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The Beholders

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About this listen

'Held me completely in its thrall until the very last line’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN

'I was hooked from the start' DAILY MAIL

A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH

A TIMES BESTSELLER

SHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN PRIZE

June, 1878. The body of a boy is pulled from the depths of the River Thames, suspected to be the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP Ralph Gethin.

Four months earlier. Harriet is a young maid newly employed at Finton Hall. Fleeing the drudgery of an unwanted engagement in the small village where she grew up, Harriet is entranced by the grand country hall; she is entranced too by her glamorous mistress Clara Gethin, whose unearthly singing voice floats through the house. But Clara, though captivating, is erratic. The master of the house is a much-lauded politician, but he is strangely absent. And some of their beautiful belongings seem to tell terrible stories.

Unable to ignore her growing unease, Harriet sets out to discover their secrets. When she uncovers a shocking truth, a chain of events is set in motion that could cost Harriet everything, even her freedom…

©2024 Hester Mussons (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers Crime Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Gothic Historical Fiction Horror Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scary Exciting Fiction Mystery

Critic reviews

‘A dark slice of the sort of gothic nineteenth-century readers were warned against. Thrumming with tension and posing chewy questions about power and complicity, within two pages it had me in its grip and I couldn’t bring myself to look away. Uneasy, unsettling, and unputdownable’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels

‘A well-researched and thoroughly convincing page-turner’ Laura Shepperson, bestselling author of The Heroines

‘An atmospheric historical thriller with layer upon layer of secrets and twists that kept me guessing right through to the novel’s exquisite ending. Simultaneously enthralling and unsettling, this book examines the darkness beneath the surface of Victorian society with deft and unflinching brushstrokes. I can’t wait to read more from Hester Musson’ Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

'Continues to surprise with a series of twists and revelations in its plot’ Sunday Times

‘A goose-bump-inducing atmosphere… prepared to be consumed!' Debut Digest

‘I adored this historical debut and fans of gothic fiction will too. I was absolutely rooting for Harriet the whole way through’ Nina Pottell, Prima

'An enjoyable and gripping read'Irish News

'Unputdownable' My Weekly
All stars
Most relevant
Good old fashioned Victorian melodrama, except I thought the plot was much more convoluted than it should have been. I lost track at times of who was doing what, with, and at who.

Gothic tale

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I ended up enjoying this more than I thought I was going to at first. It is a thoughtful and well written story.

Unusual

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I’m glad I persevered. The narrator kept me going as it was a bit of a slog for quite a long time.

Decent mystery

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Really enjoyed the story, kept me hooked throughout. Well narrated, thoroughly enjoyed will definitely read more from the author

Great story

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The narration is outstanding.
The story, likewise is outstanding.
You feel injected into the story.

One of the best books I have read.

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