In 1999, Grace Reeves, a 99 year old woman living in a nursing home, is contacted by a film director who is making a movie of the apparent suicide in 1924, of a young poet. The death occured at a high society party hosted by the wealthy Harford family at their Riverton estate where Grace was employed as a maid for the family and she is the last person living whose memories can perhaps add authenticity to the film. As Grace is flooded with memories of the long ago past and it's tragedies, she begins to tell the tale in tape recordings meant for her grandson. It is through these recordings that the reader learns of Grace's ten year relationship with the Hartford daughters, Hannah and Emmeline, who, along with Grace, witness the death of the poet on that long ago night.

This tale takes place in the pivital ten years just before, during and after World War I, when the repressive rules and mores of Victorian England are changing to the less restricted society of the modern era. Morton examines the evolution of class distinctions and the changing roles between the wealthy aristocracy, the evolving servant class, and the repressive role of women.

I read and loved The Forgotten Garden earlier this year, and was eager to read Morton's first book. She has done her homework and really brings a bygone era back to life in a way that makes the reader experience the past, and she is becoming one of my favorite authors. My only small gripe is that The House at Riverton is a little too long and somewhat predictable, but still, this is excellent historical fiction. Recommended. ( )

Was hoping this would be a good read, but disappointed. Just didn't find it remotely interesting - formulaic plot, clicheed characters etc. Beginning sounded like Rebecca, film sub-plot like Titanic. I kept reading which is why it got 2 * but not much to recommend it. ( )

The main parts of this story flash back and forth between present day (or the late 90s) and the 1920s. It is mostly told by Grace, a young girl who worked at Riverton as a housemaid. Grace shares with us the events that lead up to the death of a young poet at a party on the shores of the lake at Riverton. Grace's story touches on wealth and privilege, the lives of soldiers after they've been to war, feminism and the role of women, and how love touches our lives.

Riverton is like many of the wealthy English homes in the 20s - it is beautiful, it is full of beautiful people, it almost seems to have a life of it's own, and it is full of secrets. These secrets are whispered about in town by the commoners and are rarely mentioned within the house's own walls.

The mysteries of this novel unfold beautifully, as does Grace's story, which shows us the importance of living our lives fully and surrounding ourselves with those that we love. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about the effects of war on Europe and who enjoys tragic mysteries. ( )

"The House at Riverton" opens in the years before the First World War, with Grace, our narrator, beginning her career of service as a housemaid at Riverton, a great English country estate. Grace is immediately drawn to the children of Riverton--David aged 16, the eldest, Hannah, a boisterous girl of 14, and Emmeline a shy 10 year old. Grace feels an immediate connection with the children, and longs to be included in their secrets. Over the next several years she becomes closer to them, first as they visit the house, then after the death of their grandfather and uncle in the Great War, which leads them to take up permanent residence in the house. Hannah marries soon after turning 18, and decides to take Grace with her as a ladies maid. After marrying, Hannah's life slowly unravels, and she takes Grace with her into her decline. Grace escapes, but only with the knowledge of a terrible family secret.

Kate Morton is an excellent storyteller, and she does a fantastic job slowly unfolding the secrets of "The House at Riverton." I thought I had figured out the "twist" in this book, but was surprised in the end to find out I had gotten it wrong. Her description of life during and after WWI in England feels authentic, and she does a great job capturing the emotions of the different characters. I do wish she had given us a little bit more about Grace--throughout the novel Grace hints at all of the wonderful things she has done in her life, and I would have liked to read more about them, instead of the novel focusing exclusively on Grace's interactions with the doomed Hartford sisters.

I came to this novel after reading Morton's more recent "The Forgotten Garden". If you enjoyed that book, I think you won't be disappointed by this one. ( )

I give this book 4 ****. It was a good story and I found it hard to put down. Well written. Some of it was easy to figure out but I wanted to keep reading anyway, just to see if I was right. I grew to know the characters and wanted the story to continue. It had a great ending that I didn't see coming. I didn't like what was left hanging though. Was he or was he not?