The Golden Hour

A Novel

By: Beatriz Williams

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 16 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author of The Summer Wives and A Certain Age creates a dazzling epic of World War II-era Nassau - a hotbed of spies, traitors, and the most infamous couple of the age, the duke and duchess of Windsor.

The Bahamas, 1941. Newly widowed Leonora “Lulu” Randolph arrives in Nassau to investigate the governor and his wife for a New York society magazine. After all, American readers have an insatiable appetite for news of the duke and duchess of Windsor, that glamorous couple whose love affair nearly brought the British monarchy to its knees five years earlier. What more intriguing backdrop for their romance than a wartime Caribbean paradise, a colonial playground for kingpins of ill-gotten empires?

Or so Lulu imagines. But as she infiltrates the duke and duchess’ social circle and the powerful cabal that controls the islands’ political and financial affairs, she uncovers evidence that beneath the glister of Wallis and Edward’s marriage lies an ugly - and even treasonous - reality. In fact, Windsor-era Nassau seethes with spies, financial swindles, and racial tension, and in the middle of it all stands Benedict Thorpe: a scientist of tremendous charm and murky national loyalties. Inevitably, the willful and wounded Lulu falls in love.

Then, Nassau’s wealthiest man is murdered in one of the most notorious cases of the century, and the resulting cover-up reeks of royal privilege. Benedict Thorpe disappears without a trace, and Lulu embarks on a journey to London and beyond to unpick Thorpe’s complicated family history: a fateful love affair, a wartime tragedy, and a mother from whom all joy is stolen.

The stories of two unforgettable women thread together in this extraordinary epic of espionage, sacrifice, human love, and human courage, set against a shocking true crime...and the rise and fall of a legendary royal couple.

This audiobook includes an episode of the Book Club Girl Podcast, featuring an interview with Beatriz Williams about The Golden Hour.

©2019 Beatriz Williams (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

A real good page turner

This author hit another home run for me. I like learning about past eras in history and love absorbing the fashion and customs of the day in the writing. Richly written with great descriptions, you will feel yourself an observer to some incredible scenes in this book.

The only thing I would change about this book is the way the author uses the “f” word occasionally which does not fit well in the rich, elegant dialogue to me.

This book weaves 2 family stories a generation apart in different locals. It’s pretty much a seesaw back and forth between the 2 each chapter, which can be confusing to the reader or listener (audio book). I’ve noticed more and more contemporary authors adopting this style of writing.

Likeable characters and awesome narrators. Doesn’t disappoint. This was my 3rd book by Beatrix Williams. Recommend especially if you like WW2 stories.

I need to listen to the last hour again...

This book is rich in historical fact and woven into a beautiful tapestry of fiction. The author's language is juicy and full and extremely well read by the narrators. I rarely read books twice, but this might be one to come back to in a few years.

Loved it!

The author and narrator do a great job taking us to Nassau in the early 1940’s, great descriptions of scenery and people. The author reintroduces us to little known and/or forgotten pieces of history. Also loved the many scenes and pieces of history included from WWI.
Highly recommend.

What a Wonderful Book

I absolutely loved this book. It had me from the beginning, both story and narration. Cassandra Campbell is a favorite and Saskia Maarleveld was great too. Loved the characters, the language and the settings. Highly recommend!!!

Tangled

I found this novel hard to follow. (I always wonder if reading vs. listening would've helped, as I found myself wanting to rewind or look up bits of information. I am not usually bothered by multiple plot lines or jumps in time, but I was in this book. I'm not convinced the multiple plot lines were necessary. In fact, they came together in a very convenient, unbelievable, ending. I found myself shaking my head saying "nope, never would've happened." So much potential here, but it's a trangled mess that just needed a bit more revision.

Liked it a lot.

I really wanted to love it. Great story. And great characters, I think. The problem was the narration. Elfrieda‘a story was fantastic. I adore that narrator! However, Lulu’s narrator was too flippant for me. It just about ruined that story line. Too many “anyways” and isn’t it’s.” Also everything was so over enunciated it was irritating. I will likely read another of this author‘s books on my Kindle and see what the verdict is.

20 stars to this reader

intriguing story but sometimes difficult follow because of the switches between years, individuals and locations. but I have to say this is the one of the best readers ever. even her diction seemed completely appropriate to the period.

it was ok

sometimes i like a longer, slow moving story… but as some points this was really slow and could be confusing towards the end as the book went from present day back without notice and he narrator could be annoying at points… overall a good book… just not great!

Fantastic!

I didn't want this to end. An excellent story by a wonderful author and my favorite narrators!! Loved every minute of it!

Beautiful!

Beatrice opens a door of history that I knew so little so marvelous and beautiful!