The Secret Hours cover art

The Secret Hours

 Preview
This Season's Biggest Deal

$0.99/mo for 3 months + $20 Audible bonus voucher

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 28 December, 2026.
More purchase options

The Secret Hours

By: Santa Montefiore
Narrated by: Genevieve Swallow
Get this deal

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends 28 December, 2026. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $29.55

Buy Now for $29.55

This Season's Biggest Deal | $0.99/mo for 3 months + $20 Audible bonus

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo. after 3 months - terms apply.
Summary
 ‘Let the wind take me and the soft rain settle me into the Irish soil from where I came. And may my sins be forgiven.’

Arethusa Clayton has always been formidable, used to getting her own way. On her death, she leaves unexpected instructions. Instead of being buried in America, on the wealthy East Coast where she and her late husband raised their two children, Arethusa has decreed that her ashes be scattered in a remote corner of Ireland, on the hills overlooking the sea.

All Arethusa ever told Faye was that she grew up in a poor farming family and left Ireland, alone, to start a new life in America as did so many in those times of hardship and famine. But who were her family in Ireland and where are they now? What was the real reason that she turned away from them? And who is the mysterious benefactor of a significant share of Arethusa’s estate?

Arethusa is gone. There is no one left to tell her story. Faye feels bereft, as if her mother’s whole family has died with her. Leaving her own husband and children behind, she travels to the picturesque village of Ballinakelly, determined to fulfil her mother’s last wish and to find out the reason for Arethusa’s insistence on being laid to rest in this faraway land.

Praise for Santa Montefiore:

“Nobody does epic romance like Santa Montefiore.” JOJO MOYES

“An enchanting read, overflowing with deliciously poignant moments.” DINAH JEFFRIES

“Santa Montefiore hits the spot for me like few other writers.” SARRA MANNING

“One of our personal favourites.” THE TIMES©2019 Santa Montefiore (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Women's Fiction Marriage
All stars
Most relevant
Absolutely loved it, so much so that I've listened twice and the second time was even better! Brilliant in every way.

Absolutely captivating

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The narrator was absolutely brilliant. So invested in this wonderful story. I haven’t enjoyed a story like this for a while. Thank you.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed this story line and the performance of the readers was also very good and involved you in the story.

fantastic story and performance

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Love the story and How the reader painted such a clear picture. It was moving and held me in suspense.

Capturing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I Thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing story of family, loss and love. Beautifully written and read.

Brilliant story and narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.