The Beloveds

By: Maureen Lindley

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham

An exploration of domestic derangement, as sinister as Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca, that plumbs the depths of sibling rivalry with wit and menace.

Oh, to be a Beloved—one of those lucky people for whom nothing ever goes wrong. Everything falls into their laps without effort: happiness, beauty, good fortune, allure.

Betty Stash is not a Beloved—but her little sister, the delightful Gloria, is. She’s the one with the golden curls and sunny disposition and captivating smile, the one whose best friend used to be Betty’s, the one whose husband should have been Betty’s. And then, to everyone’s surprise, Gloria inherits the family manse—a vast, gorgeous pile of ancient stone, imposing timbers, and lush gardens—that was never meant to be hers.

Losing what Betty considers her rightful inheritance is the final indignity. As she single-mindedly pursues her plan to see the estate returned to her in all its glory, her determined and increasingly unhinged behavior—aided by poisonous mushrooms, talking walls, and a phantom dog—escalates to the point of no return. The Beloveds will have you wondering if there’s a length to which an envious sister won’t go.

Wow! What a Twisted Mind

This book has the potential to become an iconic tale, not because the main character is lovable, but because Elizabeth is such a unique voice in today's literature. Such a twisted, crazy, mean mind. The author infused the story with Elizabeth's strange perception of reality, but at the same time gave the reader/listener the tools to understand her devolution into alcoholic madness. And I have to say that Fiona Hardingham was exceptional. Her narration truly brought the book alive. I will definitely search for her narration performances and listen again. Amazing!

A must read!

I have never wanted to root for the villain so much. Elizabeth draws you in to her evil, crazy self and although you know it’s wrong, you want her to succeed against the beloveds.

The narrator really does assume the role of Elizabeth. It’s quite good!

disappointing

It was a struggle to finish book book. At the beginning it seemed like it was going to be a good book but then it just dragged on and at the end nothing really happened. What a disappointment!