She thought of Prasad often and hoped he was safe. Rani missed her family very much.

As Rani came close to completing her courses at Girton College, Mistress Wodehouse inquired about her future plans. Rani had done very well in her courses. Mistress Wodehouse informed Rani that the war office was interested in recruiting new candidates that were highly skilled linguists and were good at chess and crossword puzzles. A strange combination of things to excel at. Since Rani was highly skilled at all those things, she secured a position as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park. It was on her first day at Bletchley Park on her way to meet with Commander Travis that Rani met William Strong. William and his son, Andrew, would become very significant people in Rani’s life until Prasad came back into Rani’s life and made her do the impossible.

Snippets of Esme’s life and her connection to Rani were revealed slowly as Rani’s life progressed in England and at Bletchley Park. As a protagonist, Rani was strong, intelligent, stubborn and was never afraid to say what she was thinking. I enjoyed reading the letters of correspondence Rani wrote to her parents while she was in England. You could feel the pain of being alone and missing the people who Rani loved the most. The conclusion brought everything together in a very satisfying way. I have to admit that I shed a few tears while reading The Secret Keeper. It was sad and yet uplifting. All my emotions were were awoken by this incredible book. The Secret Keeper by Renita D’Silva was about secrets, friendships, romance, trust, hope, blackmail, threats, code breaking, discovery, love, gender role reversals and loyalty. I really enjoyed reading The secret Keeper by Renita D’Silva and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for allowing me to read The Secret Keeper by Renita D’Silva through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I picked this up spontaneously because I found the blurb exciting: an Indian princess who works in British counter-espionage during World War II, that sounded good. Plus, of course, romantic entanglements, sounded even better. I have to say, the story was gripping, but somehow completely different to what I expected. I'll try to unravel it a bit. The main character is Rani, and she is not really the classic Indian princess of the last days of Indian colonial rule. Her mother is a German Jew, her father the renegade crown prince of a small Indian state who has a more Marxist worldview, and accordingly leads an unconventional life for years with his wife and two children in Europe. Which of course only works because a) he has a lot of money, and b) she does too - Rani's mother comes from a rich family of jewelers. Accordingly, Rani enjoys a lot of freedom and education even as a girl. This ends at some point when Papa Raj decides to move back to India and take on the heavy burden of being an Indian ruler. The old king is dying and suddenly Rani's life changes 360 degrees, because she no longer finds herself on the way to the university, but in the walls of the Zenana, the women's quarters of the palace.....
The first third of the novel is devoted to these descriptions, and I found them unexpectedly exciting and - yes, I generally would not have expected it to be like this after reading the blurb. In India itself, Rani cannot come to terms with her fate and the loss of her freedom, especially when she falls in love with Prasad...

Okay, I won't spoil too much, it gets dramatic and Rani manages to be banished from the court and family and sent into exile in Cambridge. That's where she originally wanted to go - but not in this way. Her heart is broken, and it takes many years for Rani to find herself again and for a new love to appear - and just at that moment the shadows of the past catch up with her again and an emotional showdown ensues....

On another time level, we are with Esme, as it turns out, Rani's daughter, who is battling her own demons, and the story unfolds little by little as Esme researches the past, or rather when Rani tells her life story from her first-person perspective.

So you can see that the part in which Rani works in the secret service in Bletchley doesn't really make up that much of the novel. Yes, they are formative years for Rani, but this novel is not so much about adventure missions in the war, but rather about Rani's dramatic life, her emotional development, and how traumas carry on for at least another generation. I didn't expect that, but as I said, no matter, the story was exciting and well written. It was an extremely good read, and I could empathize and root for Esme in particular. The novel definitely has an interesting psychological component.

Despite everything, I find it a little difficult to judge the book. Yes, the story really captivated me, and the author knows how to write excitingly. On the other hand, I found some things a little unrealistic. This complete change when the family went back to India: living a bohemian life for over 10 years, ignoring all social boundaries, giving their daughter more education than most European girls had in the 20s/30s, only to then do a complete U-turn and lock mum and daughter in women's quarters - well, I don't know. It was clear that it would backfire.
I also didn't think some things about Rani's character were really consistent, but well, nonetheless, I read the novel through in one weekend - once I started, I had to know what happened next!
I give it 4 out of 5 stars and thank the publisher for the review copy!

This is the story of Rani, in the 1930/40’s and Esme in the 1990’s and told in alternating chapters. Rani is a feisty but highly intelligent teenager in the 1930’s with a German mother, younger brother and a father who is an Indian Crown Prince. Esme has just lost her father, never knew her mother, dumped her boyfriend and is struggling to work out who she is. Well written narrative includes letters written by Rani to her family and there is something very interesting detail about Bletchley Park.

Briefly, Rani and her family live in Germany but move to India when her father takes over the throne. Suddenly her life is thrown upside down and she is forced into a life she hates. She comes up with a plan which she believes will force her father to change things but it all goes drastically wrong and she finds herself at Cambridge, England. Her skills are recognised and she is recruited to work at Bletchley Park. Esme’s only contacts with her past are her older brother Andrew and a friend of her father, Mrs Lewis, who is terminally ill. On a visit to Mrs Lewis she learns of a letter and photograph that may lead to information about her past.

Seamlessly the two stories come together as Esme makes a shocking discovery about her family. The story highlights how the consequences a single decision in your youth can affect the rest of your life and beyond. I enjoyed both stories and both protagonists but Rani was the strongest and my favourite character and her story most satisfying. A very enjoyable and entertaining WWII historical fiction novel.

As a young woman, Rani had lived an interesting and free life. Her father was an exiled prince of India. He had married a young German woman and had Rani and her younger brother. Her father was quite determined to leave his royal life behind, until suddenly he is called back to court in India. Suddenly the man who believed in equality and education for all, in encouraging Rani to think independently, became the opposite of who he had been. Rani and her mother were forced to live in the women's court, only seeing her father and brother when they deigned to visit, and any thought of education or independent thought are out the window.

Rani finds a way to escape from her gilded cage and becomes friends with a poor young man named Prashad. Soon she is hatching a plan to escape. When it all goes horribly wrong, Rani is exiled to the other side of the world, to Cambridge. There she makes quite an impression and is soon selected to work as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park. With her family not responding to any of her letters, Rani is beginning to make a new life for herself, until a face from the past reappears with devestating consequences.

There were several reasons why I agreed to read this book. One is the Indian connection and the other main one is Bletchley Park, because I find the stories of the work that was done there endlessly fascinating.

It is, however, always a risk when you try a new author and there were things that both did and didn't work for me. I do enjoy a dual timeline story, but this is one of those occasions where I am not sure that the modern story was completely necessary to the story. That part of the book was about a woman who is trying to figure out her family's story, a story that has been not talked about at all. Her family have always been quite isolated emotionally from each other.

I did find the writing very descriptive. If the author was describing a scene where the sky is blue, then then the sentence would include something about the wind, the grass gently crunching underfoot, the wispy clouds on the horizon. It was quite noticeable.

I thought that the premise was very interesting, and as always the Bletchley Park parts were always interesting.

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy of this book. I am sharing this review with The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge and the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Review blog.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This powerful and compelling novel has a dual narrative, following the emotional journeys of two women. One narrative follows Rani during WWII, and the other follows Esme in the 1990s.

I was quickly drawn into both narratives, and I found myself drawn to specific elements in the writing, such as colours or descriptions of particular objects, that brought the narrative to life as I was reading.

I empathised with both Rani and Esme in different ways, touched by the portrayals of both family relationships and romance. The individual chapters were quite short, so I had to keep turning the pages and became deeply invested in both narratives.

This was beautifully written, and I enjoyed escaping into it for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Rani’s happy childhood is spent in pre-war Europe, her Marxist parents travelling widely – speaking English at home, and always encouraged to be independent and speak her mind. But their lives change dramatically – her father, an Indian crown prince, is forced to return to India by his father’s illness. The culture shock is immense – Rani and her mother are confined to the female quarters, while her father unexpectedly appears to forget his more radical beliefs and takes up the conventions and duties of his position. She finds a way to escape confinement, if only from time to time – and becomes friendly with Prasad, a young man living in poverty. Their attachment grows, but her plan to convince her father that he’d be a suitable match goes disastrously wrong – leaving Prasad to an uncertain fate, and Rani travelling to Cambridge to continue her education, banished by her family.

Now wartime, she’s recruited to work as a code breaker at Bletchley Park – billeted together with a single father, William, his young son Andrew, and their landlady Mrs Lewes. Slowly, trust is built and Rani, still estranged from her family, seems to have found her place at last, with a chance of happiness. But her past catches up with her when Prasad reappears in her life – forcing her to make some particularly difficult choices, and then to handle the far-reaching consequences.

A sweeping and emotional story, quite beautifully told – but a dual time story too. England in the 1990s, and Esme, already damaged by the end of her marriage, is struggling to handle the recent loss of her father. She has a brother, and a son – but feels the need to find out more about the mother she never knew, and the elderly Mrs Lewes, their former housekeeper, might just hold the key. The seemingly disconnected stories slowly come together – quite perfectly done, unfolding in parallel but with no real wrenches when moving between them – and the conclusion is totally heartbreaking (I could barely read through the tears…) but also uplifting in every way.

The writing really is quite wonderful – the scenes in India so well researched and beautifully described, affecting all the senses, and the day-to-day life of the Bletchley codebreakers (and the whole supporting cast) equally real in every way. And the author has the most perfect emotional touch – there’s a lot of love in this book, and my heart really ached for Rani, such a well-developed character who had really earned a place in my heart, and could entirely feel her struggle between loyalty and duty and the worst possible betrayal.

This was a book I read in one glorious sitting, unable to put it down – and, despite (or perhaps because of?) the many tears, thought it was a stunning read. Totally unforgettable, and a book I’d wholeheartedly recommend to all.

This review is being posted as part of the The Secret Keeper blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

The Secret Keeper is the latest novel from historical fiction author Renita D’Silva. This is a captivating story exploring themes of love, loyalty, choices and secrets, set against the fascinating backdrop of Bletchley Park and its top-secret code-breaking during the Second World War.
This was my first-time reading anything from Renita D’Silva but her engaging writing style hooked me from the first chapter and I’m now looking forward to reading her other books. The history was clearly well-researched, particularly around the work they did at Bletchley Park.

At the heart of The Secret Keeper is the idea of secrets. Our story is told through a dual timeline narrative, alternating between the third-person perspectives of Rani, in the 1930s and 40s, and Esme in the 1990s. The connection between the two women is gradually revealed over the course of the novel and this worked really well. Readers are left on the edge of their seats, trying to piece together the puzzle pieces of the story before they are revealed.

The fast-paced narrative was maintained by short and snappy chapters and I liked the addition of some of the narrative being told through letters Rani is writing to her family in India. Renita D’Silva’s captivating storytelling made the different settings of the novel come alive on the page, particularly the winding corridors and elaborate gardens and rooms in the Indian palace.

I really enjoyed the chapters set in India and how events there eventually followed Rani to her new life in England. This aspect of the plot really sets The Secret Keeper apart from other fiction books about Bletchley Park. The exploration of the difference in values, regarding gender roles in particular, between Asia and Western countries was really interesting.

Rani was a great protagonist. She was headstrong, feisty and very much felt like a woman ahead of her time. Esme was another brilliant character and I really liked the character development we saw in her over the course of the story. Both timelines had some brilliant supporting characters, some which appear in both timelines but I won’t say anything further to avoid spoiling the secrets of the book. I will say though that little Andrew was my favourite character; he just lit up every page he was on.

Overall, The Secret Keeper is a fantastic piece of World War Two historical fiction and a story which will truly stay with readers for some time. This was a brilliant introduction to Renita D’Silva’s writing for me and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

*Thank you to Renita D’Silva, Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley.

I enjoyed this lovely, lyrically written story, an engaging dual timeline book. One begins in the late 1930s, the other in 1990. Their connection is not immediately obvious, but the clues are there, and the reveal is particularly poignant. Rani's story is vibrant and varied, moving from pre-WW2 Europe to India and England. Immersive and evocative Rani draws the reader into her life. Her character development is notable as she experiences the best and worst life has to offer. Esme is struggling with grief after the loss of her father. She has much to live for but is afraid to take a chance on happiness. I love the historical details, the heartbreaking poignancy and the believable characters you invest in. The excellent storytelling takes the reader on an emotional and resonating journey.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is the first book i've read by this author and it was ok, just ok for me.

Love, heartbreak and secrets. This romantic thriller crams it all in, but lacked the characters to make me care. I did however enjoy the scenery the author paints of the locations the book goes to. I loved the clandestine nature of Rani's work and that is written very well.
I didn't enjoy the switch of time periods, but I did like the later characters more.

There was a great twist to the story that was well explained and well written. It will keep you wondering 'who done it'. And the wrap up at the end gives a little more romance to the story.

For me I just didn't like Rani and that hindered the story for me.

All in all grab this book for a weekend read. Tea, biscuits and a little mystery.

Loved this book, keeps your interest. The characters are so real and you can picture them where they are. Twists and turns in the story allow you to engage your imagination. At times though the chatting I found too long, but other than that I give it 4*