The Distant Hours

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: Atria (November 9, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1439152780

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. A letter posted in 1941 finally reaches its destination in 1992 with powerful repercussions for Edie Burchill, a London book editor, in this enthralling romantic thriller from Australian author Morton (The Forgotten Garden). At crumbling Milderhurst Castle live elderly twins Persephone and Seraphina and their younger half-sister, Juniper, the three eccentric spinster daughters of the late Raymond Blythe, author of The True History of the Mud Man, a children's classic Edie adores. Juniper addressed the letter to Meredith, Edie's mother, then a young teen evacuated to Milderhurst during the Blitz. Edie, who's later invited to write an introduction to a reprint of Raymond's masterpiece, visits the seedily alluring castle in search of answers. Why was her mother so shattered by the contents of a letter sent 51 years earlier? And what happened to soldier Thomas Cavill, Juniper's long-missing fiancé and Meredith's former teacher? Despite the many competing narratives, the answers will stun readers.

This makes the third book I've read by Kate Morton.  The first book, House at Riverton I don't think I was overly thrilled with..but I also think my expectations were way high for that type of books since I had read The Thirteenth Tale, and it didn't live up to that book.  I think I am going to have to read the House at Riverton again.

Anyway.. when the Forgotten Garden came out the review read well, and I didn't remember that it was the same author and I bought the book and enjoyed it very much.

... and then came The Distant Hours.

...Kate Morton has made leaps and bounds with her writing with each book she puts out... I can't imagine what her next book will be like!

Very enjoyable.. and for much of the book it was one of those that the book wasn't set down for very long before picking it up to "read one more chapter".

This book is a case of discovering all the secrets to the lives of a number of people.  The three sisters of Milderhurst castle, and even her own mother! I can't begin to tell you how this book makes me want to find out about my own mother and father of which I know nothing about my father at all.

This is not a book that you will have all figured out.  Oh no! It is a book of many surprises, so if you like mysteries about family secrets to solve you will enjoy this book!

The castle gives the whole gothic feel to the book and makes you want to find castles and then discover the mysteries of those castles too!

I have to say that this book is a keeper to be read again at some date and time.  And yes, I would certainly recommend this book to those who like gothic style mysteries.  It may be 576 pages long but it will go fast!

And now I am anxious to find out what her next book will be about!