The Gilded Hour

By: Sara Donati

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

The internationally best-selling author of Into the Wilderness makes her highly anticipated return with a remarkable epic about two female doctors in 19th-century New York and the transcendent power of courage and love.

The year is 1883, and in New York City it's a time of dizzying splendor, crushing poverty, and tremendous change. With the gravity-defying Brooklyn Bridge nearly complete and New York in the grips of antivice crusader Anthony Comstock, Anna Savard and her cousin, Sophie - both graduates of the Woman's Medical School - treat the city's most vulnerable, even if doing so may put everything they've strived for in jeopardy.

Anna's work has placed her in the path of four children who have lost everything, just as she herself once had. Faced with their helplessness, Anna must make an unexpected choice between holding on to the pain of her past and letting love into her life.

For Sophie, an obstetrician and the orphaned daughter of free people of color, helping a desperate young mother forces her to grapple with the oath she took as a doctor - and thrusts her and Anna into the orbit of Comstock, a dangerous man who considers himself the enemy of everything indecent and of anyone who dares to defy him.

With its vivid depictions of old New York and its enormously appealing characters, The Gilded Hour is a captivating, emotionally gripping novel that proves Sara Donati is an author at the height of her powers.

©2015 Sara Donati (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Better than expected!

Enjoyed the time period, medical background, characters, and story itself. Held my interest throughout the many hours of listening. Very pleasant narration. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Disappointed

I loved this book because it is a continuation of my favorite series. I know the author was upset that people were criticizing the ending because the story will be continued but the ending was a big disappointment. The story was good & it held my attention but it doesn't compete with here other books.

Left hanging

Would you listen to The Gilded Hour again? Why?

I have already listened to most of the last 10 chapters again as I got to the end of the book and thought whoa! I missed something related to the serial killer-- after the second listen I decided this must be the first of a series-- why would an author spend all that time trying to catch the killers only to not do so.

Would you be willing to try another book from Sara Donati? Why or why not?

Perhaps, the book didn't end a number of sub plots e.g. all this time chasing a serial killer and then nothing...

Any additional comments?

I would hope that there is another book that completes some of the dangling plots- otherwise I don't think I would read more of

Golden Moments

Where does The Gilded Hour rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was a most exceptional audiobook. Its' narration had just the right speed and tone to listen to this finely spun story.

What other book might you compare The Gilded Hour to and why?

Because of its' superb storyline I would possibly compare it to "The Long Road Home".

Any additional comments?

If you like history, medicine and intrigue, this is a good one for you.

Love

This was such a great continue to the story....I am a super fan. Thank you

Could not stop reading until the end

A passionate telling of a time so different yet so similar to our own

No resolution of story lines

slow starter, then rather good, up until the abrupt ending with major mystery and subplots unresolved.

Well worth the time

Loved getting to know the characters and their story, as well as learning so much about that era, especially the challenges for women, in New York City.

Terrible ending

I was very upset that this book did not have a better ending. The criminals were never captured. Sad because I loved all Sarah’s other books.

as expected

I am so happy to have moved back into the lives started in the first series. it is written so well, that I feel like I am hearing the story of a friend's family and I feel so connected to each character!