The Distant Hours
The Distant Hours
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009
Book Brief
576
Novel • Fiction
Kent, England • 1940s
2009
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In her 2011 novel, The Distant Hours, Kate Morton crafts an atmospheric mystery where bookish protagonist Edie Burchill investigates her mother Meredith's wartime stay at the enigmatic Milderhurst Castle. Shifting between the 1990s and 1940s, the narrative reveals the lives of the unsettling Blythe sisters, the secrets they harbor, and Edie's quest to decode her mother's past and the castle's hidden truths. The novel addresses topics including mental health disorders and historical trauma.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
90,036 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton receives praise for its atmospheric writing and intricate plot, capturing readers with its Gothic elements and rich character development. However, some critics argue the pacing is slow and the narrative overly complex. Morton's skill in weaving historical and contemporary threads is widely appreciated, despite occasional predictability.
Who Should Read The Distant Hours?
Readers who relish gothic mysteries, intricate family secrets, and atmospheric settings will find much to love in Kate Morton's The Distant Hours. Fans of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger will be enchanted by the novel’s rich narrative and haunting suspense.
90,036 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
576
Novel • Fiction
Kent, England • 1940s
2009
Adult
18+ years
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