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Bone China cover art

Bone China

By: Laura Purcell
Narrated by: Laura Kirman
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents Bone China by Laura Purcell, read by Laura Kirman.  

A Daphne du Maurier-esque chiller set on the mysterious Cornish coast from the author of The Silent Companions and The Corset.

Consumption has ravaged Louise Pinecroft’s family, leaving her and her father alone and heartbroken.   

But Dr Pinecroft has plans for a revolutionary experiment: convinced that sea air will prove to be the cure his wife and children needed, he arranges to house a group of prisoners suffering from the same disease in the cliffs beneath his new Cornish home.   

Forty years later, Hester Why arrives at Morvoren House to take up a position as nurse to the now partially paralysed and almost entirely mute Miss Pinecroft. Hester has fled to Cornwall to try to escape her past, but surrounded by superstitious staff enacting bizarre rituals, she soon discovers that her new home may be just as dangerous as her last.

©2019 Laura Purcell (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

What listeners say about Bone China

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable but not Purcell's best

Like all of Purcell's work, her use of language in this book is so enjoyable. However, I did find this book a little difficult to read. I wasn't as intrigued as I have been by her other books and even the ending is a little disappointing.
Overall, it's worth a read if you love her work already but if you're new to her books, listen to the silent companions or the corset.
No complaints about the performance - good pace and tone and voices used for different characters are easily distinguishable.

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11 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Started off well but end very disappointing

Was quite promising to begin with but then gets quite irritating as the story seemed to loose impetus. Seems to loose its way and end is disappointing

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not the best gothic read

I DNF with two hours to listen left. Unfortunately the distinctive timeline threads feel disjointed and slow. I love the place as a character but don’t feel sufficiently attached to the main protagonists to finish this.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A spellbinding book that works on many levels

I can't stop thinking about this clever haunting story. Shifting between different scenarios and timescales this book tackles some griitty issues about love, loyalty, betrayal and loss. There's plenty of suspense to keep the reader intrigued and the central theme of the china is subtly and skilfully handled. I loved the complexity of the troubled central character who is desperate for acceptance but thwarted by her temper, her guilt and her dependence om alcohol. I seldom reread a book but i believe this one merits that, as there are so many layers to this gripping novel.

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2 people found this helpful

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Riveting!

A dark storyline but with great twists and turns. Characters are flawed, but you can't help caring for them. What a great mixture of reality and fantasy... is everything as it seems? Loved it

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not Laura Purcell’s best but enjoyable nonetheless

I devour gothic fiction with pleasure and I am great fan of Laura Purcell and her books have kept me company on many a long business drive, however this wasn’t one her best although unlike other reviewers I loved the differing timeline aspects. The main protagonist was distinctly unlikeable - though I think this is the point - a devious and selfish character who you really don’t warm towards, but brings the Tory together well. I did suspect the ending from quite early on it wasn’t a surprise for me, and although it was a conclusive ending it was rather too abrupt for me. Worth listening to if you’ve already read her other books

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

A great story with perfect narration. Truly immerses you into the time period. Well worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Highly recommend

Fantastic story and the narrator’s voice is beautiful . The corset by Laura is fantastic also x

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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An Enjoyable Listen

What an excellent story, well narrated and rather unusual. I have no hesitation in recommending it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible

Brilliantly gothic and atmospheric tale, I loved every word. Great performance by the narrator too.

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