Homecoming by Kate Morton: Book Review

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Homecoming by Kate Morton combines two things I find almost impossible to resist: a decades-old family mystery and a dual-timeline story filled with secrets.

Set partly in 1959 South Australia and partly in the present day, the novel begins with a shocking tragedy at a country estate. It slowly connects that mystery to a family generations later. Add in a book-within-a-book, an atmospheric Australian setting, and plenty of twists, and this is classic Kate Morton territory.

It’s also a substantial book, but for me, that was part of the appeal. There was plenty of time for the mystery, characters, and family history to unfold without feeling rushed.

In this review of Homecoming by Kate Morton, I’ll tell you what the book is about, what I liked, what I didn’t, and whether it earns a Read, ReRead, or Reconsider.

My Take: Homecoming is an atmospheric family saga wrapped around an intriguing cold-case mystery. The dual timelines and book-within-a-book structure kept me guessing, and the ending genuinely surprised me. If you enjoy long, layered mysteries that slowly reveal generations of family secrets, this is an easy recommendation.

What Homecoming by Kate Morton is About

Homecoming begins in South Australia on Christmas Eve in 1959, when a terrible discovery at a country estate leaves several members of the Turner family dead. The case becomes one of the region’s most baffling mysteries.

Decades later, journalist Jess Turner-Bridges is living in London when she is called home to Sydney after her grandmother Nora suffers a serious fall. While staying at Nora’s house, Jess discovers an old true-crime book about the Turner Family Tragedy – and realizes that the decades-old mystery may have a connection to her own family.

From there, Kate Morton moves between past and present as Jess begins uncovering long-held secrets about the tragedy, her family, and the meaning of home itself. This book blends historical fiction with a contemporary investigation.

Homecoming by Kate Morton – What I Liked

One of my favorite things about Homecoming is the way Kate Morton uses two timelines to gradually reveal the story. But she adds another layer with a book-within-a-book, which allows Jess – and us – to investigate the old crime through someone else’s account of what happened. I thought that was especially clever.

The mystery grabbed me almost immediately. The tragedy at the center of the 1959 storyline becomes a cold case, and I spent much of the book trying to figure out what really happened. There are plenty of twists along the way, and the eventual revelation genuinely surprised me.

I also loved how much the title made me think. What exactly does it mean to come home? Is home a house, a country, a family, a person – or simply the place where you feel you belong? That question runs quietly underneath the mystery and gave the book an emotional dimension that stayed with me after I finished reading.

And yes, Homecoming is long and complicated. For me, that was a positive. This is a sprawling family story with generations of secrets to uncover, and I enjoyed having the time to become immersed in it.

Homecoming by Kate Morton – What I Didn’t Like

Honestly, there wasn’t anything I disliked about Homecoming.

The one thing I would mention for other readers is its length and complexity. There are multiple generations, timelines, and interconnected family relationships to keep straight, so this isn’t necessarily a quick, lightweight mystery.

But I enjoy long, complicated novels, so neither of those things bothered me. In this case, I thought the length gave the story room to unfold properly.

Homecoming by Kate Morton – Read, Reread, or Reconsider?

And now, for my 3 Rs of book reviews. Should you Read, Reread, or Reconsider Homecoming by Kate Morton?

A Definite Read!

Homecoming is a definite Read for me. If you enjoy atmospheric mysteries, dual timelines, complicated family histories, and cold cases that slowly reveal their secrets, this is exactly the kind of book you can disappear into for a while.

Frequently Asked Questions About Homecoming

Is Homecoming by Kate Morton Worth Reading?

Yes. I thought Homecoming was an excellent combination of atmospheric mystery, historical fiction, and multigenerational family drama.

What really made it work for me was that the mystery wasn’t the only reason to keep reading. I also became invested in the family history and in the larger question Kate Morton explores throughout the novel: what does it really mean to come home?

It’s a long book, and readers who prefer short, fast thrillers should know that going in. But if you enjoy getting completely absorbed in a complicated story filled with family secrets, multiple timelines, and an old mystery waiting to be solved, Homecoming is absolutely worth reading.

What To Read Next

• Kate Morton Books In Order – See all of Kate Morton’s novels in publication order and find your next atmospheric, mystery-filled read.
• Explore Historical Fiction – Discover more historical fiction filled with family stories, secrets from the past, and fascinating historical settings.
• Explore Mystery & Thriller – Browse more mysteries and thrillers featuring cold cases, family secrets, and plenty of twists.

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