If I like Kate Morton who else would I like?

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

I've read all of her books. Wasn't a massive fan of the last one but probably need to read it again.

Can anyone recommend a similar author? Dual time frames, secrets, etc.

TIA

[TheNunsOfGavarone]

Have you read Behind The Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson? As far as I remember it moves about between different periods and it's full of family secrets and dark humour.

[FannyMcNally]

I really enjoyed The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox.

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

I haven't heard of either of those so I'll have a look. Thanks!

[DuchessofMalfi]

You could try Rachel Hore's novels too - dual timeframe books.

[highlandcoo]

I think you'd like Maggie O'Farrell, OP.
I'm not a fan of time-shift novels myself but I know they're very popular at the moment. Can anyone explain why? I just want a straightforward narrative, well-told. Back to my Victorian classics I think ..

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

I read The Hand That First Held Mine, Highland Made me blub.

I think I like them because I love history. I'm quite happy to read books set in a period that I like without a timeshift. I especially like 1920's-1960's fiction set in New York but struggle to find that many books that fit.

[highlandcoo]

I love history too Pete. In the few time-shift novels I've read, I've invariably found the part of the story set in the earlier period much, much more absorbing, and enjoyed the intrusion of the modern-day story much less. Although I did like The French Lieutenant's Woman when it was first published and thought it was very innovative. Now I feel the technique has been done to death.

If you like fiction set in NY, I guess you've probably read The Group by Mary McCarthy? I snaffled it off my dad's bookshelf aged about 11 and was pretty shocked by the sex scenes. I'd led a sheltered life up until then It was interesting to read it again for my book group just last year.

[Darkesteyes]

Barbara Erskine is another dual timeframe novelist and has been doing it for longer. Her first novel Lady of Hay came out in the "80s.

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

Yes I loved The Group! There must be so much historical fiction set in NY but I can hardly find any. Especially on the Kindle.

[ThursdayLast]

Lisa Jewell's recent books have been similar too. Not as good as Kate Morton (I think), but with the same kind of structure.

[TheNunsOfGavarone]

I love Victorian classics and I love time slip novels too. I think that's partly because of my enjoyment of family history research with all its surprises and frustrations and my fascination with how the distant past can influence events in the present.

One of my favourite books is The Blood Doctor by Barbara Vine. It's not a time slip novel as it's all from the perspective of the present day researcher, but most of the action is set in the past if that makes sense. It's not one of her best regarded novels either but I love it. Obsession, ambition, tragedy, family history sleuthing..... I didn't really mind that I suspected what was going on from quite an early stage. I found the "journey" very satisfying.

Actually most of Barbara Vine's books take in different periods, you might want to check her out.

[ExitPursuedByABogieMan]

Have you read Victoria Hislop?

[Clawdy]

Katherine Webb's novels are in a similar vein, really gripping light reads, and also Lucinda Riley's are worth looking at too.

[PeteCampbellsRecedingHairline]

I haven't read anything really have I?

Thanks for all your suggestions. I need to wrestle my Kindle back off my mother and get downloading!

[Galaxymum]

Try Time's Echo by Pamela Hartshorne. It's a timeslip novel set in York and is very disturbing. But her descriptions of York are very detailed in both the present and the past.

I like Barbara Erskine as well. I tried Rachel Hore but she isn't anywhere near the standard of Kate Morton for me.

Lucinda Riley is on a par if not better than Kate Morton. I have enjoyed all her novels - The Girl On The Cliff is a great read as is The Light Behind the Window. She grasps the different time periods and characters and links very effectively.

I love duel time frame or time slip novels.

[myflabberisgasted]

Diane Chamberlain is fab, I have read most of her books and loved them all.

[RubyLovesShopping]

Rachel somebody, off to google her name she wrote 'the glass house' and around 4 or 5 others, v similar to Kate Morton and Kathryn Webb.

[RubyLovesShopping]

Rachel Hore.

[eatwotsits]

The Medea Complex is set in Victorian England. Its really very good, about a mother who finds herself in an insane asylum. But its not serious and derpressing, like you'd kinda imagine it would be.

I second Michael Fox. very good books.

I also like Margaret Attard's books.

I love historical fiction with a twist!