The Golden Hour cover art

The Golden Hour

'An exquisite story of love and the enduring power of friendship' Ruth Hogan

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The Golden Hour

By: Kate Lord Brown
Narrated by: Avita Jay
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About this listen

 Crossing oceans, cultures, and timelines, THE SILVER THREAD is the brand new Kate Lord Brown novel coming Summer 2026.

From decadent Cairo in the 1930s to bohemian Beirut in the 1970s, an epic yet intimate story of great love and lasting friendship . . .

‘Exquisite’ Ruth Hogan
‘Evocative’ Good Housekeeping
'Epic, sweeping and gloriously romantic’ Veronica Henry
‘Sumptuous and immersive’ Platinum

As her home, Beirut, teeters on the brink of war, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell – about her best friend, Juno, and their life together in Cairo. Juno was vital and brilliant – and determined to succeed in her ambition to uncover Nefertiti’s tomb.

But Juno and Polly’s friendship was bound by a secret, one that has never been told. Now, as Polly’s daughter, Lucie, travels to Beirut to be with her dying mother, the mystery of what happened many years ago must be revealed . . .
 20th Century Historical Historical Fiction World Literature Middle East Heartfelt War Pharaoh

Critic reviews

‘Wonderfully escapist with beautifully drawn characters, stunning locations and an unashamedly romantic heart, The Golden Hour is a captivating story of female friendship, devastating tragedy and a long-buried secret coming into the light. If you love books by Dinah Jefferies or Santa Montefiore, you’ll adore Kate Lord Brown’s The Golden Hour’ Hannah Richell

‘A Kate Lord Brown novel is always a treat, and I think THE GOLDEN HOUR is her best yet, with its sumptuous combination of love, war and intrigue and its gorgeously exotic setting. Kate’s knowledge and understanding of North African and Middle Eastern life and culture shines out of every sentence, and Polly and Juno make a pair of fictional friends for the ages’ Jane Johnson

‘An exquisite story of love and the enduring power of friendship. Kate Lord Brown’s writing is so evocative and immersive that I felt transported to faraway shores and stood beside her characters sharing their experiences rather than simply reading about them. The Golden Hour is pure gold’ Ruth Hogan

'Kate paints such beautiful pictures with her words, you feel as if you are right there, in the heat and the dust. Epic, sweeping and gloriously romantic, this is the kind of book we have all been longing for, with all the ingredients of a classic page-turner - exotic locations, intrepid women and thrilling adventure. An absolute delight' Veronica Henry

‘Headily romantic, richly detailed, with marvellous characters and a vividly stirring landscape both geographical and historical, The Golden Hour offers escapism of the most elegantly seductive sort’ Christobel Kent

'The Golden Hour is a novel that will keep you glued to its pages until you have reached the very last sentence. It is a story of love and friendship, many friendships intertwined, many love stories echoing across the decades. A tale with the proportions of a Greek tragedy, woven with murder, mystery, passion, and a long-buried secret that must eventually come to light. It is set in Egypt before World World II and Beirut - 'the Paris of the Middle East' - in the 1970s, the days leading up to Lebanon's Civil War. Kate Lord Brown’s descriptions are so rich, so enticing you feel you are there, living every moment with her characters. This is epic romance, not to be missed' Carol Drinkwater
All stars
Most relevant
I have just finished this story. It’s so good the two stories woven into one . Beautifully spoken and with such a warmth.

I would love everyone who likes a great story. To listen to this it’s so good and I would put it in my top 10 books for this year infact I’d say number two .

Highly recommend. Enjoy

Absolute stunner of a story

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I love this book from start to finish. It is a lovely story with equal amounts of happy and sad , realistic characters that you can’t help but become invested in. This book can be enjoyed by anyone , you do not have to have a particular interest in the theme in order to enjoy the story. It’s beautifully written and beautifully read. The only downside was, that although it concluded perfectly…I didn’t want it to end. Would make a great T.V series.

Strong believable characters , well structured storyline.

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What a beautifully written tale, so visually descriptive you felt you were within the pages.

A wonderful immersion tale.

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