When Stephen, raised as an orphan, learns that he has inherited an estate in the Cornish countryside, he has no idea what to expect. And when he arrives at Lansbury Hall, there is no one to greet him . . . or so he thinks. But waiting for Stephen are his great uncle's diary of a journey long ago up the Amazon with a native guide . . . and a hidden valley filled with creatures from the Amazon rainforest.
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"I'm giving this 4 stars because I thought the plot and concept was really creative. Sometimes that is enough for me. I was, however, disappointed in the ending in that it seemed very rushed. The resolution was rushed, the important information at the end seemed preachy rather than informative and I was so busy trying to process all the gobs of information at the end that the epilogue was sort of lost on me. Urg. I felt like I had been led through this amazing adventure through lush jungles and ornate Victorian rooms only to be shoved roughly out a door and back into my living room without an explanation. Maybe Ms. Hussey was also rushed by deadlines or her editors decided to hack part of the ending? I won't know. But I do know that I would read another book of hers."
— Jen (4 out of 5 stars)
" The premise was interesting, but the delivery was preachy and the pacing of the story was uneven. The preachiness of it (re: saving the Amazon jungle) yanked me out of the story frequently. I don't have a problem with the message, really, but the story would frequently come to a grinding halt while the narrator, a character, or a character's journal expounds on the subject for a while. It got annoying and felt very much like the story was a flimsy excuse for the author to get on a soapbox about the subject. I have more complaints, but I'll leave it at that. It is too bad, because as I said, the premise is interesting. Hussey just didn't make the most of it. "
— Kaarin, 2/14/2014" Interesting mystery, but not what I thought. A little disappointing. "
— NerdPres, 2/4/2014" Great read. This one is for the arborist out there. "
— Jody, 2/2/2014" ummm...what? "
— Ellie, 1/22/2014" Pretty good book, intriguing, but after the first hundred pages when there still wasn't any dialogue...need I say more? "
— Rebecca, 1/3/2014" I really enjoyed this book. Hussey's descriptions of all the flora and fauna was fantastic and often left me wanting more. In fact, I read through the whole book and now need to see if there is a sequel because she sure left you thinking there would be. Clean, no vulgarity or sex. Very enjoyable. "
— Dinamarie, 12/5/2013" Overall, this book was rather good, despite the environmental agenda, which felt too overdone at times. Stephen's first encounters at Landsbury Hall were completely riveting and absolutely captured my attention and I liked reading of Uncle Theodore's and Berty's Amazon adventures. "
— Melinda, 10/17/2013" There were parts of this one that I really liked. But there were other parts (the first half mostly) that was just. too. slow. A couple of kids at school are reading right now. I'm curious to hear what they have to say. "
— Melissa, 8/26/2013" This was a really good book about family and I recommend it to people who like the sorts of books with orphans and smart kids in them. (aka Maggie and possibly Lauren) "
— Nicole, 7/12/2013" Don't let the name fool you. The story does not have a flow, yet there is something that brings you a different, strange feeling when you are reading this. I am unable to express what it is, but I can tell you it's somewhat beautiful. "
— Nipuna, 1/5/2013" I read this a long time ago but I remember clearly how much it sucked. The book was too descriptive and so repetitive. "
— Dua'a, 8/6/2012Charmian Hussey trained as an archaeologist at the University of London, through which she worked on excavations in Great Britain and the Middle East. This interest in the indigenous tribal peoples of the world led to a deep concern for their futures. The Valley of Secrets combines her understanding and passion for indigenous concerns with her love of the Cornish countryside in England, where she now lives and farms with her husband, John.
Charles Keating has won three AudioFile Earphones awards for his audiobook narrations. His credits include works by P.D. James, Mark Haddon, Charmian Hussey, and Terry Brooks. He is British actor of stage, screen and television in addition to being an audiobook narrator. He has acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company, played Rex in ITV’s celebrated Brideshead Revisited miniseries, and had roles in television shows including Sex and the City, Another World, All My Children and As the World Turns. In 2001, he played the role of Carney/Oscar Wilde in the Lincoln Center Theater Performance of A Man of No Importance, and in 2007, he played the role of Clement O’Donnell in the Guthrie Theater production of The Home Place.