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The Midwife's Secret
- A missing girl, an accused woman and a family secret in this gripping, heartbreaking historical fiction
- Narrated by: Gemma Whelan
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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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....
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)
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What listeners say about The Midwife's Secret
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Rae Radford
- 21-12-21
Families! Who'd have them?
This page-turner skips through three generations weaving a tale of misjustice, lies and deceit. With every page, you understand more about a small child named Alice, who goes missing one New Years Eve.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend this to fellow crime lovers.
1 person found this helpful
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- Richard Maidment
- 06-11-21
Heartbreaking.
This was a new author for me. I was attracted to the title and cover. I loved listening from the very start and soon became captivated by the story. I loved the fact that it switched from 1945 to 1969 then present day, whilst the story of five generations of one family fought to claim their inheritance of an old house which held many secrets. The story was filled with sadness and intrigue,I just had to keep listening until I finished it! The narration was very good,,however I did not like the fact that when noises happened throughout ,such as the click of a key, a door banging or the yapping of a dog, these were spoken! To me I would have much preferred an actual noise.I think it is much more atmospheric and realistic to include background noises and music on an audible.In fact, I wish every audible would begin with music as television programmes do, appropriate to the story.That would be good!
1 person found this helpful
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- Lee Harvey
- 21-03-22
I couldn’t stop listening
I enjoyed this book very much, a fascinating story that drew me in. I enjoyed hearing the different timelines from the characters and it was well executed.
I was impressed with the level of research that must have been done to write with such detail.
Off to download another Emily Gunnis book.
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- sally
- 06-03-22
Great story
What a treat this book kept me fully engaged from start to finish. Great characters and setting
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- S. Christie
- 13-02-22
Very very good
I quickly became emerged in this book. Gripping and heart wrenching stuff! Wonderfully narrated and well written. Recommended
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- ellen hovstø
- 31-01-22
A bit disappointed with this book.
She uses a lot of the same phrases, and explains the weather rather than details that would identify the time period.
Too many characters in the beginning of the story, took half the book to kind of figure out who was who.
I wouldn't read another of her books.
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- Amazon Customer
- 27-01-22
love Emily Gunnis books
loved it. the way three generations of one family's past comes together, flitting between 1946,1969 and 2017.
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- Dog Walker Sussex
- 14-01-22
Wonderful Story
I got totally absorbed in this family saga and am sad it has ended!. Gemma Whelan did an amazing narration.
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- Kelly
- 08-04-22
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.
1 person found this helpful
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- Nancy H
- 13-02-22
Animal abuse
Too many animals dying/killed. Story timelines and characters could have been developed without such descriptive killing of animals. Yes it happened and happens but I don’t enjoy it in my books.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 19-02-22
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.
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- Lily
- 04-01-22
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.