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The Secrets of Blythswood Square cover art

The Secrets of Blythswood Square

By: Sara Sheridan
Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron
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Summary

THE ENCHANTING NEW NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF THE 2022 WATERSTONES SCOTTISH BOOK OF THE YEAR, THE FAIR BOTANISTS.

A story of secrets, friendship and intrigue, set against the backdrop of subversive mid-19th century Glasgow, by the author of the critically acclaimed The Fair Botanists

You wouldn't suspect it, but scandalous secrets are being kept on Blythswood Square...

1846. Glasgow is a city on the cusp of great social change, but behind the curtains, neighbours are watching, and rumours of improper behaviour spread like wildfire on the respectable Blythswood Square.

When Charlotte Nicholl discovers that the fortune she has been bequeathed by her father is tied up in a secret collection of erotic art, she is faced with a terrible dilemma: sell it and risk shaming her family's good name or lose her home.

An encounter with Ellory McHale, a talented working-class photographer newly arrived in Glasgow, leads Charlotte to hope she has found not only someone who might help her, but also an unlikely friend.

Yet Ellory is hiding secrets of her own - secrets that become harder to conceal as she finds herself drawn into Charlotte's world.

As the truth begins to catch up with both women, will it destroy everything they've fought to build - or set them both free?

©2024 Sara Sheridan (P)2024 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

What listeners say about The Secrets of Blythswood Square

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent strong female characters

I enjoyed reading about the colourful world of Glasgow in the mid 19th century with its characters and their attitudes.
Beautifully narrated.
The dominance of the church and its strict and often toxic rules cast a huge shadow.
Limited options for women and anyone living outside the ‘norms’ dictated by religion and society.
The early development of photography and the direction it was heading.
The enslaved.
Secrets.
Much much more.
Another winner from Sara Sheridan!!!

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  • Overall
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Really enjoyable

I was really absorbed in this story and the characters. I've read/listened to a lot of books set in this era and a lot have been quite nothing-y and I was worried this was going to be the same. It wasn't. While the very familiar theme of societal expectations was very much present, it was dealt with through the less common lens of erotica and women in photography. There were some really lovely relationships in this book, making it all more human, and that were a delight to see unfold. It's not the greatest read of all time, but it's thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying. I'm also a big fan of this narrator.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Important Social History Masquerading as Bloody Good Fiction

Sheridon puts the characters you’d least expect up front and centre and writes about topics of utmost relevance to our contemporary lives within a context that fills in many gaps of conventional history lessons, all the while allowing us the enjoyment of a bloody good novel. Ellory, Jeremiah and Jane are worthy of future attention in a Glasgow that Sheridan makes sure to capture the personality of the city even to this day. I read some of the chapters and listened to others and can recommend both formats to those who enjoy a glimpse into an often unrecorded past, set within a rich ecosystem of cast, set and narrative (though reading the book myself would win if it were a competition.)

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Unputdownable

I loved this story . It flows so beautifully and carries you on the journey effortlessly.

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