The Distant Hours

By: Kate Morton

Narrated by: Caroline Lee

Length: 22 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Evacuated from London as a 12-year-old girl, Edie’s mother is chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe and taken to live at Milderhurst Castle with the Blythe family: Juniper, her twin sisters, and their father, Raymond.

Fifty years later, as Edie chases the answers to her mother’s riddle. She, too, is drawn to Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric sisters Blythe. Old ladies now, the three still live together, the twins nursing 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. For the truth of what happened in the distant hours has been waiting a long time for someone to find it....

©2010 Kate Morton (P)2010 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Perfect Narration

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator performed superbly! Highly recommended.

Great combination of story & narrator!

This book had the great twists and turns and family secrets that Kate Morton has become known for I didn’t want to stop reading/listening to this one and was sad when I had to stop! I just want to gush like a fangirl about Kate Morton I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy all her books. I also can’t say enough about the audio versions Caroline Lee’s narration is so good and I highly recommend all Kate Morton’s books in audiobook format.

This story you never want to shut off

This ia a stiry full of family secrets. The deacriptions rhat transporr you there. The personal accounts that ket you witness the story deom the eye of every character. Even the first paragraph grabs you in a child's nightmare...

A great author, story and narrator.

Another captivating story and narration. Morton and Lee are a stellar combination to enjoy every time.

WW2 London and a castle!

The story was good, but I twice thought it was over when it wasn't. I like a little more intrigue, more plot twists.

Loved it

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. Page turner, easy to listen too. Great story.

What does Caroline Lee bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love Caroline Lee's voice - So beautiful and kept me listening. I actually started looking or books narrated by her, thats how much I love her voice and way of reading the book.

Enjoyed the mystery

Was a bit disappointed in the way it ended. Would I recommend it? Yes. It is a pleasant story that is easy to listen to.

Loved it!

Great story, keeps you guessing all the way to the end. Loved it! Thank you Kate Morton for bringing those stories to life for us!

Captivating

I’ve listened to every book by Kate Morton and have enjoyed each and every one. This was my last one of hers, but I wish there were more.
The reading by Caroline lee keeps you interested as well. I’ve listened to lots of books and the reader can make or break a good book. She adds a special depth to an already great book.

I thought it would never end

Would you try another book from Kate Morton and/or Caroline Lee?

This book was overly descriptive and tiring, but it is offset by Kate Morton's lovely, lyrical writing and storytelling. The narrator was excellent.So, yes I will buy more of Morton's books.

Would you be willing to try another book from Kate Morton? Why or why not?

Yes, although this particular book was tedious and the "distant hours" until it finally ended could not come soon enough for me. I skipped over many sections where the descriptions of places such as the castle and its scenery and the feelings of various characters were overly detailed and slowed the story down.

Which character – as performed by Caroline Lee – was your favorite?

Meredith. My heart ached for her--her dreams and disappointments.

Did The Distant Hours inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to read the reviews of other Kate Morton books carefully, because the Distant Hours dragged on and on and I just wanted to get it over with.

Any additional comments?

Kate Morton is a wonderful writer, and Caroline Lee a marvelous narrator. I was excited when I read The Secret Keeper and planned to read all of Morton's other books, but the sluggish pace of The Distant Hours gives me pause.