The Secret Hours

By: Santa Montefiore

Narrated by: Genevieve Swallow

Arethusa Clayton has always been formidable, used to getting her own way.

On her death, she leaves unexpected instructions. Instead of being buried in America, on the wealthy East Coast where she and her late husband raised their two children, Arethusa has decreed that her ashes be scattered in a remote corner of Ireland, on the hills overlooking the sea.

All Arethusa ever told Faye was that she grew up in a poor farming family and left Ireland, alone, to start a new life in America, as did so many in those times of hardship and famine. But who were her family in Ireland and where are they now? What was the real reason that she turned away from them? And who is the mysterious benefactor of a significant share of Arethusa’s estate?

Arethusa is gone. There is no one left to tell her story.

Faye feels bereft, as if her mother’s whole family has died with her. Leaving her own husband and children behind, she travels to the picturesque village of Ballinakelly, determined to fulfil her mother’s last wish and to find out the reason for Arethusa’s insistence on being laid to rest in this faraway land.

©2019 Santa Montefiore (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

Stunning - both author and narrator

Once again Santa Montefiore has given us a beautifully written story set in both Ireland and the USA. Her descriptions take you right to the beautiful places she describes with characters so relateable you feel you know them personally. I loved her previous stories about this castle and family, and once again she hasn't disappointed. I have listened to all her stories, and also to all those narrated by the wonderful Genevieve Swallow, and in fact often listen to them more than once. Highly recommended.

must read

Higjly recommend it Loved it!
I hope there is a further saga of the Deverills