Some years later, Grace learns the shorthand letter explained that Hannah and Robbie were planning to run away together, requiring Hannah to fake her death, hence the suicide note which Grace was to give to Emmeline after the party. Hannah planned to write Emmeline once settled somewhere. Having carried this guilt her entire life, and finally telling the truth via the tapes to her grandson, Grace is able to die in peace. Why the English country house? What is it that readers find so compelling about stories set in and around these historical/cultural artefacts that are so quintessentially English?

Kate Morton creates intriguing characters and weaves a powerful spell slowly and beautifully in this novel and I found the read both entertaining and satisfying. australianauthor #contemporaryfiction #crime #domesticdrama #familysaga #friendship #historicalfiction #mystery #romance Summer 1924. On the eve of a glittering Society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again. When it comes to the sisters, I adored Hannah, and felt a great deal of empathy towards her. Emmeline annoyed me quite a bit, especially as she got older, though I did sympathise with her at times -- but, more frequently I found her an irritant.Our main character, Grace, a fatherless 14 yo girl, starts out as a maid at Riverton. She was told to seek work there by her mother, who had retired from the same house. There is a lot of family drama, mostly after WWI ends and the young women living upstairs become adults. I'm being careful not to give anything away but there are secrets, mysteries, love affairs both upstairs and down, etc., and great characters you will fall for. The writing is completely immersive and the book is very hard to put down, right from the beginning. Mail today. Something from the States by the look of the stamp. Your grandson, perhaps?” The left brow arched—a question mark—and her voice lowered to a husky whisper. “Terrible business, that. Just terrible. And him such a nice young man.”

Discover Kate Morton's multi-million copy bestselling debut novel, The House at Riverton, a mesmerising story of tragedy and buried secrets, with this new edition. Morton triumphs with a riveting plot, a touching but tense love story and a haunting ending.’ — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Acabei há minutos de reler a sua primeira obra e, apesar de lembrar-me de vários momentos, desfrutei da releitura tanto como desfrutei da leitura inicial!The First World War was a catalyst for enormous social and cultural change. Not a character in The House at Riverton is left untouched by this. Whose life is most altered? Why? Find sources: "The House at Riverton"– news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( June 2007) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)

These developing relationships had an appropriate speed (especially for the time period) and was kept at a convincing level. But although I had been met with such memories before, Ursula’s letter was different. It was the first time in over seventy years that anyone had associated me with the events, had remembered that a young woman named Grace Reeves had been at Riverton that summer. It made me feel vulnerable somehow, singled out. Guilty. Hannah and Emmeline are playing near the pool and Grace brings some lemonade. Hannah offers Grace some lemonade even if Grace is only the servant, The scene is peaceful and calm and the girls are very happy.I found this to be very entertaining, with a satisfying gothic-like feel to the story. The distinction in the social classes during the first half of twentieth century England, as well as the roles and interactions of the servants in an aristocratic home were interesting elements and, I thought, authentically portrayed. The characters were well-drawn, despite the fact I didn’t develop any special connection to any of them. I also enjoyed contemplating the effect that the passage of time plays on a person’s memory. "True history, the past… It isn’t flat or linear. It has no outline. It is slippery, like liquid; infinite and unknowable, like space. And it is changeable: just when you think you see a pattern, perspective shifts, an alternative version is proffered, a long-forgotten memory resurfaces." Combines a rich historical setting with a powerful emotional drama – and a gripping mystery." (The Australian Women's Weekly) It was Hannah, in her wedding dress, mud splattered across the front, clinging to the appliquéd roses. She looked up at me, her face pale where it emerged from shadow. Her voice chilled my blood. “You’re too late.” She pointed at my hands. “You’re too late.” La historia empieza un poco lenta; me costó engancharme. En algunas partes también se me hizo un poco pesado. Sin embargo, la prosa, el marco y los personajes me hicieron mantenerme sumergido en las páginas hasta altas horas de la madrugada.