Mrs. England

De: Stacey Halls

Narrado por: Imogen Wilde

A Sunday Times bestseller!

"Highly atmospheric and tense."--Richard Osman, New YorkTimes bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club

Simmering with slow-burning menace, Mrs. England is a portrait of an Edwardian marriage, an enthralling tale of men and women, power and control, courage, truth and the very darkest deception.

West Yorkshire, 1904. When recently graduated Ruby May takes a nanny position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear something is not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs. England.

Distant and withdrawn, Lilian shows little interest in her children or charming husband and is far from the angel of the house Ruby was expecting.

As the warm, vivacious Charles welcomes Ruby into the family, a series of strange events forces her to question everything she thought she knew. Ostracized by the servants and increasingly uneasy, Ruby must face her own demons in order to prevent history from repeating itself. After all, there's no such thing as the perfect family—she should know.

This captivating new feminist novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Stacey Halls is her third work of fiction and proves her one of the most exciting and compelling new storytellers of our time.

©2022 Stacey Halls (P)2022 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Enjoyed much more than expected

Enjoyed much more than expected. The story kept me engaged in the audio and I enjoyed the narrator’s voice.

Great

Great story with a little bit of everything and a surprise ending. I liked it.

loved it

I was shocked when listening that it had ended. I was expecting to hear more. That time me is a great book.

Beautifully descriptive

Beautifully descriptive. Wish there was more voice intonations to separate voices/times, the hops between past and present were a bit foggy to keep up with where the listener is, but I managed.

Only stopped listening to sleep

Because it is written in the first person I was pulled deeply into the story, as if experiencing everything myself. As a long time student of writing I appreciate the small details that make each scene vivid. Although I only learned when Nurse May did, from the start each character was depicted as an individual, not a type.
The narrator also was excellent with the ability to use distinctive voices and accents.

surprisingly enjoyed

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction book, with monents of humor, shock, and tears. It was well written, the narration flowed smothly. The slightly dark and mysterious elements a nice touch, with nods to Bronte and Austen.

Heartbreakingly Beautiful

Gothic, atmospheric, and filled with complex & intense characters: this novel begins like Jane Eyre and ends like… well, I don’t want to spoil it for you. Needless to say, as usual, S. Halls is INCREDIBLE! It’s rare that I can’t say which was better: the beauty of her writing, the characterization of her protagonist, or the intense plot that manages to move slowly yet keep you 1000% engaged at all times! WOW!

well woven story

the plot was good and once used to the heavy accent a pleasure to hear.

My favorite book of 2024!

This story was so very beautiful. Hard to get through at times if you or someone you know has experienced similar relationship struggles in life, but oh is it worth it to listen/read.

Well worth a credit

This was a very good choice for me, but for some I can see how this might be a slow burn type book. However, if you enjoy women's lit and a bit of domestic thriller vibes, this one might be just your cup of tea.
A side note about the narration: I enjoyed it, felt that the narrator was skilled and clear spoken. However, the cadence was one that does take a moment to accustom yourself to so don't give up if at first blush you think the narration is off. There is a structure and well orated way she is performing which I found overall to be quite pleasing.
Perfect for a rainy weekend.