The House with Nine Locks cover art

The House with Nine Locks

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The House with Nine Locks

By: Philip Gray
Narrated by: Anna Wilson-Jones
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A master forger transforms a young woman’s life – but what will it cost her?

In post-war Flanders, Adelais de Wolf's family is slowly, inexplicably, falling apart: her mother evermore lost to religious devotion, her father to alcohol. But with the death of a beloved uncle, Adelais finds herself in receipt of an unexpected legacy: a shuttered house in a rundown district and its contents – contents that hold the promise of independence and wealth. All that is required is application, nerve, and a willingness to break the law.

Adelais stifles her doubts and her fortunes are transformed. But with her rise comes complications: her victimless crimes may not be as victimless as she supposed. Nor has she counted on the singular fanaticism of Major de Smet of the Federal Gendarmerie, a brutal detective who never forgives and never forgets.

Caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, will Adelais find that her new life comes at too high a price?

Cinematic and seductive, The House with Nine Locks is a compelling and sweeping historical novel with characters you won’t soon forget.

© Philip Gray 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 20th Century Crime Thrillers Historical Historical Fiction Mystery Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction

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Critic reviews

A riveting detective story that turns the genre on its head. Gray captures the complexity of postwar Belgium with empathy and ruthless precision. And he gives us an unforgettable heroine to root for at the heart of his superbly crafted novel (Alice Austen, author of 33 PLACE BRUGMANN)
In Two Storm Wood Philip Gray brought the scarred post-Great-War battlefields of France to life; in The House with Nine Locks he moves to a grimy post-Second-World-War Flanders. Adelais de Wolf reinvents herself at the glamorous heart of society by embracing life at its murky edges. A page-turner: morally complex and beautifully written. (Leonora Nattrass, bestselling author of BLUE WATER)
Adelais is a tremendous central character ... Beautifully realised ... Enchanting ... Has [the] power to compel and intrigue
'This intriguing, pacy novel contains a host of memorable characters [and a] magical evocation of place … Adelais de Wolf, a heroine worthy of the name … makes fantasy into a reality and captures everyone’s heart, the reader’s included' (Virginia Baily, author of EARLY ONE MORNING)
A wonderfully original and atmospheric crime novel… [a] beautifully modulated tale of forgery, gambling, ballroom dancing and star-crossed love
A captivating read
This is a book that will keep you reading well into the night
Original and thoughtful (Peter Hitchens, in THE LAMP)
All stars
Most relevant
Great writing and good characterisation - nobody was perfect - and likeability waxed and waned with changing perspectives.

The story kept on twisting right to the end

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This is a wonderful story I loved it. A really enjoyable listen. Great characters and a strong story line.

A wonderful tale of strong women

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