The gripping and fast paced Inheritance of Secrets by Sonya Bates combines elements of a suspenseful thriller and historical fiction . An elderly couple is brutally murdered in their home and the reason is apparently connected to events that occurred post WW2 . The couple were German immigrants who settled in Australia after the war ended. The narrative is split between 2 timelines- covering post WW2 Germany and present day Australia where the couple's granddaughter Juliet tries to uncover family secrets that have led to her beloved grandparents' murder while also dealing with her estranged sister Lily who seems to know more than she is letting on. Adding to this is the question of whether her grandfather Karl was really who he claimed to be as newly surfacing information suggests that he was a Nazi who absconded and is still wanted for crimes pertaining to stolen art.

This is an interesting and quick read given the premise of the novel. Karl's journey to Australia from post war Germany makes for an interesting read. However there are numerous plot holes that lends a sense of 'incompleteness' to the novel. Justifying the atrocities of war while trying to make certain characters in this novel likeable was a bit off putting at times. I really did not feel emotionally invested in the historical fiction aspect of the novel. However,it is suspenseful, though not particularly intense, and the story did hold my interest till the end .

Thanks to Goodreads and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, partly because it is set in my home town, but also partly because I am so familiar with the historical events it is connected with. The end of World War II started a whole new chapter in Australian history, but our fascination with television programmes and films about the war clearly show us that it is still very much part of our psyche.

In the Acknowledgements and then the Reading Group Notes at the back of the book, the author gives us an insight into what led her to write this particular story.

The author has done a particularly good job with the mysteries woven into the story, and there is that little frisson that we the readers know just a little more than Juliet the main character does.

Recommended. ( )

I’m always up for a good thriller, and Inheritance of Secrets has all the elements required for a gripping read. It’s hard to believe that this is a first novel, as it’s exceptionally polished and doesn’t suffer from being overstuffed with issues and subplots. If you need a distraction from being in your house, I guarantee that Inheritance of Secrets will change all that.

While I’d classify the novel as a thriller overall, it does have some elements of historical fiction and a crime novel. Juliet is a writer and her beloved grandparents have been brutally murdered in their own home. Why? It could be a home invasion gone wrong according to the police. But when Juliet’s sister Lily appears, truly scared for her life, things change. Some shady characters want to know more about their grandfather’s signet ring and the sisters are forced to confront that their grandfather may have had secret links to Nazis. It’s something they refuse to believe though, and through some super sleuthing of their own they manage to get tangled up in a group that will stop at nothing to get what they think the sisters have. The only problem is that Juliet and Lily have no idea what it is! It’s an emotional time for Juliet, as she was close to her grandparents and she’s having problems with her partner (not to mention her deadline) but it ends up bringing her closer to a number of people. The ending is a little over the top, but you would never expect a thriller to end quietly in an ordered fashion!

Sonya Bates has really nailed it with this book. It’s never clumsy, overwritten or too full of issues, themes and subplots (which I find some debut novels to be). She has a very elegant form of writing – and by that, I mean that every word fits, nothing is out of place or out of character. Her descriptions of Adelaide and Victor Harbor made me long to go back there, yet I got a real sense of being there. Juliet’s travels really bring a feeling of Adelaide to the novel. The addition of her grandfather’s travels during World War II and after add another, more sensitive layer to this novel. His story was just as fascinating as Juliet’s and was a solid interpretation of the immigrant experience to Australia from Europe. I found myself reflecting on my own grandparents’ experience (although I hope their travel by ship wasn’t as eventful). Juliet’s story provided the tense, edge of your seat chapters, but Karl’s story was the perfect contrast of danger lurking quietly in the background.

A real page turner that captures a sensitive, well written story combined with action and drama; Inheritance of Secrets needs to be on your wishlist.

Thank you to Harper Collins for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

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