Publication Date: August 27, 2025
The literary twist of Patti Callahan Henry’s The Secret Book of Flora Lea meets the family secrets of Kate Morton’s Homecoming when a woman discovers a curious novel in the library of her crumbling gothic estate, whose uncomfortably familiar story ultimately brings a generations-old mystery to light.
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 herself: 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?
Told in a dual narrative and set against the Gothic backdrop of Wurimbirra, Kelly Rimmer, bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say, weaves an intricate and compelling tale, inviting readers into the heart of a family’s deepest secrets with an absorbing book-within-a-book mystery.
A decrepit mansion in a small Australian town holds more secrets than meets the eye in The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer.
Fiona Winslow’s life has been turned upside down. After discovering her husband has been cheating on her and losing her position in her company, she decides to return home to her small town of Forbes. Bringing back her dream of restoring beautiful old homes, she buys her uncle’s mansion, Wurimbirra. Her memories of Wurimbirra were all positive, though her cousin does not share the same feelings. Ghost stories abound throughout the town, and Fiona’s mother is upset that she would return to Wurimbirra. But Fiona is undaunted and starts her journey by bringing Wurimbirra back to its original glory.
Through dust and grime, Fiona finds a stack of books from an author she wasn’t familiar with, but that quickly draws her in. The Midnight Estate tells the story of a young woman in a toxic marriage and a man whose life appears to be falling apart before his eyes. As Fiona delves deeper into the story of The Midnight Estate, strange happenings start occurring at Wurimbirra, and Fiona questions if the ghost stories may be truer than she thought. Mystery and heartbreak follow, and Fiona must discover the truth of her own life.
Gothic mystery is one of my favorite genres. By making the setting its own character, it brings an incredible depth to the story. I jumped into this story excited for an atmospheric mystery. But what I received far exceeded my expectations. This was a story of mystery, grief, strength, and unique family dynamics. When I neared the end of this story, we were driving down a bumpy, mountain Colombian road, with tears in my eyes. I was stunned by the poignancy of the ending of this story, and it will stay with me for a very long time. Rimmer is able to speak about a heavy topic in a way that isn’t triggering or exploitative. I believe that this story can help many people recognize something in their own lives that they may not have realized they were experiencing before reading this novel.
The Story Keeper is a dynamic story, seamlessly weaving gothic mystery with a poignant life story that will strike a chord in your heart and leave you breathless.
Kelly Rimmer is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including The Secret Daughter and The Things We Cannot Say. Her books have sold more than one million copies, and have been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. Kelly lives in rural Australia with her family and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil.
