The Echo of Twilight

by Judith Kinghorn Narrated by Lucy Rayner

Overview

In 1914, despite the clouds of war threatening Europe, Pearl Gibson's future is bright. She has secured a position as a lady's maid to a wealthy Northumberland aristocrat, a job that will win her not only respect but an opportunity to travel and live in luxury. Her new life at Lady Ottoline Campbell's Scottish summer estate is a whirlwind of intrigue and glamour, scandals and confidences-and surprisingly, a strange but intimate friendship with her employer.


But when violence erupts in Europe, Pearl and Ottoline's world is irrevocably changed. As the men in their lives are called to the front lines, leaving them behind to anxiously brace for bad news, Pearl realizes she must share one final secret with her mistress-a secret that will bind them together forever . . .

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

01/23/2017
Kinghorn takes readers to England in 1914, shortly before WWI begins, to tell the story of two women of drastically different means who are brought together by the shifting fate of their country. The book begins with Pearl Gibson landing a job as the maid of Lady Ottoline Campbell, a wealthy landowner in Northumberland. Pearl is a dutiful employee, but her relationship to Lady Campbell turns out to be not as formal as she expected. Slowly, the two become friends, bonding over their shared experiences of the uncertainty and heartache of watching the men in their lives go off to war. As they grow closer, Pearl learns more about her employer than she bargained for and must make hard decisions if she wishes to learn to stand on her own. Kinghorn carefully weaves the story of love and self-discovery into the solemn tapestry of war, loss, and mental instability. Pearl experiences the beauty of life alongside the sting of betrayal and heartbreak, always striving to be more than what the situation of her birth dictates for her life. With language that draws the reader into the story, Kinghorn brings the past to life and makes Pearl’s struggles for stability accessible relatable and affecting. Kinghorn embraces a dark time in history to tell this immersive and historically sound coming-of-age tale. Agent: Deborah Schneider, Gelfman Schneider Literary (Jan.)

From the Publisher

Praise for the Novels of Judith Kinghorn
 
“A gripping tale of family secrets and a comedy of manners...Historical fiction fans will not want to miss this gem!”—Renee Rosen, author of White Collar Girl
 
“An absolutely delicious book…Elegant and evocative to the last word.”—Elizabeth Cooke, author of The Gates of Rutherford
 
“Lucinda Riley’s readers will enjoy Kinghorn’s manipulation of the story’s timeline, fans of Sarah Jio will adore the novel’s romantic backbone, and historical-fiction readers will appreciate Kinghorn’s eye for authentic period details.”—Booklist
 
“Kinghorn vividly depicts the turmoil of the postwar period...Those who love the blockbuster show Downton Abbey will find much to enjoy.”—Historical Novel Society
 
“A touching, thought-provoking and compelling read. Kinghorn evokes the years before the war as she skillfully envelops the reader in her imaginative, tragic tale.”—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)

MARCH 2017 - AudioFile

Kinghorn's story of the close relationship between lady's maid Pearl Gibson and her highborn employer, Ottoline Campbell, will no doubt find listeners among fans of richly detailed historical fiction. However, there may be mixed reactions to narrator Lucy Rayner's exaggerated performance. Rayner is adept at switching between the Cockney of Pearl's speech and the well-spoken voice of the same character's inner monologue in the first person point of view. But the stark difference between the two is somewhat jarring. Furthermore, her style is a bit over-the-top, with words overarticulated and the pace, consequently, slower than necessary. E.M.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170442386
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	01/03/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Echo of Twilight"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Judith Kinghorn.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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