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The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery cover art

The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery

By: Catherine Bailey
Narrated by: Stephen Rashbrook
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Summary

In April 1940, the ninth Duke of Rutland died in mysterious circumstances in one of the rooms of his family estate, Belvoir Castle. The mystery surrounding these rooms holds the key to a tragic story that is played out on the brutal battlefields of the Western Front and in the exclusive salons of Mayfair and Belgravia in the dying years of la belle époque. Uncovered is a dark and disturbing period in the history of the Rutland family, and one which they were determined to keep hidden for over 60 years. Sixty years on, The Secret Rooms is the true story of family secrets and one man’s determination to keep the past hidden at any cost.

©2012 Catherine Bailey (P)2012 Audible Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Reads like the best kind of mystery story. It is a tale of mistresses and heirlooms, cowardice and connivance, and a deeply dysfunctional family...gripping." ( Sunday Times)
"Astonishing...jaw-dropping...It would spoil the book if I revealed the whole works, suffice it to say...what a family." ( Sunday Telegraph)

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What listeners say about The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    88
  • 4 Stars
    69
  • 3 Stars
    30
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    6
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    111
  • 4 Stars
    35
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    78
  • 4 Stars
    47
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great read. Great narration.

I have to admit to a strong partiality to Catherine Bailey's writing (I loved Black Diamonds) and this book didn't disappoint. Listening to this over the weekend of the Remembrance Sunday gave it added poignancy. The narrator was excellent! Great read!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

It might be true but it isn't Gothic

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

A historian might enjoy the book but there was no suspense and no real mystery. There wasn't really a hidden room or anything that was worth hiding.

Would you ever listen to anything by Catherine Bailey again?

No

What about Stephen Rashbrook’s performance did you like?

Fine, he has a good voice and managed to read it without falling asleep.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointed.

Any additional comments?

The very worst part of the book was (I assume) half an hour reading the names if every single man who died in WW1 who had been born in, lived in or even visited Leicester. I say assume because I managed 2 minutes then fast forwarded 28 minutes and it was still going on!!!! Well done to the reader. He must have been at his wits end by then.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating family mystery/history

I really enjoyed this book - it has intrigue, a love story, tragedy and history. Beautifully narrated at a good pace.

The only reason I haven't given it 5 is because at times it could be long-winded and there was repetition, which confused me!

I think I preferred Black Diamonds.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • JW
  • 24-02-14

Strange but true !!!!

Would you listen to The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery again? Why?

Yes I would listen to this book again because I found it a more compelling listen then many fiction novels. In fact at times I had to remind myself that it was not a novel.

What did you like best about this story?

That is was true, that the hero/villain of the plot had actually existed, and also the way in which the writer had set out to research one subject but uncovered the initial information which led to this book being written. I also found the methodology of the research interesting. Also, the book is not written like many non-fiction or biographical books. The prose is lively and perfectly read.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

No particular scene but overall the relationships between the different individuals was quite fascinating.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, not particularly, but neither was it a book that I did not want to finish.

Any additional comments?

I shall never visit Belvoir again without remembering this book and the secret rooms !!!!!!!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Needs serious editing

I thorough enjoyed Black Diamonds so approached this with high expectations but was disappointed. The first few pages are a mess veering from a description of the castle, a dying duke, the doctors attending him, to maids polishing the ballroom floor and their fear of ghosts to the man who rang the dinner gong and back to the docs. Set in Belvoir castle, and focussing on three gaps in the family archives, the following story is interesting but very very repetitive in the manner of TV progs that remind you of the story after each ad break. Needs serious editing. Not really a patch on black diamonds.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Long winded

Disappointed with the book.....a lot of over -egging of the pudding.I kept on going with expectations of a "gothic" revelation worthy of its title.However it was long on letters and diary entries and took an excessive length of time to reach an uninteresting conclusion.Boring,unless one has an interest in the Great War and it's battles.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

NO STORY AT ALL

What would have made The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery better?

The story itself needed to be more substantial and have a REAL mystery to it

What was most disappointing about Catherine Bailey’s story?

It just rambled on with details of inconsequential events which had very little to do with the so-called 'Mystery'

Have you listened to any of Stephen Rashbrook’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but he was excellent and I enjoyed his reading of the story, although someone should have told him that in Leicestershire the place called CROXTON is not pronounced like that. It is pronounced 'CROWSON'. Just a small niggle really.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery?

Most of the war details, this book was not supposed to be about the life in WW 1

Any additional comments?

Didn't really need all those names read out at the end. Just padding.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Fascinating , interesting. A brilliant insight to the Rutland family and the dreadful times of the Great War. It is extremely well narrated and captivating from beginning to end.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping

What did you like most about The Secret Rooms: A True Gothic Mystery?

The story was gripping and the complex family relationships absorbing.

What did you like best about this story?

The 'cliffhangers' and the atmospheric detail made me eager to hear more.

What about Stephen Rashbrook’s performance did you like?

The performance was excellent.

Any additional comments?

Although there was some repetition in the narrative, I found it helpful in reminding me important details which I might otherwise have forgotten.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a true story to keep you riveted

wonderful characters & a really amazing story so well read by just the right narrator.

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2 people found this helpful