The Secret Keeper

Synopsis: During a summer party at the family farm in the English countryside, sixteen year old Laurel Nicolson has escaped to her childhood tree house and is daydreaming about the future. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm, and watches as her mother speaks to him. Laurel then witnesses a shocking crime that remains a family mystery for decades. Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful actress in London. She gathers at the family farm with her siblings to celebrate her mother Dorothy’s 90th birthday. She decides it’s her last chance to gain answers to the questions she has harbored for all those years. Dorothy and Laurel’s story take the reader from pre-WWII England, through the blitz, to the 60’s and beyond. It’s a story about hopes and dreams and secrets, and the consequences of our choices.

Nicholette’s Review: This was an absorbing family drama/mystery told from the points of view of multiple characters. Lots of twists and turns, and I was sure I had it figured out multiple times (nope), until the ending which left me stunned and surprised! What a happy turn of events for a reader! The characters are vivid, and more complicated than first glance would suggest. Kate Morton is gifted at making the transitions between time/place/narrator seamless. The WWII backdrop provided some atmosphere, but this is not really a historical novel. It’s a long book, and a little slow to start, but stay with it and you’ll have a great reading experience.

Rating: 4/5

Corey’s Review: This was one book I wanted to start, but when I heard it was long I knew now was not that time! Too much going on. This book does sound right up my ally and like the prefect fall read. Something about the English countryside and mystery make me think of a cold fall night. It’s no secret that my mom is dominating the review game… I need to pull my weight.

Menu: At one point in the novel, Laurel is reminiscing about the chickens on her family farm and how her mother would use them to make “Coronation Chicken.” Of course, I was curious about what Coronation Chicken was, so trusty Google informed me. Coronation Chicken was created to be served at the banquet celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. I expected something more elaborate, but chicken salad it is. The original recipe is a bit more complicated than it needs to be (in my opinion), but the results are tasty. Converting grams of mayonnaise to English measurements were tricky, so hopefully I got it pretty close to the right proportions!

Coronation Chicken

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon tomato paste

4 tablespoons red wine

4 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon brown sugar

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1/3-1/2 cup creme fraiche (or unsweetened whipped cream)

finely chopped dried apricots

2 large skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or cut into chunks.

Instructions:

1) Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan

2) Add in the onion, bay leaf and curry powder and gently cook for 2 minutes

3) Add in the tomato paste, red wine and water and bring to a gentle boil.

4) Add in the lemon juice and pinch of sugar, then season with salt and pepper.

5) Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat, strain, and cool completely.

6) In a large bowl mix together the prepared sauce with the mayonnaise, creme fraiche, and apricots.

7) Add in the chicken, and mix gently.