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The Secret Year of Zara Holt

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The Secret Year of Zara Holt

By: Kimberley Freeman
Narrated by: Janet Watson Kruse
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About this listen

Melbourne, 1927. The summer flowers smell like Christmas the night Zara Dickins meets Harry Holt. Zara is wearing a dress she has designed and made herself. White organdie over a short black slip, with black embroidery and a crimson taffeta sash. It is party season and the university crowd are celebrating end-of-year exams. Zara loves dancing with the boys and flirting with them, but it's a game to her. Nothing serious. Until Harry.

He plans to be a politician once he finishes law. She, a fashion designer, if she can find a way to break out of the secretarial pool. When he takes her hand, she doesn't want to let him go.

The spark they ignite that night will last 40 years.

Portsea, 1967. When Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears while swimming, his wife Zara loses herself in the memories of their volatile relationship. She always believed Harry when he said no matter what happened, he'd never leave. Their bond has stretched to London, Europe, India, America. It has survived anger, loss and heartbreak, media scrutiny, secrets and lies. But now all Zara wants is for Harry to come home.

©2025 Kimberley Freeman (P)2025 Bolinda Publishing 20th Century Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Historical World Literature Heartfelt
All stars
Most relevant  
I’m just not sure Zara was interesting enough to warrant such a long book.
The narration was ok - a bit overwrought in places and Harry sounded like some sort of character from a vintage British comedy skit.
I don’t regret listening, but won’t be recommending.

Went on a bit

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I put this down twice. This could have been an extraordinary story. Zara was amazing. But the writing was dreadful. Hard to I imagine how it could be published. And the reading? Oh my lordie! deep breaths between sentences. Dreadful, awful accents. It did my head in. I had to read it for bookclub. It was the only thing that kept me engaged. I just wish someone else had written this story because it deserves to be written.

Dreadful reading

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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.