Bone China

By: Laura Purcell

Narrated by: Laura Kirman

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's Summary

Bloomsbury presents Bone China by Laura Purcell, read by Laura Kirman.  

A Daphne du Maurier-esque chiller set on the mysterious Cornish coast from the author of The Silent Companions and The Corset.

Consumption has ravaged Louise Pinecroft’s family, leaving her and her father alone and heartbroken.   

But Dr Pinecroft has plans for a revolutionary experiment: convinced that sea air will prove to be the cure his wife and children needed, he arranges to house a group of prisoners suffering from the same disease in the cliffs beneath his new Cornish home.   

Forty years later, Hester Why arrives at Morvoren House to take up a position as nurse to the now partially paralysed and almost entirely mute Miss Pinecroft. Hester has fled to Cornwall to try to escape her past, but surrounded by superstitious staff enacting bizarre rituals, she soon discovers that her new home may be just as dangerous as her last.

©2019 Laura Purcell (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Enjoyable but not Purcell's best

Like all of Purcell's work, her use of language in this book is so enjoyable. However, I did find this book a little difficult to read. I wasn't as intrigued as I have been by her other books and even the ending is a little disappointing.
Overall, it's worth a read if you love her work already but if you're new to her books, listen to the silent companions or the corset.
No complaints about the performance - good pace and tone and voices used for different characters are easily distinguishable.

Not the best gothic read

I DNF with two hours to listen left. Unfortunately the distinctive timeline threads feel disjointed and slow. I love the place as a character but don’t feel sufficiently attached to the main protagonists to finish this.

Started off well but end very disappointing

Was quite promising to begin with but then gets quite irritating as the story seemed to loose impetus. Seems to loose its way and end is disappointing

Very unusual book

Not a book I would have normally chosen but, it intreagued me by the title and write up. It was a light readable book with a few dark issues a little like dark fairy tales but it was OK, but nothing to write home about.

A spellbinding book that works on many levels

I can't stop thinking about this clever haunting story. Shifting between different scenarios and timescales this book tackles some griitty issues about love, loyalty, betrayal and loss. There's plenty of suspense to keep the reader intrigued and the central theme of the china is subtly and skilfully handled. I loved the complexity of the troubled central character who is desperate for acceptance but thwarted by her temper, her guilt and her dependence om alcohol. I seldom reread a book but i believe this one merits that, as there are so many layers to this gripping novel.

I managed half way

....and it was average. I'm assuming it will get better (due to good ratings) but it was too slow for me. Beautiful writing though and I did like her previous book.

Riveting!

A dark storyline but with great twists and turns. Characters are flawed, but you can't help caring for them. What a great mixture of reality and fantasy... is everything as it seems? Loved it

Gritty good

Enjoyable narration. At times story was difficult to listen to because it was so gritty and visceral. Left me with some questions but I have a good enough imagination to fill in the gaps. Am left in need of some lighter listening for my next Audible book.

Clever and gripping

All the characters are vividly drawn, the story is full of colourful detail, and I was really rooting for the protagonist, even though she is flawed and difficult.

Enchanting

I really enjoy all of Laura Purcell's work so far and this is no exception! I love her themes and I think this one explores interesting concepts of folklore in a dramatic setting.