The Dead Secret

De: Wilkie Collins

Narrado por: Nicholas Boulton

A masterful blend of Gothic drama and romance, Wilkie Collins' mystery novel is an exploration of illegitimacy and inheritance. Set in Cornwall, the plot foreshadows The Woman in White with its themes of doubtful identity and deception and involves a broad array of characters. The "secret" of the book's title is the true parentage of the book's heroine, Rosamond Treverton, which has been written down and kept in an unused room at Porthgenna Tower. This is where, 20 years later, much of the novel's action is set.

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What a lovely story

Don’t let the title fool you. This is a beautiful story one not to miss.
I didn’t want the book to end .

This is one of my favorite books of Wilkie Collins, but it seems I say that about everyone I read

Only complaint is I wish it were longer

And maybe some of the characters could have been more developed. But Nicholas Boulton is a fantastic narrator and Wilkie Collins writes interesting people and twisty-turny stories. This one was perhaps a bit more predictable in parts but it could be because I’ve been on a Wilkie Collins binge!

Not one of Collins’ best but still very good!

I have read most of Wilkie Collins’ novels and while I enjoyed this very much, I would not say it is one of his better novels. But please, read it nonetheless because it is a lovely story and his use of language is like no others.

Another masterpiece from Collins

What can be said about this novel other than it does not disappoint. It is another masterpiece of Wilkie Collins. If you have never read Wilkie Collins, I suggest you start with Woman and White, no name, an Armadale followed by this. All of his novels are beautifully written and engrossing.

Wilkie Collins is an excellent story teller

Wilkie Collins having practiced as a playwright is a genius at sentence construction which contributes to excellent descriptions and dynamic dialogue. I love his books.
This narrator’s voice is pleasant and cheerfully English without being pretentious. He portrays different accents of the characters which Jaffa to the richness of the story. This book was written to be read aloud. A great listen.

lovely characters

I have read most of wilkie Collins books and this story has the most endearing characters! I really enjoyed this book.

A maudlin bog

Really NOT good. Wordy, over the top annoying characters, nothing interesting really happens. This is the first book by this author I disliked enough that I simply couldn't finish it. Even the superlative narrator couldn't save it, and O how he tried. Like the secret referred to in the title this story was just simply dead. Far from being interesting and sympathetic the characters all struck me as Victorian stereotypes. I stopped midway, before this book could ruin the pleasure I take in a a really good Gothic romance.