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Audiobooks > Romance >  Contemporary > A Place of Secrets: A Novel
A Place of Secrets: A Novel Audiobook, by Rachel Hore Play Audiobook Sample

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3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 (3.00) - 1,266 customer ratings
A Place of Secrets: A Novel Audiobook, by Rachel Hore Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Rachel Hore Narrator: Jilly Bond Publisher: Macmillan Audio Audio Length: Release Date: January 2012 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9781427226730
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Publisher Description

A runaway bestseller in Britain with over 100,000 copies sold, a riveting historical mystery in the tradition of Kate Morton

In Rachel Hore's A Place of Secrets, auction house appraiser Jude leaves London for her dream job at Starbrough Hall, an estate in the countryside, examining and pricing the manuscripts and instruments of an eighteenth-century astronomer. She is welcomed by Chantal Wickham and Jude feels close to the old woman at once: they have both lost their husbands. Hard times have forced the Wickham family to sell the astronomer's work, their land and with it, the timeworn tower that lies nearby. The tower was built as an observatory for astronomer Anthony Wickham and his daughter Esther, and it served as the setting for their most incredible discoveries.

Though Jude is far away from her life in London, her arrival at Starbrough Hall brings a host of childhood memories. She meets Euan, a famed writer and naturalist who lives in the gamekeeper's cottage at the foot of the tower, where Jude's grandfather once lived. And a nightmare begins to haunt her six-year-old niece, the same nightmare Jude herself had years ago. Is it possible that the dreams are passed down from one generation to the next? What secrets does the tower hold? And will Jude unearth them before it's too late?

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Quotes

  • “Sumptuous prose, deft plotting, lush settings, troubling personal histories, tragedy, heady romance and even a smattering of 18th century scientific wonderment mark Hore's fourth novel as her most accomplished and enthralling yet.

    - Daily Mirror

  • Hore once again shows her gift for bringing the past to life: her understanding of memory, stories and craft is as strong here as in The Memory Garden.

    - Waterstone's Books Quarterly

  • Rachel Hore's intriguing Richard and Judy recommended read, which is layered with a series of mysteries, some more supernatural than others.

    - Independent

Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is the first book that I have read by Rachel Hore. I enjoyed the characters - especially Jude. The audible production was excellent. Jude works for an auction house with an expertise in historical manuscripts. She finds herself on an assignment at Starbrough Hall to look over items left by Astronomer Anthony Wickham from the 18th century. Mystery unfolds that happens to be connected to her own life. This was a wonderful book and I look forward to more from Rachel Hore. "

    - Denise, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Fantastic read...Kate Morton fans will love it. I know I did! "

    - Amy, 2/13/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Love, love the atmosphere of this book. It was my first by this author and I really loved it! "

    - Ula, 2/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I had fairly high hopes for this novel, but was ultimately disappointed. It has all the elements of a good story, but there isn't any life in it. The magic that really brings a story to life just isn't there. "

    - Kathleen, 2/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I picked up this book, because it was suggested as being similar to Kate Morton style writing. I did not see this as the case. The first half of the book was very enjoyable, but the second half was just too much of what could have been a good thing. By the end of the story, every one is connected to everyone else. The "coincidences" are very overdone and become tedious. This could have been an excellent book, but just ended up being more of a sugary sweet story that left every end tied up too neatly. "

    - Annette, 1/28/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Loved the plot, hated the juvenile romance novel aspect. "

    - Mary, 1/27/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This mystery/romance is a quiet but enjoyable read. It's interesting from a historical standpoint and the characters are well developed. The ending, however, I felt was a bit too convenient. It might have been more interesting if a few of the questions had been left unanswered. "

    - Cinsoares, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I really enjoyed this book. Tons of "coincidences" among all the connections as the whole came together, but somehow the author managed to pull it off without going over the top or making it unbelievable... "

    - Sarah, 1/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " it was a good read towards the middle and end. it was slow at the beginning but turned out a good read. "

    - Annie, 12/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I love a good Gothic mystery. Great characters, good plot. A few loose ends but overall a very good read. "

    - Mary, 12/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A mystery crossed with chick lit. Thought it was going to be more mysterious by the nature of the cover and the review on the back. Fairly easy reading though and enough to keep me awake to want to finish it the same night. "

    - Humaira, 11/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I really loved this book! It was very well written and kept my interest at all times! "

    - Amy, 7/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " It was a tedious and very slow read. Too bogged down with details. "

    - Melissa, 7/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Set in England, good story about star gazing centuries ago and subsequent discoveries. Lots thrown in...family story about how it is all related and the many secrets a family keeps. "

    - Carol, 6/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I liked it a lot but it felt way too long. There seemed to be a lot of repetition. Still, I'd pick up another book by this author. "

    - Heather, 6/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Two story lines running alongside each. Enjoyed the storyline. "

    - Diane, 6/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " This was not good, badly written, cheesy, too long. "

    - Anne, 4/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This was an interesting story that explored a mystery that took over 240 years to unfold. While I enjoyed most of the story lines, I did not get into the hint of supernatural that crept in through various dream sequences. "

    - Suzan, 2/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A great book. The story is mesmerizing and keeps you on your toes until the end. "

    - Julie, 1/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Multi-layer mystery with some interesting story lines. All mysteries are neatly tied up by the end. "

    - Penny, 10/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This was a good book that was easy to read and easy to like. I don't know that this will be the most memorable book I've ever read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. "

    - Grace, 10/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A thoroughly enjoyable novel that has great characters and the plot is quite complex with several surprises at the end. It is a bit long and should have been edited as it gets a bit boring and repetitive in places. "

    - Veronica, 6/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " While the story was good and I wanted to know how it all turned out, it moved so slowly that it took me an unusually long time to read. I was getting frustrated! Looking back now, I wish I never started. "

    - Joan, 6/12/2012

About the Narrator

Jilly Bond has worked extensively in theater and radio for many years. Her stage credits include Miranda in The Tempest, Fiona in When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout, and Anita in A Small Family Business. She is regularly heard in dramas for Radio 4 and the BBC World Service. She has won two AudioFile Earphones Awards for her audiobook narration.