Book Review No 7: The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Edie Burchill is an only child, who shares a civil but emotionally distant relationship with her parents. At their home on a duty visit one day, she witnesses her mother's unusual reaction to a letter delivered in the post. Lost for fifty years, it has finally found it's way to it's rightful owner and in doing so introduces Edie to a mystery that turns her life upside down.

During the war Edie's mother Meredith was evacuated to Milderhurst Castle in Kent. Taken under the wing of the youngest of the three Blythe sisters, Juniper, Meredith flourishes in the literary environment. Juniper herself is a writer, as is her sister Seraphina - although the true literary star is their father Raymond, who penned the classic story The True History Of The Mud Man (which in turn is Edie's favourite childhood book). While at Milderhurst Meredith dares to dream she might finish he education and perhaps even attend university. Yet, instead she returns to her London home and finishes school early to take an office job. Edie is shocked to discover this side to her mother and through both circumstance and choice sets out to uncover the true mystery of Milderhurst and the Blythe sisters (who still live there in their senior years).

As always Kate Morton manages to weave past and present to deliver a story that is full of mystery and intrigue. I really enjoyed the present day story of Edie and the unfolding of her relationship with her parents. True to her stellar form, Morton's language is beautiful, delicately weaving a path down which a reader can't help but follow.

Another aspect of this story I really enjoyed was the war references and in particular the impact it had on everyday life - whether it be through evacuation or the impact it had on those accustomed to the finer things in life (the Blythe family).

After reading all Kate Morton's novels, something I can't help but notice is her obvious love of books herself. Although always revealed through her characters you can't help but draw the conclusion that Morton spent much of her own childhood curled up with favourite books that delighted and captivated her. As a bookworm myself, it is something that I can wholeheartedly relate to.

My only criticism of The Distant Hours is that it was probably a little bit long winded towards the end and the eventual mystery was to'd and fro'd perhaps one too many times. In this case the journey was the exciting bit rather than the destination. But overall I was again awed by Kate Morton's brilliant talent in bringing to life a multi-layered, rich story that captivated all the senses.