A Place of Secrets, Rachel Hore
A Place of Secrets, Rachel Hore
4 Rating(s)
List: $32.99 | Sale: $23.10
Club: $16.49

A Place of Secrets
A Novel

Author: Rachel Hore

Narrator: Jilly Bond

Unabridged: 14 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/31/2012


Synopsis

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?

About Rachel Hore

Rachel Hore is the bestselling author of seven novels. She worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, UK, where she teaches publishing at the University of East Anglia. She is married to the writer D. J. Taylor, and they have three sons.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Charlotte on January 02, 2018

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a reread so that I could write a review on here. Jude is an antiques expert invited to value a large collection of astronomical writings, charts and items, in her hometown of Norfolk, belonging to the late Anthony Wickham in the grand stately house Starborough Hall. Wh......more

Goodreads review by Veronika on November 02, 2020

Padariau klaidą, kad knygą skaičiau su dideliais laiko tarpais, todėl vis prarasdavau susidomėjimą šia istorija.. Knyga graži, tai pasakojimas pasakojime, praeitis susipinanti su dabartimi. Daug įvykių kurie susipynę tarpusavyje, gal net per daug sutapimų? :) Visoje knygoje renkamos dėlionės dalys i......more

Goodreads review by Yasmin on January 05, 2016

I agree with the other reviews that disliked this book. I've read a couple of Rachel Hore's books, especially enjoying 'A gathering storm' and thought I'd give this a go. It was as if it was written by a different author entirely. I didn't care at all about any of the characters, except Anthony and......more

Goodreads review by Vevine on January 14, 2019

A place of secrets start off mild and easy,but as the book gathers pace with the emerging characters a fabulous tale of astrology and stargazing become a spellbinding adventure. The main character from london stumbles cross a hidden diary and so her personal journey of research began which unravels......more

Goodreads review by Kathy on February 16, 2012

In many ways I loved A Place of Secrets. I felt the fundamental story worked even though it was a little sluggish and the story was so charming that I felt bound to continue to find out how things turned out. There were some interesting sub-plots including an intricate sibling relationship. However......more


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