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Emily Noble's Disgrace

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About this listen

'A brilliant, original read' - Daily Mail

'Totally absorbing, this is a story that will keep you gripped' - Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet Sister

The case is unexceptional, that is what I know. A house full of stuff left behind by a dead woman, abandoned at the last . . .

When trauma cleaner Essie Pound makes a gruesome discovery in the derelict Edinburgh boarding house she is sent to clean, it brings her into contact with a young policewoman, Emily Noble, who has her own reasons to solve the case.

As the two women embark on a journey into the heart of a forgotten family, the investigation prompts fragmented memories of their own traumatic histories – something Emily has spent a lifetime attempting to bury, and Essie a lifetime trying to lay bare.

Emily Noble’s Disgrace is the third novel from Mary Paulson-Ellis, the bestselling author of The Other Mrs Walker, a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year.

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Detective Suspense

Critic reviews

Paulson-Elis writes with poetry and compassion about the forgotten and overlooked . . . A brilliant, original read
Totally absorbing, this is a story that will keep you gripped through all its unexpected twists and turns (Janice Hadlow, author of The Other Bennet Sister)
This book is a swoon and slither of silk with the grit of salt underneath. Mary Paulson-Ellis is a genius at peeling away the layers and slowly, skilfully putting flesh on the bones of an extraordinary, sinuous story (Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile)
Superb (Wendy Holden)
The territory of the dead — and the objects they leave behind — is the subject of this beautifully written, compelling contemporary gothic novel. Mary Paulson-Ellis strips back the secrets and lies hiding within one house with a deft touch (Andrew Wilson, author of I Saw Him Die)
The author writes with such compassion about people and there is poetry in her prose
All stars
Most relevant
This wasn’t at all what I was expected after reading the blurb. I was really looking forward to reading this but felt like the story / plot I was sold on was really lacking. Instead I got a book where the author was indulging themselves, being too extravagant with the narrative and instead of being clever it just really got on my nerves. While I’m sure she has many fans, I won’t be reading any others by her. Sadly.

Not what I was expecting

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Having read the previous books by this author, I really enjoyed this one.
I normally listen to books at an increased speed, but slowed this one to normal speed so I could savour the richness of the story. The author creates very defined characters, and the narrator did an excellent job of voicing them.
I enjoyed the way the story was told from a variety of perspectives and with a non-linear progression.
Although it is not part of a series, there are some recurring characters from the previous books, which made it feel like coming back to old friends.
Not your everyday crime novel, but a great story and mysteries to solve.

Another good story

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