Two babies are born a century apart and three generations of women are blighted by a family secret.

Thea’s sense of self depends upon keeping her secret. Her daughter, Vanessa, is confused about her own identity. And there’s Kate, Vanessa’s own daughter, whose marriage is threatened because of her grandmother’s deception. Issues of racial prejudice, betrayal, forgiveness and trust echo through the years as Vanessa – caught between generations – tries to make sense of the past. The more truths she uncovers, the more enigmatic her mother appears.

Who was Thea? How did the beautiful young hatmaker turn into the controlling parent Vanessa remembers? Can Vanessa reconcile the two and find peace? And what will the future bring for her own daughter and grandchildren?

Jill Treseder was born in Hampshire and lived all her childhood in sight of the sea on the Solent and in Devon, Cornwall and West Wales. She now lives with her husband in Devon overlooking the River Dart.

After graduating from Bristol with a degree in German, Jill followed careers in social work, management development and social research, obtaining a PhD from the School of Management at the University of Bath along the way. For the last decade she has focused on writing fiction.

"A beautifully written, intriguing and touching story of the effects of racial prejudice across generations. A compelling and satisfying read.”

– Judith Allnatt, author of A Mile of River, The Poet’s Wife, The Moon Field and The Silk Factory

"An original and imaginative novel, which bravely confronts head on the issue of racial prejudice and its corrosive effects on relationships. It also takes a refreshingly honest look at the ambivalence of the bonds between parents and their adult children, and the emotional uses and misuses of parental power. For all the weightiness of these themes, however, the personal stories engaged me in their own right."
– Christa Laird author of the companion novels for young adults Shadow of the Wall and Beyond the Wall

"There is a profound wisdom to Jill Treseder’s fiction, worn lightly as befits this subtle, engaging storyteller, but always there, always thought-provoking, and always enlightening."
– Peter Stanford, writer, journalist, broadcaster and biographer of Lord Longford, C Day-Lewis and the Devil

"Interesting and most enjoyable read. A women's novel about 3 generations, family secrets, mending differences and the strong bond of love. Meet the beautiful, Vanessa. A book that you will not want to put down and at the end will miss these characters who have become like family.” – Shirely A. M., NetGalley Reviewer

"I loved every minute of involvement in the unravelling of The Hatmaker’s Secret, examining the contemporary social attitudes of a bygone era. Deliberately hidden for four generations, the matriarch’s story is exposed and celebrated in reuniting forgotten family members. A powerful retelling of lies and cover ups threading through the generations of one family.” – Leanne N., NetGalley Reviewer

"This was an intriguing story, with especially good characterization of women in very difficult situations in life.” – Mystica V., NetGalley Reviewer

"Highly recommended: never a dull moment reading this book. A page turner, I could not put this book down. Finished it in two days.” – Helena M., NetGalley Reviewer

View the AI (Advance Information) sheet here.

Read Annette Shaw's review of The Hatmaker's Secret in Devon Life here.