Book Review
Homecoming by Kate Morton
Historical Fiction | Mystery
Reader’s Thoughts:
Kate Morton has long been one of my favorite authors. Her dual timelines are always masterfully woven, creating a tangled but mesmerizing web of mystery and history — and this newest story did not disappoint. Homecoming layers rich settings and authentic characters into a sweeping novel, sure to delight fans of both the historical and mystery genres.
In Homecoming, Morton captures and creates a vivid world. The detailed descriptions of the sights, sounds, and smells of both Sydney and the Adelaide Hills were lush and transporting — wrapping me into this fictional world and refusing to let go.
As with all of Morton’s stories, the transitions between past and contemporary storylines were very well done. The seamlessness of the reveals between timelines kept me constantly guessing at the mystery. The characters and plot were complex, but all the little threads tied together satisfactorily at the end. I did figure out a key element to the mystery from very, very early on but Morton kept me second-guessing as to whether or not I was right. This built a lovely sense of anticipation throughout the plot and drove me headlong toward the final few chapters (where there were countless other twists that I absolutely did not see coming.) Bravo!
Homecoming is a hefty story that follows several generations of characters. While it’s a slower story overall, the writing is immersive. At its core, this is a beautiful story about family, secrets, and a sense of identity and belonging. Admittedly, this won’t ever be my favorite Morton novel. But having waited five years for this new read, I can honestly say that this book was truly a homecoming!
Recommended for:
Readers looking for historical mysteries, dual timelines, and family secrets.
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance e-copy of the book provided courtesy of Simon & Schuster and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
At the end of a scorching hot day, beside a creek in the grounds of a grand country house, a local man makes a terrible discovery. Police are called, and the small town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most baffling murder investigations in the history of South Australia.
Many years later and thousands of miles away, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for nearly two decades, she now finds herself unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and is seriously ill in hospital.
At Nora’s house, Jess discovers a true crime book chronicling a long-buried police case: the Turner Family Tragedy of 1959. It is only when Jess skims through its pages that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this notorious event—a murder mystery that has never been satisfactorily resolved.
An epic story that spans generations, Homecoming asks what we would do for those we love, how we protect the lies we tell, and what it means to come home. Above all, it is an intricate and spellbinding novel from one of the finest writers working today.