Another brilliant story from a seriously underrated writer! I absolutely loved this dual timeline novel that explores the way men have taken credit for women’s talent historically, and even now. Karensa and Bathsheba were both amazing and compelling characters, and I was so invested in their stories from the very beginning - even if that could be heartbreaking at times. I ran through so many emotions reading this, but ended feeling uplifted.

The only negative thing I could say is that I don’t think the cover does the story justice!

Kerensa is called back to Cornwall when her father dies, to take care of her father's auction house and look after her mother, who has recently become unwell. She finds herself at Harbour House, ready to catalogue the contents, which was her father's last job.

A painting captures her as soon as she walks through the door, and it must have a story to tell as well as the two women who lived in the house. One of them Bathsheba Kernow was a famous artist but overlooked at the time. Kerensa wants to learn more about this woman and her art.

The book alternates between the modern day story as Kerensa learns not just about Bathsheba but also the life she is currently living. And the story of Bathsheba as she comes to terms with her art, in the mid 1930s and more importantly the feelings she develops for someone she asked to paint. Her actions will change more than just her own life forever.

The story is plotted well, it takes me too the wind swept parts of Cornwall to the Venetian Summer as fascism starts to infiltrate across Europe. The characters are all fully developed and some are loved, some you feel sorry for and some are despised with a great passion - I am looking at Kerensa's partner Paul.

Themes of grief, loss, forbidden love, control, passion in all its forms are covered so well in this book, that it kept me reading because I was so invested I needed to make sure that the right result was reached.

An excellent example of Liz's work which is one of the best books I have read in 2025.

I just love Liz's writing style, its beautiful and you find yourself lost in her story telling. A highly recommended book for those who enjoy a bit of historical fiction with facts and drama.

Another enjoyable book from Liz, full of great characters, secrets and the art world. Love how the story entertains and also educates the reader

I adore Liz Fenwick’s writing and so I was really looking forward to reading her latest novel The Secrets of Harbour House. The book has a dual timeline narrative, one of my favourite ways of telling a story and this one was done so beautifully.

In the present day we have Kerensa, returning to Cornwall after her father’s death to help with her ailing mother and the family auction house business. She finds the business is not in a very good state which is most unexpected and she has to work out what has happened. While there, she is tasked with cataloguing the contents of Harbour House, which was the home of two female artists, Sheba and Viv. She finds many treasures in the house and one or two very intriguing pieces of work which give rise to secrets of the book title.

In the past we follow the story of Sheba, a talented artist who leaves Cornwall, travelling to Paris and Venice. An encounter with glamorous Katherine and her rather unpleasant husband Simon leads to unexpected and forbidden love for Sheba, a love which will change her life.

There are parallels in both timelines with women not always being allowed to shine or have their work acknowledged, although this is particularly evident in Sheba’s story. There are also men in both parts of the story who are very controlling, sometimes in quite an insidious way. The 1930s setting is wonderfully atmospheric both in location but also with regard to the increasingly unsettled and dangerous political climate at the time. In the present day, Kerensa really grew stronger as a character helped by many supportive friends, old and new. Special mention for the cat on the front cover who I will not name here!

I feel I have not done this book justice. I absolutely adored it and was equally invested in both timelines, enjoying both parts of the narrative as the mysteries were unravelled and the secrets revealed. Indeed, the author continued to surprise me with some revelations right to the end of the book. A beautifully told story, The Secrets of Harbour House was compelling and poignant. I think this is Liz Fenwick’s finest book yet.

Having had a particularly difficult time before leaving her job at the family auction house in Cornwall, Kerensa has reluctantly returned to tie up the many loose ends after the death of her father. While attempting to get her head around the increasingly complicated financial situation – obstructed at every turn by her uncle, and while wrestling with her own grief and concerns about her mother – she has issues with her long-term partner Paul, his constant need for contact and less than comfortable interventions making life even more difficult. But she also takes on a commission to catalogue the estate of two elderly women – Sheba and Vivian, both artists – who recently died at their home in Harbour House. Intrigued by the stunning portrait of a beautiful woman that dominates the hallway, she’s driven to try to uncover the women’s story.

In parallel, Sheba’s enthralling and emotional story is gradually uncovered – her encounter with Katherine and her husband Simon while travelling to Venice, both to find artistic inspiration and to escape criticism of her chosen lifestyle, and the way their lives become increasingly entwined. Forbidden love – whatever the reason – is something the author always handles so superbly, and Sheba’s obsession with troubled Katherine becomes desperately painful but interspersed with moments of the most exquisite joy. It’s the 1930s, and the historical setting is wonderfully captured – the constraints on women’s lives, attitudes to sexuality when it deviates from the norm, the backdrop of the rise of fascism, and a society in a heightened state of ferment. The descriptions of the physical settings are superb too – Harbour House beautifully drawn, hiding its many secrets, and the maze of back alleys in Venice leading to unexpected friendships and new discoveries.

Sheba’s story is laced with surprises, and has a particular emotional intensity – you feel her passion, her every experience, always in complete sympathy with her impossible situation. The mystery in the present day is intriguing – a touch lighter perhaps, with its initial focus on Kerensa’s own fragility and relationship issues, although her discoveries add considerable complications – but the past and present day stories are beautifully wrapped around each other, both with their wholly unexpected twists and turns. The pacing throughout is simply perfect – and the stories are told from both women’s perspectives, in the first person, which only increases the degree of emotional engagement.

This is dual time writing at its very best, with an ease about every transition – both narratives are strong, and I was never reluctant to move from one timeline to the other. There are clear parallels between the stories – the primary male characters in both are equally well drawn, and certainly almost as odious as each other – and the way they converge towards the book’s end is quite perfectly handled. And there are layers of deeply buried secrets to be uncovered, which make for a particularly compelling read. I also very much liked the depth of detail – wholly accessible – about the art world and the operations of present day auction houses, quite fascinating and so impeccably researched and brought to life.

But it was the wonderful storytelling and that depth of emotion that turned a book I enjoyed into a book I really loved, filled with moments that deeply moved me and will long linger in the memory – totally captivating. This will, without question, be one of my books of the year.

This novel has everything! Set in glorious Cornwall, and unravelling the story behind lives of two very elderly ladies who die together, this story encompasses controlling relationships, secret loves and fraudulent practices in the antiques world. A fantastic read and highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for this eCopy to review

I was completely drawn into The Secrets of Harbour House, a beautifully layered novel that blends art, history, and emotional healing in a way that felt both intimate and epic.

The story centres on Kerensa (Ren) Barton, a thirty-year-old woman reeling from the sudden death of her father. Her life is in disarray: her mother is unwell, her career in the family auction house was derailed years ago, and she’s stuck in a controlling relationship. When her uncle sends her to catalogue Harbour House, a crumbling Georgian estate on the Cornish coast, it feels like a lifeline.

Harbour House was once home to two elderly female artists—Bathsheba Kernow and Vivian Sykes—who have both died within weeks of each other. As Ren explores the house and its treasure trove of artwork, she becomes captivated by a sensual portrait and the mystery of Bathsheba’s life. The narrative shifts between Ren’s present and Bathsheba’s past, taking us from Cornwall to the bohemian underworld of Paris and the opulence of Venice, where a forbidden love affair changed everything.

What I loved most was how Fenwick wove together the two timelines. Ren’s journey of self-discovery mirrors Bathsheba’s in subtle, powerful ways. The themes of grief, identity, and reclaiming one’s voice are handled with sensitivity and depth. The setting—Cornwall’s rugged beauty and Venice’s faded grandeur—was so vivid I felt transported.

The Secrets of Harbour House is a haunting, evocative read that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

There is something about Liz's books that make them stand out from the crowd and this book is no exception. Exceptionally well plotted and written which I highly recommend.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this dual timeline book.

We meet Kareensa, after her father passed away, she’s back home in Cornwall to deal with his part of the business.

Whilst looking through the finances, she finds that as well as the business, her parents money issues are just as bad. She plans to find out what has been happening and where have the funds gone.

Her uncle asks her to catalogue a house, the house has been left unoccupied for a while after the owners were found dead, and their Will was never located.

When she and her friend begin to look around the property and it’s contents they find out who the owners really were and the love story which wasn’t allowed to happen between them during their time period.

When they look into the finances of the business, it come to light that her uncle has been not totally honest with what he’s been doing and her father was helping him with the funds which meant that now, her mother has no money left.

Ren makes a plan to get her mum the money she’s owed and help with her health which isn’t good right now.

I loved the setting of the story and the characters.

I highly recommend this book.

How refreshing to read a book with a title promising secrets attached to a property, to find them intriguing, meaty and absolutely central to the plot.
Kerensa left her family’s auction house under a cloud, but now her father has died and her mother is ill, she needs to spend at least enough time there to obtain a value for the business. But her uncle is clearly hiding something, and instead sends her to catalogue the contents of Harbour House, where two elderly ladies died leaving no will.
Both were artists, and we follow one of them, Sheba, back to the 1930s as she travels to Venice to find her style – and to comes to terms with, or even ‘recover from’ her sexuality. The past timeline is particularly achingly told; rich with historical detail and charged with emotion, true testimony to Liz Fenwick’s talent as a writer.
The mystery unfolding is paced to perfection and although personally I preferred the historical story, the parallels between the two timelines pulled everything together into a satisfying ending.

This book got off to a very slow start for me then kept up a gentlest pace. It is told in two storylines , in 1930’s and 2020’s with both parts coming together . There are several underlying currents plagiarism, lesbian relationships , and abusive relationships plus wheeling and dealing in the art field
Pleasant read

What a great book this was. I was drawn right into the book from the first page. I love auction houses, antiques and Cornwall. So I knew I was going to love this. The dual time line was brilliant. Some excellent characters also (with the exception of Paul). I couldn't stop reading as I just wanted to know what happened in the end. I have never read a book by this author before, but I'm now going to go back and see what else I can read.

Totally loved it. Thank you so much for allowing me to read an early copy. I will be buying a physical copy of this, as I need it on my shelf!

What a beautiful, and exquisitely touching tale of love and the terrible bias and non recognition and respect of women in the art and literature worlds is the twentieth century.
The story is set on two timelines in the main from the mid 1930’s and post Covid year of 2022, with links between the characters, spread between Cornwall London and Venice.
Sheba is travelling to Venice from Paris to follow her mum’s footsteps in the mid 1930’s to progress and hone her art. She is running away from situations in Cornwall, and what she meets along the way is completely unexpected. Ren is returning to Cornwall in 2022 to sort out her father’s estate, his share of the family auction house and the care of her mother. When she discovers through what should be a simple house clearance many secrets which in turn help her find her way.
The writing is as always with Liz Fenwick’s books, intellectually fascinating, brilliant, well researched and an absolute joy to read. The characters are charming and engaging, a book you can immediately immerse yourself into, enjoying every word! Wow this is just an extraordinary piece of work, it made me stop and think to appreciate all those unrecognised female artists that are now being discovered.
Loved the social comments of the time, and of course the resident cat at Harbour House!!
This is a fabulous summer read, intelligent and absorbing and of course a fabulous escape to Venice. This book stays with you!
Hugely recommended for a totally great read!!
Thank you NetGalley and HQ books for the early read greatly appreciated and enjoyed!

This was my first Liz Fenwick book and it won't be my last. So enjoyed the characters and the storyline and how it was all woven together. A brilliant summer read.

The Secrets of Harbour House is a novel that masterfully weaves together dual timelines, creating a deeply immersive reading experience. The suspense builds steadily, keeping you hooked as secrets unfold and connections between the past and present emerge.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its exploration of controlling behaviors in relationships. This theme adds a layer of depth to the mystery, making it not just an intriguing puzzle but also a thought-provoking reflection on power and influence.

Overall, The Secrets of Harbour House delivers a tense, atmospheric story with rich character development and a plot that keeps you guessing. If you enjoy novels that blend mystery, psychological depth, and carefully constructed timelines, this one is well worth reading.

This took me awhile to get into as the first half was quite slow. A dual timeline and set in Cornwall made me carry on with it. Not as good as her others but I did enjoy it in the end. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

i mean its Liz Fenwick. its Liz blooming Fenwick. so what could go wrong...nothing is your answer every single time. she is wonderful. i can remember my first book by Liz and i think she only served to make loving books an even bigger addition to my life. and any books from her since have only cemented her as one of the best authors ive come across. ever. and that i hope she feels immense pride in every single day. and i dont just mean because i feel that, why would she care about little old me. but i have seen every other author i love praise her too so that is saying something.
anyway enough praise because im cringing at my own self right now.
this book. once again i dont really need to say more. it was brilliant.
the book takes us back to the land that Liz always describes so well. the Cornish places she describes have me wanting to be there. but as i cant be just hearing and reading her stories has me filled with the place anyway. and in this book we go further afield as we are taken in a dual timelines to Venice. it was interesting to read about this era in time as its not one i usually have the opportunity to in the books i read. i also love the artist subject in this. it was so compelling to read about the story of the woman we are learning about in the present tense but also as she learns about the woman from the past.

Whilst the first few chapters didn't grab me, I'm glad to say that I soon fell deeply in love with this story. It is a dual timeline/POV story following Kerensa in the present and Sheba in the 1930s. Kerensa is tasked with valuing an intestate estate for two dead artists following the death of her own father. As she discovers the secrets for Sheba's life and art we also follow Sheba herself as she falls for the wealthy Katherine who is trapped in a loveless marriage to her abusive and controlling husband Paul. Paul has been using Katherine to write his poetry for years when we meet Katherine on a train to Venice. This marriage mirrors the toxic relationship of modern protagonist Kerensa who is stuck with Paul an arrogant controlling professor who doesn't have his girlfriend's best interests at heart.

The sapphic love story was beautifully portrayed giving the reader just enough steam without being gratuitous or overly sexual.

The descriptions of the areas allow the reader to jump into the stories well and the arcs of all characters are well done and enjoyable.

I really loved the way the author wrote and will be looking at her other works for sure!

I love Liz Fenwick’s writing, she always has a great story to tell. The Secrets of Harbour House is no exception. In fact it is my favourite of hers so far. I particularly loved the 1930’s sections - they were mesmerising & full of atmosphere & it was clever how they were woven in and around the present day sections which were also full of drama. The locations are all sublime from Venice to London to Cornwall & the characterisations spot on. I could feel the grief that Ren feels for her father & then also her mother’s situation and then her growing confidence as she rediscovers herself after Paul’s treacherous behaviour. A really cleverly woven story - and a great ending.