The Stolen Marriage

A Novel

By: Diane Chamberlain

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times, USA Today, and Sunday Times bestselling author Diane Chamberlain comes The Stolen Marriage—a thrilling new audiobook of secrets, heartbreak, and small-town alienation.

In 1944, twenty-three-year-old Tess DeMello abruptly ends her engagement to the love of her life when she marries a mysterious stranger and moves to Hickory, North Carolina, a small town struggling with racial tension and the hardships imposed by World War II. Tess’s new husband, Henry Kraft, is a secretive man who often stays out all night, hides money from his new wife, and shows no interest in making love. Tess quickly realizes she’s trapped in a strange and loveless marriage with no way out.

The people of Hickory love and respect Henry and see Tess as an outsider, treating her with suspicion and disdain, especially after one of the town’s prominent citizens dies in a terrible accident and Tess is blamed. Tess suspects people are talking about her, plotting behind her back, and following her as she walks around town. What does everyone know about Henry that she does not? Feeling alone and adrift, Tess turns to the one person who seems to understand her, a local medium who gives her hope but seems to know more than he’s letting on.

When a sudden polio epidemic strikes the town, the townspeople band together to build a polio hospital. Tess, who has a nursing degree, bucks Henry’s wishes and begins to work at the hospital, finding meaning in nursing the young victims. Yet at home, Henry’s actions grow more alarming by the day. As Tess works to save the lives of her patients, can she untangle her husband’s mysterious behavior and save her own life?

©2017 Diane Chamberlain (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"[A] well-crafted crime-tinged tale." —Publishers Weekly

Not usually my genre

I'm not usually a reader or listener of historical fiction but I was absolutely engrossed by this story and its characters . Excellent book and I can highly recommend it

Amazing story!

This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and I was hooked from the beginning to the end! Wonderfully written! The narrator did great as well.

Patience at best!

Loved the book and the narration! This book kept my interest the entire time. The story line was not what I expected, which was awesome. I think I listened to this book in 3-4 days lol Especially when the narration is great, it makes the book even better. Tess was an awesome character - so wholesome, so the ordinary girl whom was expected to always to do the right thing. Then she gets caught up in "Henry" …… I felt bad for her, but then, it turned out great. I can't imagine how difficult it was to live in 1944 !

You need this book!

This was one of my favorite books to date. What a great storyline and I fell in love with all the characters.

Excellent writing

The story was so very well written and so very well told. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Miss Chamberlain is an excellent writer and storyteller she doesn’t drop this the story at the end, as so many other writers do! She completes it. The story held my attention all the way. I could not predict how it was going to end. This is the best book I’ve gotten from Audible so far! 😊

Loved the last third

The middle seemed really predictable and dragged.. but I like all the resolutions. Worth the listen!

Excellent!

Wasn't sure the first couple chapters and then I was hooked. Nice retrospective of how far we've come on many social issues (before you HATE, I didn't say we've RESOLVED issues 😆). The narrator is excellent.

Spellbound!

The narrator did a great job with all the different character's voices. I felt like I really knew them and could picture them all. The story itself is hard to put down. Not sure where it was going and the twists in the plot kept me spellbound! I couldn't wait to listen to it! Wonderful read!

Really good

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - well done. I love the layers and the utilization of the time period.

Absolutely perfect!

Fantastic book and reading! Best Diane Chamberlain book so far. Captivating, mysterious, and suspenseful. The reader was the best I have listened to of all audio books, she brought it to life and gave each character more individuality.