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A Narrow Door

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A Narrow Door

By: Joanne Harris
Narrated by: Alex Kingston, Steven Pacey
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About this listen

Now I'm in charge, the gates are my gates. The rules are my rules.

It's an incendiary moment for St Oswald's school. For the first time in its history, a headmistress is in power, the gates opening to girls.

Rebecca Buckfast has spilled blood to reach this position. Barely 40, she is just starting to reap the harvest of her ambition. As the new regime takes on the old guard, the ground shifts. And with it, the remains of a body are discovered.

But Rebecca is here to make her mark. She'll bury the past so deep it will evade even her own memory, just like she has done before.

After all...you can't keep a good woman down.

©2021 Joanne M Harris (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group Family Life Genre Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction

Critic Reviews

"A dark world of emotional complexity and betrayal, where twist follows twist and nothing is what it seems. A masterful narrative voice, and a compulsive thriller from one of our greatest writers. I absolutely loved it." (Alex Michaelides, number one best-selling author of The Silent Patient)

"A psychological thriller you can't put down and an antiheroine you won't forget." (Harlan Coben)

"A dark and richly enjoyable novel that already feels like a classic." (Elly Griffiths)

"A dark world of emotional complexity and betrayal, where twist follows twist and nothing is what it seems." (Alex Michaelides)
All stars
Most relevant  
I really enjoyed the way the story was delivered piece by piece in such an interesting way. The readers were excellent.

Thoroughly enjoyable

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This is an excellent story very well written.

The inclusion of one gay character and one trans character…just because (shrug), was extremely annoying. If it isn’t part of the story line then it’s unnecessary.

<massive eyeroll>.

Better without the performative woke points

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I loved everything about this listen from the story and each of the characters to the incredible readers who certainly added to the characters.

Fully immersive story

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Unexpected and somewhat unusual in the backdrop of the story and the plot.
A work of thoughtful story lines that comes out tying up all the loose ends!

I enjoyed the slow moving but quirky plot. A novel that has to be read to the very end before all is revealed!

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This psychological thriller becomes somewhat tedious. The remembering of 6 year old Becky and her tormentor annoying as was the narrator's voice. This is a case of revenge served cold...

Different and a bit too long

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Loved this book, keeps you guessing until the end. Narrators were fabulous must hear.

Fantastic

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Although at times rather verbose l enjoyed the characters and slow unfolding of this novel. I admired the old master Streetly and his love of tradition, of his school and his ‘boys’. The quite bitter and twisted character of ‘Becks’ was not as beguiling a d at times annoying.
l never suspected the true outcome until deep into the story certainly an interesting listen

A very different one for me

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The readers were excellent 👌 and the longer l stay an Audible listener the more l consider the readers can make or break a book. These two are outstanding.
I loved the emergence of the two principal characters throughout the narrative
As a woman who in her early life was similarly treated by pompous male arrogance and ignorance l suspect this has also influenced my pleasure in listening to this book.

Enjoyed every aspect of this book

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Lengthy, unexciting and tortuous story with lots of padding. Not a great book as an audio book, even if it was popular as a physical book. Plot was limited. Too many cliffhangers which went nowhere. Dragged on and on. Seemed rushed at the end, after earlier slow progress. Stuck it out but kept wondering why.

Not appealing as an audiobook

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I love Joanne Harris books, however, this one I didn't enjoy. The narration was bad and boring. I am struggling to finish it. The creepy voice of Mr Smallface was tiresome. Roy was boring. Very disappointed.

The narration spoilt the book for me

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