The Story She Left Behind Audiobook By Patti Callahan Henry cover art

The Story She Left Behind

A Novel

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The Story She Left Behind

By: Patti Callahan Henry
Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Theo Solomon
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About this listen

Inspired by a true literary mystery, New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.

In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington’s magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her departure leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. As the headlines focus on the missing author, Clara yearns for something far deeper and more insatiable: her beautiful mother.

By 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie. When a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost langauge. Clara is skeptical. Compelled by the tragedy of her mother’s vanishing, she crosses the Atlantic with Wynnie only to arrive during one of London’s most deadly natural disasters—the Great Smog. With asthmatic Wynnie in peril, they escape the city with Charlie and find refuge in the Jameson’s family retreat nestled in the Lake District. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.

Told in Patti Callahan Henry’s lyrical, enchanting prose, The Story She Left Behind is a captivating novel of mystery and family legacy that captures the profound longing for a mother and the evergreen allure of secrets.

©2025 Patti Callahan Henry (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio
Historical Fiction Women's Fiction Feel-Good Heartfelt England

What listeners say about The Story She Left Behind

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This is the best book I’ve listened to this year. Enjoy!

Loved everything about it. I was captivated within the first ten minutes. I especially loved Winnie.

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Beautiful Story! Perfect Narration

I finished this wonderful book in just four days—there's nothing better than a story you can't put down! As a huge fan of The Secret Book of Flora Lea, this is my second novel by Patti Callahan Henry, and I now realize I’ve been missing out on her previous works. I’ll definitely be looking into reading more!

This was a beautiful story about a young woman navigating life as a single mom with a career in a small town, all while grappling with the mysterious abandonment of her own mother. Her journey, alongside her daughter, unfolds into a tale of purpose, leading them across the globe through a world of mystery, heartache, forgiveness, healing, magic, self discovery and love.

Lastly, Julia Whelan as a narrator—she truly brings the story to life. I highly recommend this book; you won’t be disappointed! XOXO

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Magical Patti!

Another beautiful piece by Patti Callahan Henry…each one just gets better and better. Her writing is magical and so engaging…an emotionally satisfying piece!

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Incredible storytelling

This book swept me away and made me feel validated in the sense that all of my childhood imaginary friends were actually “real”.
Highly highly recommend this book

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Wonderful story!

She did it again! Filled with mystery and magic I believe this is my favorite PCH to date!

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What an intriguing surprise!

I was delighted that this book took place largely in the years from about 1910, then right after WWll England’s Lake District, which became the famed home and treasured sweeping hills, lakes & dales of Beatrix Potter. Also, a really interesting and important interlude in London about six years after WWll when that city was poisoned with sulphuric gasses from coal fires mixed with a thick inversion layer of dense “pea soup” fog which sickened thousands and killed hundreds. The ability to be able to flee the city was life saving — for those economically able to do so. Another critical storyline aspect of this book I found fascinating and skillfully woven.
I’ll not say too much, but loved the weaving of actual history, art, lore, legend, beauty, gardens, the “extra”-natural…family dynamics, quests for human love…
Narration was spot-on & the additions of bits of music & occasional other extras added to the uniqueness of The Story She Left Behind created a luxurious uniqueness!
There were two elements that I found distracting and a bit off-putting: 1. The main character, “Claire”, I found to be somewhat irritating & trying in her nearly total self-immersion — no matter the background reasons 2. The book is divided up into nearly 60 chapters of about 6-10 minutes, on average, so every few minutes, the narrator must break the story to announce which character is the focus and in which location the action is taking place — even if neither the locale nor the character change for many chapters. Far better to have created fewer chapters; nothing would have been lost and plenty gained in the flow — especially with this being an audio version. Even in print, this strange breaking into multiples of multiple chapters would be jarring, resulting in many “chapters” being only 3-4 pages long, if that.
Overall however, a most unique, beautifully conceived novel, historically based! I’ll certainly reread & recommend!

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Will draw you in

The mystery of the story across will leave you longing in search of your own truth.

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Beautiful

These two narrators are wonderful. They kept this book going to the very end. Absolutely marvelous narration.
This is a beautiful story of love, loss, and new beginnings. Of forgiveness for a wrong that many, including myself, would never find. A story of the love of a mother. A love of a wife. Love of a child. And the love of a husband. Abandonment and reconciliation.
Fiction based on a very real person.

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Gloriously captivating

This novel took hold of me and would not let go. I listened until 2:30 AM … encompassing over 12 hours of listening. Of course, Julia Whelan’s brilliant narration adds to the magic. Theo Solomon has a new devotee, as well. Would rate more than 5 stars if that was an option! Bravo Ms Callahan Henry ✨

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