The Distant Hours (by Kate Morton)
Set in the gothic Milderhurst Castle, The Distant Hours is a dual time line story of Meredith, who at the age of 12 is evacuated from WWII London to the countryside for safety. To her surprise, she’s chosen by Juniper Blythe to live with her and her family at Milderhurst Castle. Meredith lives an idyllic life with Juniper, twin sisters, and their writer father, where she learns to play the piano, swim, and read all the books her heart desires from the castle library.
Fifty years later, Meredith’s daughter, Edith, develops a curiosity about Milderhurst Castle when a long-lost letter arrives with a return address of the castle. Meredith is tight-lipped about the letter and the castle, spurring Edith to satisfy her curiosities on her own. Edith spontaneously visits the castle and meets the three sisters who continue to live in the castle together. Juniper has been cared for by her sisters since her fiancé’s tragic abandonment in 1941, leading to her mental breakdown.
I’ve read a few books by Kate Morton, and The Distant Hours wasn’t my favorite. I loved the historical fiction, dual timeline story, and setting of an old, European castle. But there were so many little things going on that made the story confusing at times. It was tough to keep my attention for an audiobook, and it made it hard to get into the story and the characters. It was also really long, over 22 hours on audio. I liked the core of the story about the relationship between the mother and daughter, and the mysteries surrounding the sisters living in Milderhurst Castle. But there were so many extra threads in the story that were distracting and unnecessary. The story could have been more focused. I think I finally got into the book around halfway through. Overall, I liked it. The ending was sad, but it was also satisfying.
Even though I didn’t love this book, I’m still a fan of Kate Morton’s work. I bought The Distant Hours with my Audible membership, and I really enjoyed the narration by Caroline Lee.
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