The night before it all begins, Jude has the dream again ...Can dreams be passed down through families? As a child Jude suffered a recurrent nightmare: running through a dark forest, crying for her mother. Now her six-year-old niece, Summer, is having the same dream, and Jude is frightened for her. A successful auctioneer, Jude is struggling to come to terms with the death of her husband. When she's asked to value a collection of scientific instruments and manuscripts belonging to Anthony Wickham, a lonely 18th century astronomer, she leaps at the chance to escape London for the untamed beauty of Norfolk, where she grew up. As Jude untangles Wickham's tragic story, she discovers threatening links to the present. What have Summer's nightmares to do with Starbrough folly, the eerie crumbling tower in the forest from which Wickham and his adopted daughter Esther once viewed the night sky? With the help of Euan, a local naturalist, Jude searches for answers in the wild, haunting splendour of the Norfolk woods. Dare she leave behind the sadness in her own life, and learn to love again?
A Place of Secrets
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`Rachel Hore's intriguing Richard and Judy recommended read, which is layered with a series of mysteries, some more supernatural than others' --Independent
`Hore once again shows her gift for bringing the past to life: her understanding of memory, stories and craft is as strong here as in The Memory Garden' --Waterstone's Books Quarterly
`Sumptuous prose, deft plotting, lush settings, troubling personal histories, tragedy, heady romance and even a smattering of 18th century scientific wonderment mark Hore's fourth novel as her most accomplished and enthralling yet' --Daily Mirror
'Anyone who likes well written fiction will love this...I will with absolute certainty be getting myself the rest of Rachel's books, and I can't wait to get stuck into them all. Hopefully they'll all be as fantastic as A Place of Secrets' --ChickLitReviews.com
`Jude is an appealing heroine and Hore's writing draws the reader beguilingly into her world. An atmospheric, beautifully written romance, with an intriguing historical mystery woven through its pages'
--Living North
`Hore once again shows her gift for bringing the past to life: her understanding of memory, stories and craft is as strong here as in The Memory Garden' --Waterstone's Books Quarterly
`Sumptuous prose, deft plotting, lush settings, troubling personal histories, tragedy, heady romance and even a smattering of 18th century scientific wonderment mark Hore's fourth novel as her most accomplished and enthralling yet' --Daily Mirror
'Anyone who likes well written fiction will love this...I will with absolute certainty be getting myself the rest of Rachel's books, and I can't wait to get stuck into them all. Hopefully they'll all be as fantastic as A Place of Secrets' --ChickLitReviews.com
`Jude is an appealing heroine and Hore's writing draws the reader beguilingly into her world. An atmospheric, beautifully written romance, with an intriguing historical mystery woven through its pages'
--Living North
About the Author
Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she teaches publishing at UEA. She is married to writer D. J. Taylor and they have three sons.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was looking forward so much to this book as I've very much enjoyed Rachel Hore's previous novels, but oh dear - what a let down. It seemed a laborious read to me, and although I found some parts interesting, in general things were so slow-moving. But the thing that irritated me most were the coincidences. Goodness me, they came thick and fast. One or two I could have accepted, but by the end of the book everyone appeared to be related in some way to everyone else and I would cite examples except that I wouldn't want to spoil the story for anyone who really does want to read this novel and make their own judgment. But be prepared to have your credulity stretched!
58 of 63 people found the following review helpful
By Suzie
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a fascinatingly complex story of how the past can affect the present. Jude, the main character, still trying to come to terms with the death of her young husband four years earlier, is a specialist in 18th century books and manuscripts. When she takes a call one lunchtime, intended for another employee of the small auctioneers business where she works, she feels a frisson of interest - as a child, her grandmother lived in the gamekeeper's cottage on the estate of Starbrough Hall, home of the caller Robert Wickham. Her Gran still lives nearby, as does her pretty but prickly sister Claire, whose daughter, Summer, has started suffering the same nightmares that plagued Jude as a child - running through a forest unable to find her mother.
Both Jude's Gran, and her mother, Valerie, seem to have some past, but unacknowledged, connection to a crumbling folly built in the 18th century by astronomer Anthony Wickham, the then owner of the estate, to enable him to study the stars. As Jude searches through the old manuscripts, she unearths the journals of the young Esther Wickham, whose story unfolds alongside the modern day tale and proves even more compelling. Who was she, and where did she come from? And what happened to her after Anthony Wickham died?
There is a large cast of characters, but they're clearly defined and there's never any problem knowing who they are. There's also the astronomical history, the romantic interest surrounding Euan, a naturalist and present occupant of Gran's old home, and the tense rivalry yet edgy closeness between the sisters, Jude and Claire.
It's a novel of many facets, and I had to admire the intricate plotting which enabled the author to piece together all aspects of the story and the secrets it contains. For me, there were just two detractions: the style in the early pages seemed at times forced and unnatural, although becoming more flowing as the story progressed - Esther's 18th century voice, for instance, was beautifully conveyed; and some of the coincidences that brought the loose ends together were, for me, just a little too coincidental.
Nevertheless it's an engrossing read, a perfect story for bedtime or curled up in front of the fire as the autumnal evenings set in. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a light but intriguing read.
Both Jude's Gran, and her mother, Valerie, seem to have some past, but unacknowledged, connection to a crumbling folly built in the 18th century by astronomer Anthony Wickham, the then owner of the estate, to enable him to study the stars. As Jude searches through the old manuscripts, she unearths the journals of the young Esther Wickham, whose story unfolds alongside the modern day tale and proves even more compelling. Who was she, and where did she come from? And what happened to her after Anthony Wickham died?
There is a large cast of characters, but they're clearly defined and there's never any problem knowing who they are. There's also the astronomical history, the romantic interest surrounding Euan, a naturalist and present occupant of Gran's old home, and the tense rivalry yet edgy closeness between the sisters, Jude and Claire.
It's a novel of many facets, and I had to admire the intricate plotting which enabled the author to piece together all aspects of the story and the secrets it contains. For me, there were just two detractions: the style in the early pages seemed at times forced and unnatural, although becoming more flowing as the story progressed - Esther's 18th century voice, for instance, was beautifully conveyed; and some of the coincidences that brought the loose ends together were, for me, just a little too coincidental.
Nevertheless it's an engrossing read, a perfect story for bedtime or curled up in front of the fire as the autumnal evenings set in. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a light but intriguing read.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By squoosh
Format:Paperback
I picked this up thinking it would be a gripping yet undemanding read for the Christmas hols. In the end the only reason I finished the book was to see how bad it could really get. Esther's story was the only interesting part of the novel but even that towards the end stretched credulity to the very limits. Way too many coincidences and important chunks of the historical mystery being resolved because the contemporary main character dreamed that it happened, oh dear, oh dear.
As for the dialogue between characters, it was just so stilted and clumsy, the conflict between sisters never felt real, I could go on but I won't. Oh ok then, one last thing, the romantic male character was an insufferable drip.
Give it a miss.
As for the dialogue between characters, it was just so stilted and clumsy, the conflict between sisters never felt real, I could go on but I won't. Oh ok then, one last thing, the romantic male character was an insufferable drip.
Give it a miss.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A nicely written if fairly undemanding read
This is probably a perfect book to take on holiday with you - there's nothing that's going to overburden your brain here! Read more
Published 1 day ago by lesley brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
Love this storyline about mystery of the past to unravel and the people involved are somehow related to the storyline.
Published 10 days ago by Mrs. H. A. Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
Have just finished this book, another of Rachel Hore's which I was unable to put down. Read until 3.00am in order to finish it! Quite spooky but very atmospheric. Read more
Published 1 month ago by jennifer
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was ok but I dicovered I had read it before
It is quite spellbinding in parts and I am a big fan or this authoras ismy Daughter also But she doesnt have a kindle
Published 2 months ago by Veronica Stuttard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another fantastic book from Rachel Hore
I enjoyed A Place of Secrets so much - it's full of mystery and suspense, fascinating locations and interesting and endearing characters.. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sheelagh Hawkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good story
The storyline keeps you guessing, unfolding bit by bit. I was engrossed until the end. Can throughly recomend this book.
Published 3 months ago by Mrs Gardner
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Place of Secrets, Rachel Hore
Arrived in good time, in good condition. Read it already! Will be passing it around friends and family and hopefully they'll enjoy it as much as I did.
Published 3 months ago by Lisa Foulger
4.0 out of 5 stars
Place of Secrets
Easy reading, nothing complicated about story line, a little predctable perhaps, a relaxing read after a hard days work, or a holiday read
Published 3 months ago by Xandy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Past To Present
This is a delightful read - even if the developing relationship between Jude (the main character) and Euan is very predictable. Read more
Published 4 months ago by jisi2044
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Place of Secrets
Another brilliant novel by Rachel Hore. A somewhat unusual theme with a good deal of local research. Keeps you guessing right up to the end.
Published 4 months ago by Carole Hesford
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