Homecoming is a gripping mystery that spans two periods and two continents, linking a savage crime in Australia to a journalist’s search for the truth in London. Kate Morton delivers a masterpiece of historical fiction and suspense, with her trademark complexity and beauty.
“Home, she’d realized, wasn’t a place or a time or a person, though it could be any and all of those things: home was a feeling, a sense of being complete. The opposite of ‘home’ wasn’t ‘away,’ it was ‘lonely.’ When someone said, ‘I want to go home,’ what they really meant was that they didn’t want to feel lonely anymore.”
The novel begins with a shocking discovery in a grand house in Australia on Christmas Eve, 1959. Four adults and a baby are found slain, and the only survivor is a young girl who has no recollection of what happened. The case remains unresolved for decades, until a journalist named Jess returns to Sydney to visit her dying grandmother, Nora. Jess discovers that Nora has a connection to the house and the tragedy, and that she has been concealing a true crime book about the case. Jess decides to investigate the cold case and write a story about it, hoping to revive her career and uncover her family secrets.
“What is the truth anyway?” Jess had once been asked by a curious friend.
“It’s what happened.”
“According to whom?”
As Jess probes into the past, she uncovers a web of lies, betrayal, and love that spans generations and continents. She learns more about her grandmother’s life as a young woman who left England for Australia after World War II, and about the people who lived in the house where the murder took place. She also discovers that the truth is more complex and shocking than she ever imagined, and that it has consequences for her own identity and future.
“There was a truth observed by all good preachers, leaders, and salesmen: tell a good story, tell it in simple language, tell it often. That’s how beliefs and memories were formed. It was how people defined themselves, in a reliance upon the stories about themselves that they were told by others.”
Homecoming is a mesmerizing and atmospheric novel that will keep you engrossed until the end. Morton skilfully interweaves the two periods, disclosing hints and turns along the way. The characters are well-crafted and intricate, each with their own goals and secrets.
“For all that ‘home’ was considered a word of warmth and comfort, policemen knew better. Home is where the heart is, and the heart could be a dark and damaged place.”
The setting of Australia is vividly portrayed, contrasting the verdant and wild scenery with the refined and imposing house. The novel also explores the themes of homecoming, both literally and figuratively, as the characters struggle with their sense of belonging and identity in two different worlds. The novel is rich in historical detail and cultural context.
“Homecoming” also examines the themes of memory, trauma, and forgiveness, as the characters try to cope with the aftermath of the tragedy and their own personal losses. The novel shows how the past can haunt the present, but also how healing and reconciliation are possible.
“Polly had certainly made some wrong turns – strange how easy the signposts were to see in the rearview mirror – but she had learned long ago that it was pointless to give in in to the black temptation of regret.”
“Homecoming” is beautifully written, with lyrical prose and poetic imagery. The novel also uses symbolism and metaphors to enhance the meaning and mood of the story.
“My grandfather built Darling House five years after he’d arrived from Scotland. He knew by then that the climate was going to require something different from what he’d been used to as a boy.”
“She’s a grand old lady,” Matt said of the house. “Dressed up in an iron-lace shawl, looking out over her harbour.”
Nora smiled. “That’s exactly what she is. It’s the reason she and I get on so well together. We’re two of a kind.”
The novel is a page-turner, with a suspenseful plot and a startling ending. The author keeps you guessing until the last page, as it reveals the truth behind the murder and the connections between the characters. “Homecoming” also has a satisfying conclusion, as it ties up all the loose ends and gives closure to the characters.
This is a splendid and gratifying read that fans of historical fiction and mystery will adore.
I listened to the audiobook, courtesy of #NetGalley and #BolindaAudio. Narrated by the talented Claire Foy, I was transfixed and invested from the very first line. I can’t recommend this book/audiobook enough.
About the author:
Kate Morton https://www.katemorton.com/
