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A Narrow Door cover art

A Narrow Door

By: Joanne Harris
Narrated by: Alex Kingston, Steven Pacey
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Publisher's Summary

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

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)

What listeners say about A Narrow Door

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Different and a bit too long

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...

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Deb
  • 01-10-2021

The narration spoilt the book for me

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not appealing as an audiobook

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.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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

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!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A very different one for me

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

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

i didn't like the narration

the story was too slow and parts were repetitive, language and imagery wise i have read and heard better. the story wasnt nearly as gripping as advertised. and quite a sadly illustrated ending. if u dont listen to this u wont be missing much.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Better without the performative woke points

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>.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fully immersive story

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed every aspect of this book

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable

I really enjoyed the way the story was delivered piece by piece in such an interesting way. The readers were excellent.

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