Review: The Clockmaker's Daughter

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows.

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins.

Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?


It took me a long time to get into this story. It's not my usual sort of read. I'm glad I persevered though as it becomes more compelling. It's tricky to follow at times because it switches between timeframes and people but at the heart of the story is Birchwood Manor and a mysterious tragedy that occurred there in 1862.

Slowly (this is a long book at almost 600 pages) I was drawn in and impressed with the way Morton adds layers to the story. Gradually the mystery is unravelled, though not without a few things that are hard to accept. (No spoilers here but plenty to be found on Goodreads Q & A.) I'd happily recommend this book but I think it needs to be read continuously to keep track of who's who and how their stories interlink. I put it down for a few days and found myself having to backtrack.


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