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Thornyhold

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Thornyhold

By: Mary Stewart
Narrated by: Jilly Bond
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About this listen

Mary Stewart's storytelling is as spellbinding as ever in her 12th novel, a Gothic romance featuring sparkling prose, delightful characterisation and classic intrigue.

The rambling house called Thornyhold is like something out of a fairy tale. Left to Gilly Ramsey by the cousin whose occasional visits brightened her childhood, the cottage, set deep in a wild wood, has come just in time to save her from a bleak future. With its reputation for magic and its resident black cat, Thornyhold offers Gilly more than just a new home. It offers her a chance to start over.

The old house, with its tufts of rosy houseleek and the spreading gilt of the lichens, was beautiful. Even the prisoning hedges were beautiful, protective with their rusty thorns, their bastions of holly and juniper, and at the corners, like towers, their thick columns of yews.

©1988 Mary Stewart (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Genre Fiction Mystery Romance Small Town & Rural Fiction Suspense Cats

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Critic reviews

"A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors." (Harriet Evans)
All stars
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Love Mary Stewart’s books. A really lovely read. This book is an old friend. I feel I know the house as well.

Slight air of mystery

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It is some years since I read this story, being a fan of Mary Stewart's writing in the 1970s, so had completely forgotten its plot. I enjoyed the relatively gentle pace of the book and the central character's love of animals and the kindness she showed. I often dread what will happen to any cat in this sort of story, so (spoiler intended) was so glad that Hodge made it safely through to the end of the book!

The narrator was pleasant if a little old to voice the main character and not too good at male voices, but it didn't spoil the story at all.

It's also quite nice to revisit an older novel, written before strong language was thought to be an essential ingredient!

Quaint with a hint of magic

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A light tale, with a hint of magic. Pleasant enough, but there are better narrators for Mary Stewart’s other books on Audible. Jilly Bond was fine for straight narration, but poor at voices and I cringed a bit at the dialogue from the younger characters.

Light, entertaining story

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I have a few copies around the house which I read atleast once a year but jilly bond brings all the characters to life and puts a fresh telling of this old favourite many thanks to both Mary Stewart and jilly bond for making my favouite book more wonderful it was worth the wait from Audible to get it thankyou all. Mrs Jayne williams

my favourite book by Mary Stewart.

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i read this book some years ago and it was fun to read once again.

easy listen

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My all time favourite book. I read it once a year in my garden, but this time I was treated to having it read to me by Jilly Bond, her voice was simply perfect for this story. Thank you!

Dreamy and exquisite!

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Beautifully written and cosy love story with a touch of white whitch-craft!
I950's period.. Soothing.

Delightful

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I was thrilled when audible released all this catalogue of my favourites from my youth on audible - 3 titles however have awful, awful narration. The Ivy Tree, Thornyhold and Rose Cottage. I don't know what they were thinking - the male and children's voices by Jilly Bond were appalling - seriously appalling. The local accent isn't great either.

I have purchased every one of these newly recorded books and very much enjoyed them, but I am so disappointed to have returned three due to the narration. I am not sure why one narrator was not chosen, and there are a couple of my favourite female narrators in this series, and that was actually fine, but please re-record these three. A British voice for the Ivy tree and someone, anyone else who can do male voices please.

Mary Stewart fan, but awful Narrator ruined it

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