Audiobook Review: The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer

The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer is a haunting gothic mystery about family secrets and the power of stories within stories—narrated by Siho Ellsmore. Read my review.

Kelly Rimmer has done it again. The Story Keeper (titled The Midnight Estate outside of the United States) is an atmospheric tale that blends gothic mystery, family drama, and a touch of the supernatural. This is the second book I’ve read (well, listened to) by Rimmer, and I’m once again impressed. Find out why I gave the audiobook 4/5 stars.

What is the book about?

In the aftermath of a tumultuous year, Fiona Winslow finds solace in the decaying grandeur of Wurimbirra, the rambling family estate she once called home. Intent on restoring it, she discovers the keys to more than just the dilapidated mansion—beneath the crumbling plaster and dust are secrets that have been buried for a generation.

When a curious book, The Midnight Estate, catches her attention in her late uncle’s library, Fiona is plunged into a tale that mirrors her own—a story of love, loss and betrayal. But as the lines between fiction and reality blur, Fiona must ask Is the true mystery the one hidden within the walls of her ancestral home, or is it within the pages of a book that chose her as much as she chose it? [Goodreads.com]

My thoughts:

Fiona Winslow returns to Wurimbirra, Australia, to restore her family’s old estate. The discovery of a novel – The Midnight Estate – among her late uncle’s library draws her into a story that seems tied to her own family’s past. The more she reads, the more the line between fiction and truth becomes blurred. The secrets buried at Wurimbirra start to surface.

The sections from The Midnight Estate (the book within the book) were some of my favorite parts. The dual plotlines are joined seamlessly. The Gothic atmosphere – complete with decay, grandeur, and family secrets – sets the perfect stage for the story.

I also appreciated how Rimmer doesn’t shy away from difficult truths. Not everything can be fixed, and sometimes the best we can do is decide where to best put our energy. And Siho Ellsmore’s narration is spot on. Her voice brings Fiona’s story to life.

If you’re drawn to moody estates, generational trauma, and a mystery that feels like a ghost story told in candlelight, The Story Keeper is your next listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced reader’s copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Find me on Goodreads, Fable, and StoryGraph.

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