The Midwife's Secret

A missing girl, an accused woman and a family secret in this gripping, heartbreaking historical fiction

By: Emily Gunnis

Narrated by: Gemma Whelan

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

From the author of global best seller The Girl in the Letter, a gripping, powerful and heartbreaking new novel of two families and the devastating secret that binds them....

1969. On New Year's Eve, while the Hiltons of Yew Tree Manor prepare to host the party of the season, their little girl disappears. Suspicion falls on Bobby James, a young farmhand and the last person to see Alice before she vanished. Bobby protests his innocence, but he is sent away. Alice is never found.

Present day Architect Willow James is working on a development at Yew Tree when she discovers the land holds a secret. As she begins to dig deep into the past, she uncovers a web of injustice. And when another child goes missing, Willow knows the only way to stop history repeating itself is to right a terrible wrong.

For decades the fates of the Hilton and James families have been entwined in the grounds of Yew Tree Manor. It all began with a midwife's secret, long buried but if uncovered could save them from the bitter tragedy that binds them. And prove the key that will free them all....

©2021 Emily Gunnis Ltd (P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Critic reviews

"A hugely addictive story...full of twists, turns, class divides, betrayal and deceit."(Heat magazine)

"Emily Gunnis weaves a gripping story." (Woman & Home)

Incredible!!

This book is so interesting!! I loved every part of it and the reader did such a good job. Definitely get this book and listen to it!

Brilliant

I throughly enjoyed this book . A little bit hard to sort out the characters for the first two chapters . Persevere. Such a worthwhile listen . The narrator was brilliant . The storyline was brilliant. I am now looking for another book by this Author .

Wonderful read!

It took a minute to learn the characters and the method of storytelling, but once all characters were presented I couldn’t stop listening! Wonderful read!

Human Fragility of the Characters and the bravery and goodness in people under the worse circumstances…

I loved the inter generationally theme of the story bringing us up to present day and showing the changes of beliefs and attitudes through time….

Wonderful story

One of the best books I’ve listened to in a long time a lot of historical facts included. I even cried over pieces of it.

Wow!

A fabulous book. Although it starts a little slowly, it picks up steam quickly. Narration was perfect.

Loved it

It was hard to follow during the 1st hour since there’s a handful of characters and their POV but after a minute I got into and couldn’t stop listening. The narrator was super awesome.

I could see it coming a mile Away

This is an interesting story, but the mysteries were all so well telegraphed, but I almost put the book down about halfway through. It was quickly obvious that Leo was a psychopath or at least had something to do with Alice’s disappearance. . The search for her aunt Nell was so unnecessary. Although, the trip to the TB ward and connecting with parents who lost their daughter was interesting. It is still very sad to see how money talks and can destroy the lives of so many people.

Thoroughly enjoyed this

I loved this book. So many stories wound together but created such a beautiful tale. My heart ached for so many of the characters.

Beautiful…Poignant

What stellar storytelling! This book was touching from start to finish. It really shines a light on the injustices from the past toward women, the poor, children…as a warning I will tell you that there is some animal cruelty and with a farm in the story there is some animal death. None of the animal cruelty is gratuitous, but rather the times and circumstances its to be expected.
I’m very sensitive about animals and i was saddened but there was also child abuse and abuse to women all necessary for the narrative to work.
There is jumping back and forth in time i had no trouble keeping up but some might.
The narration was excellent. I really can’t think of any negatives about this wonderful book. It broke a long dry spell of stinkers which always makes me enjoy the book just that much more.
I recommend the book for those who like historical fiction and can deal with heart wrenching situations.