The Paying Guests
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
The Paying Guests
Buy for $24.30
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Juliet Stevenson
-
By:
-
Sarah Waters
About this listen
Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award 2014
There came the splash of water and the rub of heels as Mrs Barber stepped into the tub. After that there was a silence, broken only by the occasional echoey plink of drips from the tap....
Frances had been picturing her lodgers in purely mercenary terms - as something like two great waddling shillings. But this, she thought, was what it really meant to have paying guests: this odd, unintimate proximity, this rather peeled-back moment, where the only thing between herself and a naked Mrs Barber was a few feet of kitchen and a thin scullery door. An image sprang into her head: that round flesh, crimsoning in the heat.
It is 1922, and London is tense. Ex-servicemen are disillusioned, the out-of-work and the hungry are demanding change. And in South London, in a genteel Camberwell villa, a large silent house now bereft of brothers, husband, and even servants, life is about to be transformed, as impoverished widow Mrs Wray and her spinster daughter, Frances, are obliged to take in lodgers.
For with the arrival of Lilian and Leonard Barber, a modern young couple of the 'clerk class', the routines of the house will be shaken up in unexpected ways. And as passions mount and frustration gathers, no one can foresee just how far-reaching, and how devastating, the disturbances will be.
This is vintage Sarah Waters: beautifully described with excruciating tension, real tenderness, believable characters, and surprises. It is above all a wonderful, compelling story.
2015, Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction, Long-listed
2015, The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Long-listed
2015, IBW Book Award, Winner
2016, IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, Long-listed
©2014 Sarah Waters (P)2014 Hachette AudioRelated to this topic
-
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas
- By: Meghan Quinn
- Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin, J.F. Harding, Robert Hatchet, and others
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 722
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 712
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 712
Living in a year around Christmas town has its drawbacks. The caroling, the decorations, the insanely cheery spirit, it never disappears. It's why I like to hibernate away in my cave - I mean housekeeping a healthy distance from the holly jolly spirits. And all was going according to plan until my nemesis, Storee Taylor, moved in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Without blinking, she turned my simple world into a real nightmare-before-Christmas, especially when she decided to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest - which she was determined to win.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This was a treat from beginning to end!
- By SashaSays on 11-01-24
By: Meghan Quinn
-
Booked for the Holidays
- By: Liz Maverick
- Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky, Andrew Eiden
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 262
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 256
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 256
When mystery author D. B. Ziegler is late delivering her book, Abi Schore steps in to help. Surely she can give her favorite author moral support over the holiday break and get the manuscript to her boss at Tea & Sympathy Publishing in time for the new year. When Abi shows up on Ms. Ziegler’s doorstep bearing holiday treats, she’s met by the author’s handsome grandson Dov, who reveals a startling plot twist. His grandmother isn’t able to finish the book and Dov promised he’d complete it so fans won’t be disappointed—a task that’s harder than he ever imagined.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What a gem!
- By Joanna N. on 11-14-24
By: Liz Maverick
-
Verity
- By: Colleen Hoover
- Narrated by: Vanessa Johansson, Amy Landon
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 125,087
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 110,304
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 110,170
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of best-selling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
intriguing but skip if triggered by child abuse
- By Amazon Customer on 05-16-19
By: Colleen Hoover
-
Cruel Winter with You
- Under the Mistletoe Collection
- By: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Vivienne LaRue
- Length: 2 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 343
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 337
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 337
All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Endless insecurities and translation fails
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 11-12-24
By: Ali Hazelwood
-
The Glitch
- By: Leeanne Slade
- Narrated by: Sam Claflin, Daisy Edgar Jones
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,925
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,869
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,869
Five Years Earlier: Henry Dunne knows three things: that agreeing to host this raucous house party was a terrible idea, that he absolutely cannot show up to his nursing shift tomorrow with a hangover, and that the beautiful redhead in the corner will be sleeping in his bed tonight.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A Love Story. A Predictable One.
- By AS on 09-13-24
By: Leeanne Slade
-
Den of Vipers
- By: K.A. Knight
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins, Hollie Jackson
- Length: 19 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 6,104
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 5,602
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 5,595
Ryder, Garrett, Kenzo, and Diesel - The Vipers. Their deals are as sordid as their business, and their reputation is enough to bring a grown man to his knees, forcing him to beg for mercy. They are not people you mess with, yet my dad did. The old man ran up a debt with them and then sold me to cover his losses. Yes, sold me. They own me now. I’m theirs in every sense of the word. But I’ve never been meek and compliant.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Shrek
- By Shemika Holmes on 02-25-21
By: K.A. Knight
-
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas
- By: Meghan Quinn
- Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin, J.F. Harding, Robert Hatchet, and others
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 722
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 712
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 712
Living in a year around Christmas town has its drawbacks. The caroling, the decorations, the insanely cheery spirit, it never disappears. It's why I like to hibernate away in my cave - I mean housekeeping a healthy distance from the holly jolly spirits. And all was going according to plan until my nemesis, Storee Taylor, moved in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Without blinking, she turned my simple world into a real nightmare-before-Christmas, especially when she decided to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest - which she was determined to win.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
This was a treat from beginning to end!
- By SashaSays on 11-01-24
By: Meghan Quinn
-
Booked for the Holidays
- By: Liz Maverick
- Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky, Andrew Eiden
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 262
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 256
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 256
When mystery author D. B. Ziegler is late delivering her book, Abi Schore steps in to help. Surely she can give her favorite author moral support over the holiday break and get the manuscript to her boss at Tea & Sympathy Publishing in time for the new year. When Abi shows up on Ms. Ziegler’s doorstep bearing holiday treats, she’s met by the author’s handsome grandson Dov, who reveals a startling plot twist. His grandmother isn’t able to finish the book and Dov promised he’d complete it so fans won’t be disappointed—a task that’s harder than he ever imagined.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What a gem!
- By Joanna N. on 11-14-24
By: Liz Maverick
-
Verity
- By: Colleen Hoover
- Narrated by: Vanessa Johansson, Amy Landon
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 125,087
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 110,304
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 110,170
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of best-selling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
intriguing but skip if triggered by child abuse
- By Amazon Customer on 05-16-19
By: Colleen Hoover
-
Cruel Winter with You
- Under the Mistletoe Collection
- By: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Vivienne LaRue
- Length: 2 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 343
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 337
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 337
All newly minted pediatrician Jamie Malek wants is to borrow a roasting pan for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, that requires her to interact with Marc—her best friend’s troublemaking brother, who’s now a tech billionaire. He’s the one who got away. She’s the one who broke his heart. Outside, a howling blizzard. Inside, a crackling fire. Suddenly, being snowbound with the man she never expected to see again might not be such a bad way to spend a winter’s night.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Endless insecurities and translation fails
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 11-12-24
By: Ali Hazelwood
-
The Glitch
- By: Leeanne Slade
- Narrated by: Sam Claflin, Daisy Edgar Jones
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,925
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,869
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,869
Five Years Earlier: Henry Dunne knows three things: that agreeing to host this raucous house party was a terrible idea, that he absolutely cannot show up to his nursing shift tomorrow with a hangover, and that the beautiful redhead in the corner will be sleeping in his bed tonight.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A Love Story. A Predictable One.
- By AS on 09-13-24
By: Leeanne Slade
-
Den of Vipers
- By: K.A. Knight
- Narrated by: Cornell Collins, Hollie Jackson
- Length: 19 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 6,104
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 5,602
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 5,595
Ryder, Garrett, Kenzo, and Diesel - The Vipers. Their deals are as sordid as their business, and their reputation is enough to bring a grown man to his knees, forcing him to beg for mercy. They are not people you mess with, yet my dad did. The old man ran up a debt with them and then sold me to cover his losses. Yes, sold me. They own me now. I’m theirs in every sense of the word. But I’ve never been meek and compliant.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Shrek
- By Shemika Holmes on 02-25-21
By: K.A. Knight
-
Merry Ever After
- Under the Mistletoe Collection
- By: Tessa Bailey
- Narrated by: Summer Morton, Connor Crais
- Length: 1 hr and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 194
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 190
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 190
Evie Crowe is starting over in a strange town with her newborn, and men are the furthest thing from her mind. If only the quiet, hulking farmer, Luke Ward, would stop coming into the thrift shop and piquing her reluctant interest. Evie wants to stay single all the way—she can’t trust anything more than friends-with-holiday-benefits. But Luke is in it for the long haul. He’s fixed on making this a Christmas Evie will remember forever. If she gives him a chance.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
An ode to his monster Yule log.
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 11-13-24
By: Tessa Bailey
-
Drop Dead
- By: Lily Chu
- Narrated by: Phillipa Soo, John Cho
- Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,920
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,826
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,826
Obituary writer Nadine Barbault doesn’t mind being called “Lady Death”. It suits the ice queen persona she’s cultivated to survive the fast-paced Toronto Herald. So when Nadine learns that famous (and reclusive) author Dot Voline has died, she doesn’t hesitate to run the obituary…only to discover that Dot is very much alive. Nadine’s screw-up has brought Wesley Chen of the rival Spear no end of joy—she’s been a thorn in his extremely ambitious side for years. But the renewed interest in Dot also surfaced chatter about a mysterious past scandal.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Clean and sweet
- By Momma Nae on 08-02-24
By: Lily Chu
-
Holiday Hideaway
- A Short Story
- By: Mary Kay Andrews
- Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky
- Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 238
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 231
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 231
Tilly Farriday isn’t feeling very jolly this season. Recently divorced and broke, she’s squatting in one of her rental agency’s properties until her new home is ready. The sprinkles on top of the burnt Christmas cookie that is her life? The new owner shows up early, forcing Tilly to hide in the attic to save her job…and what remains of her dignity.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
I ain’t afraid of no ghosts
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 10-31-24
By: Mary Kay Andrews
-
Nocticadia
- By: Keri Lake
- Narrated by: Aaron Shedlock, Stella Hunter
- Length: 18 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,297
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,255
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,255
After watching my mother succumb to a mysterious illness, I promised myself two things. I'd find the cure for what ravaged her and leave the godforsaken city where she abandoned me. Four years later, I received an acceptance letter from Dracadia University, one of the oldest most prestigious schools in the country. Nestled on a secluded island off the coast of Maine, it's rumored to be haunted by the souls of the mental patients exiled there centuries before, those whose bones are said to make up the island's white sandy shores. And restless ghosts aren't even its most daunting peculiarity.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good but a slight miss
- By Destinyreadsbooks on 01-17-24
By: Keri Lake
-
Mr. and Mrs. Christmas
- By: Michelle Stimpson
- Narrated by: Marcella Cox, Ian Hackney
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
There's no place like home for the holidays ... especially for Lesley Carver. Life in the big city just wasn't her jam and now she's back in Hickory Falls, working at the family diner and helping her mom after she took a tumble. Lesley longs to build a life here, working at the cafe, selling her handmade ornaments and ... er, apparently reviving her high school crush on her best friend’s older brother. Only one problem, her mom wants her to leave Hickory Falls far behind.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Loved the book!
- By Amazon Customer on 11-15-24
-
All by My Elf
- Under the Mistletoe Collection
- By: Olivia Dade
- Narrated by: Andi Arndt
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 124
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 122
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 122
Nina and William are underpaid adjunct professors at the same university, where winter break is no break at all: ’tis the season to make extra money. When their holiday side hustle has them stranded by a blinding blizzard in the middle of nowhere, there’s nothing to do but cuddle up for warmth and play a game of Never Have I Ever to pass the time. But in the game of love, secrets never stay secret for long…
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
A cool, considerate romance
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 11-13-24
By: Olivia Dade
What listeners say about The Paying Guests
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steve
- 11-24-14
To be a fly on the wall in 1922
If you could sum up The Paying Guests in three words, what would they be?
moving, thrilling, suspensful
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Paying Guests?
So Many, the ashtray, the verdict
Have you listened to any of Juliet Stevenson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Started off OK, but the more i listened, i thought Juliet really brought the characters to life.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The desparation of francies and Lillan to be happy
Any additional comments?
Started of a bit slow, But gradually it pulls you in. Sarah waters is just a great story teller.
Started to re listen again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Derek
- 05-29-23
What an anticlimax
Too long and the story drags and expected a twist at the end but nothing .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Victoria
- 02-07-22
just ... so ... long
A good story but too laboured for me. So much detail.
On the other hand, I listened to the end after giving up and coming back to it several times. Possibly it's actually excellent and I'm just too impatient
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Berenice Gómez Zaleta
- 09-01-19
Buena pero no tanto como otras de Waters
Entretiene, pero no captura del todo. Ha sido la más floja de las historias que he leído de Sarah.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Johnny
- 01-23-22
One of my favorite books ever
this is one of the best books I’ve ever read
And the narration is simply fantastic
I can’t recommend this book enough
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-14-20
Not to my taste, but well written (minor spoilers)
I will try to keep the first part of this review spoiler free, when I start going in to spoilers, I will write a warning.
This book really consists of two separate stories, a love affair and a murder history, they flow in to each other but the love story occupies the first half of the book, the murder the other.
The story is seen from the point of view of Frances, an upper class woman living with her mother in their old house, her father left them nothing but debts when he died and so they are forced to take in lodgers, a young married couple. Frances starts having an affair with the woman in the couple and they start making plans for how they can be together.
This is just a personal opinion of mine BUT: I find it very tiresome that almost every historical novel that centres a female character has to be about a woman who is upper class, or in the very least middle class. I really long for a good historical novel from the point of view of a working class girl or woman. And I would have found it even more intriguing to read about a working class homosexual woman, as I know Waters have done in the past with "tipping the velvet". However I did enjoy the descriptions about domestic life in the 1920's and I did find the romance sweet.
I will say that Waters is very masterful when it comes to her portrayal of men, especially in how she portrays ordinary men's everyday disrespect of women's boundaries. I have never before seen a writer who so skilfully manages to convey that terror that happens when you, as a woman, are faced with a man who does not behave in a way that is overstepping the line, but just toeing it enough to make you feel uneasy and unsafe but without being able to speak up as the man is not doing anything extraordinary. So for instance, when Frances is at a party and a man clings on to her and refuses to take her hints that she does not wish for his company, that's very well portrayed and feels incredibly true to life.
I will also say that Juliet Stevenson does a fantastic job with the narration, no complaints, she's just marvellous.
spoilers in the rest of the review!
I am no big fan of murder mystery novels or anything of that sort, and this story does not do anything extraordinary with the whole "murderers point of view"-thing. It plays out exactly as you would have expected and the whole thing just feels very anonymous. None of the charm or wit that had been there previously in the novel came through after the murder. It became very by the books and so maybe if you are in to murder stories this might still be up your alley, but for the rest of us, I would not bother really.
I also found that the characters all acted very odd and "out of character" after the murder had taken place. Of course they were shaken by the events, but, still there were a lot of odd things that just seemed out of place. No one acted like a real person, they all just became like people in an ordinary Noir thriller.
All in all, I will read or listen to more by Sarah Waters, as this book did intrigue me. And I am looking forward to it as well, but this book just didn't do it for me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- mgn
- 05-01-15
Keeps you engaged
A little repetitive in part but the story line is good and engaging. The ending is a tad abrupt. Overall I listened to this over several days while walking and the novel was a motivator in my setting out on my walks.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms WS Rall
- 10-30-14
Fantastic
What made the experience of listening to The Paying Guests the most enjoyable?
Engaging, well written and wonderful characters.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Francis, she is a complex and interesting. Not predictable.
What about Juliet Stevenson’s performance did you like?
Her energy and different characters.
If you could take any character from The Paying Guests out to dinner, who would it be and why?
Francis
Any additional comments?
Excellent!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bel
- 03-11-23
Worth the worry!
Sarah Waters never promises a happy ending, and I wasn't sure I could trust Lillian or events for one either. I'm worn out. Such an authentic story! Well worth it!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- wendy campbell
- 07-07-15
Disappointing
What was most disappointing about Sarah Waters’s story?
I loved all previous Sarah Waters books so I was shocked that this one was so dull, long winded and annoying.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!