Preview
  • The Distant Hours

  • By: Kate Morton
  • Narrated by: Louise Brealey
  • Length: 21 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (37 ratings)

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The Distant Hours

By: Kate Morton
Narrated by: Louise Brealey
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Publisher's summary

Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long-lost letter arrives with the return address of Milderhurst Castle, Kent, Edie begins to suspect that her mother’s emotional distance masks an old secret.

Evacuated from London as a 13-year-old girl, Edie’s mother was chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe and taken to live at Milderhurst Castle with the Blythe family.

Fifty years later, as Edie chases the answers to her mother’s riddle, she too is drawn to Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric Blythe sisters. Old ladies now, the three still live together as the twins nurse Juniper, whose abandonment by her fiancé in 1941 plunged her into madness.

Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst Castle, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. The truth of what happened in the distant hours has been waiting a long time to be uncovered ...

©2010 Kate Morton (P)2023 Bolinda Publishing
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Critic reviews

"There's a rewarding, bittersweet payoff in the author's most gothic tale yet."(Kirkus)

"An enthralling romantic thriller...will stun readers." (Publishers Weekly)

"An absorbing and haunting read." (Woman & Home)

What listeners say about The Distant Hours

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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The characters

The novel was hard to put down. was The women are complex and like a good Victorian Gothic novel, utterly engaging. Family secrets

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I love Kate Morton

I have now listened/read many Kate Morton books. She always includes fascinating settings and houses and a lot of history. These are my favorite things!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved the journey

One of her best . Looking forward anything she writes… story telling keeps you hooked ..didn’t want the book to stop

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The suspense. What happens next!

The mystery of it all. Who killed who. I love these types of stories that go from present to past.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good but not like her other novels

It took a while for the plot to come together. Starts very slow; there were times when I wanted to fast forward however Morton hides so many hints that I made myself listen to it until the story started to flow. I’m still a huge fan.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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English Secrets

I loved every bit. The twists kept coming, even when I thought it had to be over!
Excellent narration.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great twist at the end but so slow getting to it

Long drawn out story, twist at the end was good however I’d almost stopped listening by then. Wanted to gave up many times if hadn’t been for the quality of her other tittles l would done.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Too Long

There are several good stories in this novel as well as great characters and interesting plot twists. However, it’s too, too long. I became bored with the book and just wanted it to end.

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Good story- lots of intrigue

Historical fiction-WWII era. This was a well told story with fun depth and detAiled imagery. Many surprises along the way!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good yarn

Probably could have used a good edit! But a good story. I’m getting to be a big fan!

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1 person found this helpful