Secrets She Kept

Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke

Wow, this was an amazing book! The author evenly balances dual storylines to draw in the reader. In the 1970s, Hannah embarks on a journey to learn more about her emotionally distant mother. Her plotline alternates with that of her mother, Lieselotte. Lieselotte's story is set 30 years earlier when she was a young teen in Germany. Unlike other dual storylines I've read where one is stronger than the other, both Hannah's and Lieselotte's stories were equally strong and compelling. The author creates well-paced tension that swells to a crescendo as Hannah learns the truth about Lieselotte at the same time that the reader learns the truth from Lieselotte's point of view. As one would expect from this time period in Germany's history, there are difficult passages to read and the claustrophobic atmosphere felt real and chilling. I thought what ultimately happened to Lieselotte was surprising because it revealed something unexpected about one character's actions. The fact that not everyone got a typical happy ending was heartbreaking. I loved how the author included a real historical figure to share a lesson about forgiveness. This story was heavy at times but ultimately filled with hope because of Hannah's journey. I highly recommend this book and this author!

Amazon Review