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A Narrow Door cover art

A Narrow Door

By: Joanne Harris
Narrated by: Alex Kingston, Steven Pacey
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Summary

Now I'm in charge, the gates are my gates. The rules are my rules.

It's an incendiary moment for St Oswald's school. For the first time in its history, a headmistress is in power, the gates opening to girls.

Rebecca Buckfast has spilled blood to reach this position. Barely 40, she is just starting to reap the harvest of her ambition. As the new regime takes on the old guard, the ground shifts. And with it, the remains of a body are discovered. 

But Rebecca is here to make her mark. She'll bury the past so deep it will evade even her own memory, just like she has done before. 

After all...you can't keep a good woman down.

©2021 Joanne M Harris (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"A dark world of emotional complexity and betrayal, where twist follows twist and nothing is what it seems. A masterful narrative voice, and a compulsive thriller from one of our greatest writers. I absolutely loved it." (Alex Michaelides, number one best-selling author of The Silent Patient)

"A psychological thriller you can't put down and an antiheroine you won't forget." (Harlan Coben)  

"A dark and richly enjoyable novel that already feels like a classic." (Elly Griffiths) 

"A dark world of emotional complexity and betrayal, where twist follows twist and nothing is what it seems." (Alex Michaelides)

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What listeners say about A Narrow Door

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

A dark end to the trilogy

I enjoyed Gentlemen and Players and its sequel immensely.
This third book was very dark and I liked it less although I am newish to audible and might have preferred to read the book. Steven Pacey was perfect, the Roy Strateley I had always imagined I wasn’t completely convinced by Alex Kingston and her accent didn’t sound to me to be completely authentic.
Having said that, the plot was clever and gripping, the characters engaging as Joanne Harris’s characters tend to be and I’m glad I finished the book.

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

Back at St Oswalds

Gripping story. Love the old school Latin references. Kept me guessing till the end.

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

Gripping tale

I was totally gripped by this story. Admittedly it took a chapter or two to like it, but once I was into it I couldn't stop listening. The story slowly revealed layers of back story slowly all the while creating really rich characters. It addresses the role of the "agreeable woman" and has well written characters, some of which are truly hateful. it's a good mystery story.

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

wow

You have heard of a page turner. This is an ear flapper. A great story brilliantly narrated. Alex Kingston pushes the pace while Steven Pacey holds the background note.

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

Complexity

I found out after I started listening that there are 2 previous books before this. It was a little difficult for me to know where I was at first....
the story was of interest, I enjoyed the main narrating characters, however the nicknames & real names occasionally threw me.
my main 2 emotions warred at times - sincere sympathy & serious annoyance, almost anger - with Becky. What a flawed family to emerge from!

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12 people found this helpful

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

Brilliantly narrated

I was totally intrigued by this story couldn't wait to get to the finish

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

I enjoyed this, although the audio format doesn’t lend itself well to a split time frame. Strong characters and clever plotting make up for some inconsistencies and padding in places.

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

Wonderful gripping thriller

Great performance by Alex Kingston as La Buckfast. More twists than a twisty thing in a twister. Couldn't stop listening. Stephen Pacey as Roy Straitly is a tour de force - back to the excitement of Gentlemen and Players. Now going to read them all again, they are that good. Thank you Joanne Harris 🥰

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

edge of the seat moment

didn't think much of it at first. but the more you go in there's no stopping

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

Utterly immersive performance!

Loved it - listened to it all in 2 sittings over Xmas. A good & creepy mystery made even better by Joanne Harris' delicious use of language & truly excellent performances by Alex Kingston & Steven Pacey. Highly recommended!

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2 people found this helpful