Author: Caroline Beecham
ISBN: 978-1-76029-566-0
RRP: $29.99
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Eleanor’s Secret is the sophomore novel of bestselling author Caroline Beecham, also set in war-torn London in 1942. I had big plans to have this one read and reviewed ready for the post to go live today but my strong start to the month fizzled quick. I have started reading it, and hope to have a complete review this week.
Caroline Beecham returns to London in 1942 where Eleanor Roy, art school graduate, is working for the War Artist Advisory Committee. Her dream is to become one of the few female war artists but breaking into the art establishment is still easier dreamed than done.
Eleanor is working with the Ministry of Food to organise artworks to decorate the British Restaurants that are keeping the citizens fed and aiming to help with morale. One of the artists she is sent to sign is Jack Valante, who won’t sign the contract and when Eleanor returns to try again he seems to have disappeared.
This novel is a dual timeline narrative with a compelling love story and a surprising mystery. The dual timeline is a great storytelling tool when you have a mystery to unfold.
Fast forward to Melbourne in 2010 and Kathryn has been asked by her grandmother, Eleanor, to help her return a painting to its artist in London. The search unearths a long held family secret and Kathryn is left trying to decide whether she races straight home to address the issues in her own immediate family or stay and help protect the past.
Caroline Beecham writes well researched and authentic historical tales that draw you right into the London she describes. I quite enjoyed Maggie’s Kitchen and I can’t wait to really sink myself into Eleanor’s Secret.
Caroline Beecham can be followed on CarolineBeecham.com and Twitter.
Eleanor’s Secret is published by Allen & Unwin and is available now through Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin 50 of our Beauty and Lace Club Members will be reading Eleanor’s Secret so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham is a well written novel with dual timeline; war-torn London in 1942, and Melbourne/London in 2010. The story follows Eleanor Roy in 1942 and Grand-daughter Kathryn in 2010, where Eleanor has requested Kathryn’s assistance to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Eleanor’s lost love from the war years, artist Jack Valante.
I loved the book. It took several chapters to get thoroughly lost in the story; Beecham is very descriptive in her language enabling the reader to identify with the characters she breathes life into. There is a lot of historical world war two detail, giving the reader a feel for life in the war years; the turmoil, upheaval and uncertainty of what the next days/years will bring. The story is cleverly woven between the two timelines in a tangled web of intrigue and mystery.
Hard to put down, I recommend this novel to anyone who likes a bit of history, romance and mystery.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read Eleanor’s Secret.
As others have mentioned the story unfolds during the war and works with a dual timeline of 2010 when Eleanors grand daughter is enlisted by Eleanor to find a painter to find Jack Valante.
Eleanor’s Secret is an engrossing story full of details of the difficulties suffered during the war in the UK and toll it took on the people. I learnt a great deal about the work of the war artists and the art which was displayed in the restaurants! Who knew??
There is much to love about this book but I would have loved more detail about some of the characters and the thing referred to (Eleanors marriage and how it came to be arranged, what Jack was actually doing, more detail about Kathryn and her marriage and son…..).
Anyway an enjoyable read! Highly recomended.
I really enjoyed Maggie’s Kitchen so was looking forward to another Caroline Beecham book.
Eleanor’s Secret is a really well written and well researched book that covers two timelines.
It is 1942 in war-torn London where we are first introduced to Eleanor who joins the War Artist Advisory Committee during WWII .
In 2010 Eleanor is requesting her grand-daughter Kathryn’s help to solve the mystery of the disappearance of a war artist Jack Valante who Eleanor home ad a special relationship with.
There is intrigue, mystery, history and a love story. The descriptive passages of living through the turmoil and hardship of the war give the reader a real sense of how difficult and uncertain life would have been.
Keeping with the Maggie’s Kitchen theme I was intrigued and interested by the work of the war artists and the art which was displayed in the restaurants.
I enjoyed the story and felt I was on an adventure to find the secrets Eleanor kept.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. 4/5
From the Australian author of Maggie’s Kitchen, Caroline Beecham, comes her second novel, Eleanor’s Secret. Eleanor’s Secret is a historical fiction novel told in the third person with a dual timeline. Set in London 1942 and Melbourne in 2010, it is the story of a two young women revealed in five parts.
In 1942, the reader follows in the footsteps of Eleanor Ray. A young woman who works for the War Artists Advisory Committee (WAAC), her true calling is to be a war artist. Knowing little about war artists during the second world war, I gained some basic but interesting insight into a career during that era. During that time a woman’s place was still seen to be the homemaker despite them taking on many roles previously dominated by men. I truly felt for Eleanor as she tried to gain acceptance for her work. When she finally does it is with some unconventional yet understandable methods and with Jack Valante’s help.
Jack is the love interest if of Eleanor and I had some high expectations of his role within the story. Initially, Jack too is a war artist but it’s gradually revealed that this is a cover up for a more important mission. Most of the time the reader is in the dark just like Eleanor about this mission and I found this to be quite frustrating. I was hoping for intricate details and to learn more about this inner sanctum. Much more research would have added greater depth to Jack’s journey during the war.
In 2010, Kathryn leaves Melbourne at the request of her grandmother Eleanor and heads to London to return a painting to it’s owner. Like her grandmother, Kathryn has her own issues to deal with in modern times. Married with a child, Kathryn must decide with the clarity of distance if her marriage is worth saving. While I was invested in Kathryn’s part, the story dragged in her timeline as not a lot seemed to happen as she endeavors to find the artist. Family secrets are revealed but it was nothing shocking or surprising. Instead it is logical and neatly tied together.
With themes of family secrets, war, love, men and women’s roles in society this is an enjoyable way to pass the time.
Thank you to Allan and Unwin and Beauty and Lace Book Club for the privelege to read Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham.
Eleanor’s Secret combines two era’s 1942 and 2010, mainly based in London and small references to Melbourne, which I loved.
It revolves around Kathryn going back to England to help her grandmother Eleanor find her lost love Jack and the secrets that are finally revealed.
I learnt alot about the War Artists and their important role during the war which I never knew about. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
I really enjoy historical fiction. This book was an enjoyable read in which I learnt more about the time during the second world war. I didn’t know that there was an important role for artists during the war. It was an insight for me.
I also really enjoy books that have 2 timelines. It helps keep the intrigue. This book did not disappoint.
Recommended for anyone who likes historical fiction.
Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham was a very pleasant, easy, good feel read.
Set in 1942 Eleanor Roy wants to do her bit for the war effort and is recruited by the War Artist Advisory Committee. Then she meets a handsome artist named Jack Valante who offers her help with her true ambition and dream to become one of the few female war artists.
They fall madly in love but become separated by Jack’s sudden posting overseas.
The book shifts between two time periods 1942 and 2010. This I really enjoyed as it gave some depth and dimension to the story and mystery.
In 2010 Eleanor now the mother of Abigail and grandmother to Kathryn who returns to London from Australia to help to her grandmother return a painting to its artist during which is uncovered a long held family secret.
I always enjoy a novel which is set around the war era and each time learn something about events during that period and of course who doesn’t enjoy a good love story and mystery.
I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it.
Thanks to the Publishers Allen & Unwin and Beauty and Lace.
I thoroughly enjoyed Eleanor’s Secret by Caroline Beecham.
I am very fond of historical fiction and this novel certaily doesnt disappoint.
Set in 1942 the the story revolves around Eleanor Ray and her wishes to help with the war effort.
Working in the War Artist Advisory Committee she meets and is swept away by a young artist Jack Valante, before Jack is suddenly posted overseas.
The novel jumps between two timeframes , 1942 and 2010.
in 2010 we find Eleanor now a mother and grandmother .
Her grandaughter Kathryn returns to Australia from London to help Eleanor return a painting to its artist , not realising that they would uncover a long held family secret at the same time .
I often find novels with time jumps between two different periods of time often difficult to read but this was certainly not the case with Eleanor’s Secret .
I found it to be a really enjoyable , easy to read novel. One that I was engrossed in quite quickly.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Allen and Unwin for allowing me to read and review this great novel.
Eleanor’s Secret, I have to admit to selecting this book because my late mother in laws name was Eleanor, it’s the same way I pick out a horse for the Melbourne Cup, because of its name. In this case I picked a winner.
I loved the portrayal of Eleanor a woman in a man’s world being more than capable of doing a job but not being able to…thank goodness for progress.
This novel swaps between London in 1942, the 2nd WW and Melbourne 2010, a journey of generations. And the story of family with Kathryn Eleanor’s granddaughter returning to London for her grandmother, even though this disrupts her life terribly.
Just what is Eleanor’s Secret, now that would be telling, but I encourage you to find a copy and discover it for yourself….. 4 ½ stars for sure
Thanks to Beauty and Lace for this fascinating read ‘Eleanor’s Secret. It is a wonderful glimpse into what life was like in war-time London which is so very foreign and far removed from the modern comforts of today; a fact which is elegantly highlighted with the juxtaposition of the dual storylines of Eleanor and Kathryn.
I loved the historical detail and artistic bent of this novel and found Eleanor’s strength and determination admirable. I learnt a lot about war artists and life during those years. However, this is not only an interesting historical novel but a tale of humanity, loss and love. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it to family and friends.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace, Caroline Beecham and Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to read and review “Eleanor’s Secret’.