The London House by Katherine Reay: Book Review
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If you’re in the mood for family secrets woven into page-turning historical fiction, then you might want to read The London House by Katherine Reay.
This book is set in dual time periods and flips back and forth between the present day and the WWII years.
This was the first book I read by Katherine Reay, and I was intrigued to discover that The London House marked a move into historical fiction after her earlier contemporary novels. It was certainly a good introduction to her work for me.
My review includes a short overview of The London House, what I liked and didn’t like, and my 3 Rs of book reviews: Read, ReRead, or Reconsider?
My Take: The London House checked several boxes for me: dual timelines, WWII-era England and France, old letters and journals, and a family mystery that slowly reveals itself. I especially enjoyed the way the historical documents brought the earlier characters to life. It took me a little time to settle into the changing timeframes, but once I did, I was completely invested in uncovering the Payne family’s secrets. This is an easy Read for me.
What The London House Is About
Caroline Payne has grown up knowing that something painful lies buried in her family’s past, but it isn’t until an old college friend contacts her with a startling discovery that she begins searching for the truth.
The mystery centers on Caroline’s great-aunt and events surrounding World War II. As Caroline digs through letters, journals, and long-held family stories, she begins to question what her family has believed for generations – and discovers that the truth may be very different from the story that was passed down.
The London House by Katherine Reay – What I Liked
There are just so many things I liked about this book – where to start?
The first is the dual-timeframe story. Set in the present day, the glamorous pre-war years of the 1930s, and the WWII years in France and England, the story unfolds across several periods.
The story is partially in letters and journals between the characters set during the war years. I thought this format allowed me to get to know the characters writing the letters or journals (or being written to) even more than I would have without the letters. The letters and journals made me feel like I was somehow part of it as it was happening.
Any book with dark family secrets is almost always a hit with me, and this one didn’t disappoint. There were secrets and a bit of a mystery in the family that lasted right up until the end.
The London House – What I Didn’t Like
When I started the book, it took me a little while to understand what was happening and who the characters were when the story changed to a different timeframe. But that problem (not really a problem) didn’t last long!
There really is nothing else that I disliked about the book.
The London House – Read, ReRead, or Reconsider?
The London House is definitely a recommended Read for me. The combination of family secrets, historical mystery, dual timelines, and letters and journals worked particularly well for me. Once I settled into the shifting time periods, I wanted to keep reading until I knew exactly what had happened to this family.
Read!
Is The London House Worth Reading?
The London House was a very good introduction to Katherine Reay for me. I love historical fiction that gives me a mystery to unravel along with the history, and the family secrets at the center of this story kept me interested right through the end.
If you enjoy dual-timeframe historical fiction, especially stories involving WWII, old letters, and secrets that have survived for generations, The London House is well worth adding to your reading list.
What To Read Next
- The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles – Another WWII-era historical novel with Paris, books, and a story connecting past and present.
- The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis – A particularly good match if you liked the dual timelines, WWII France, and secrets connecting women across generations.
- Explore Historical Fiction – Browse more historical fiction recommendations and reading ideas.
- Historical Fiction Books in Order – Find more authors and series through our historical fiction reading-order guides.
