• The Distant Hours

  • By: Kate Morton
  • Narrated by: Caroline Lee
  • Length: 22 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (6,212 ratings)

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The Distant Hours  By  cover art

The Distant Hours

By: Kate Morton
Narrated by: Caroline Lee
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Publisher's summary

Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long lost letter arrives one Sunday afternoon with the return address of Milderhurst Castle, Kent, printed on its envelope, Edie begins to suspect that her mother’s emotional distance masks an old secret.

Evacuated from London as a 12-year-old girl, Edie’s mother is chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe and taken to live at Milderhurst Castle with the Blythe family: Juniper, her twin sisters, and their father, Raymond.

Fifty years later, as Edie chases the answers to her mother’s riddle. She, too, is drawn to Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric sisters Blythe. Old ladies now, the three still live together, the twins nursing Juniper, whose abandonment by her fiancé in 1941 plunged her into madness.

Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst Castle, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. For the truth of what happened in the distant hours has been waiting a long time for someone to find it....

©2010 Kate Morton (P)2010 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

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What listeners say about The Distant Hours

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,377
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Story
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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent Read Wonderful Performance

I have not yet read a book I haven't loved by Kate Morton. I also love the way Caroline Lee performs. she's wonderful. Kate Morton is at the top of my list of favorite authors. Her books are never light. They are always rich with story, mysteries in the truest sense of the word; never gory, never vulgar just lots of story. and Caroline Lee brings the characters to life beautifully.

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

Not as good as the Secret Keeper

Kate Morton is a beautiful writer, but this story is a little slow to start. A judicious
edit of the first portion would have made it better.

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A really wonderful read!

I really enjoyed this book. It does have lots of detail, but I enjoy books that go into great detail. I loved how long and involved it was and, unlike other Kate Morton books, I was unable to guess the end, which kept me listening! I have listened to them all now and this is definitely one of my favorites! If you have enjoyed any of Kate Morton's other books, you will like this one as well.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Distant Hours

I very much enjoy Kate Morton's books and especially this one which kept me guessing until the end. I particularly love Caroline Lee's reading and enjoy the different contrasts in her voices. Together, this book is one of my favorites.

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

Addictive story

Wonderful story in all respects. Narration was magical to the point of wanting to listen only for that. I got lost in the author's ability to bring emotion and realism to this haunting world of hers that even made the story line seem secondary. What a pleasure this was.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Kate never disappoints

Awesome narration. One of my absolute favorite narrators and one of my favorite authors. I loved how I never did figure out the intrigues until Kate Morton was good and ready for me to know. Really beautifully done! Such a great story!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good but not great

Kate Morton writes a specific genre, and some of her books work better than others. Here the underlying mystery is so convoluted, and the final revelation drawn out so interminably, I just wanted to get to the end. The modern-day character is likable enough, but the three elderly sisters are mostly just creepy.

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Way too long

Long and I found story not very interesting. 22 hours long book at 12 hours left I gave up and did not finish book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb listening

Kate Morton has an amazing way with characters and time movement - this is a most wonderful book that challenges the senses and invokes imagination by the reader to come up with an answer - before it comes to us. Wonderful and exciting. Wish she would write many more

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Once again KateMorton together with narrator Caroline Lee have produced a haunting, Memorable book. I could not put it down... the only sad time was when I knew the book was coming to an end and I would have to say goodbye to the characters in the book... Anyone who purchase this book will not be disappointed.. a truly Brilliant read...

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1 person found this helpful