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The Briar Club

A Novel

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The Briar Club

Written by: Kate Quinn
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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About this listen

The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.

Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic room, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss, whose facade of perfect wife and mother covers gaping inner wounds; policeman’s daughter Nora, who finds herself entangled with a shadowy gangster; frustrated baseball star Beatrice, whose career has come to an end along with the women’s baseball league of WWII; and poisonous, gung-ho Arlene, who has thrown herself into McCarthy’s Red Scare.

Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears the house apart, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: who is the true enemy in their midst?

Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era and evoking the changing roles for women in postwar America, The Briar Club is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test.

Includes a bonus conversation with Kate Quinn, Saskia Maarleveld, and Tessa Woodward, editor of The Briar Club.

©2024 Kate Quinn (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Domestic Thrillers Espionage Historical Women's Fiction Exciting Feel-Good
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What listeners say about The Briar Club

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Amazing story

Kate Quinn (the author) and Saskia Maarleveld (narrator) never disappoint. This story will grab your attention in the very first chapter. I literally devoured this story in two days. I highly recommend.

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Loved it.

At first I wasn’t sure I would get into it but before long I was enthralled. Love this author and this story. The narrator did a great job.

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Loved this story.

These women had personality and opinions that mattered. Such an uplifting story. Highly recommend. And the narrator is superb. She gave each character the personality the author intended. I loved the book.

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Rich intriguing characters all with their own intricate stories that keeps you listening, excited to learn more.

Love, love, loved it and couldn’t stop listening. The many heartwarming characters are all intriguing and so well developed that each of them draws you into their own story. This book is intricately woven with so many stories within it bringing out history and the social/political challenges of the 1950’s particularly for women. A fascinating listen and worth listening to again. The narrator, Saskia, simply does an incredible job of all the different characters and their voices. The best narrator I’ve listened to by far.

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loved the characters

such an easy book to read. Great story a group of women making life better by getting together. History of this story I'd fascinating.

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Story line

Absolutely amazing book with so many different characters and stories. I like how Kate Quinn adds history in her fictional books.

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Gripping Historical Fiction

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn is a riveting historical novel set against the backdrop of post-WWII intrigue. It follows a group of women navigating complex personal and political challenges, bound by a secretive club with ties to espionage and betrayal. As their stories intertwine, the novel explores themes of loyalty, deception, and the price of survival.

The Briar Club was an incredible read that I couldn’t put down. The character development was unique, with each woman standing out vividly in her own right. Kate Quinn masterfully intertwines their stories, creating a narrative that kept me engaged throughout. The historical backdrop was rich and detailed, adding depth to the already gripping plot. The unexpected twists and turns kept the suspense high, making this one of the most engaging books I’ve read recently. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with deep character insights and a suspenseful story, I highly recommend The Briar Club.

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The best story ever written

The story sucks you in. Has so many twists and turns. I could not put it away. Every time I thought I knew what was next they threw a curve at me.
I looooved the sex. Did not see it coming when it did. I fell in love with all of the characters and was very sad when it ended. I love the recipes what a neat thing to add.

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Time capsule

This book beautifully portrayed women's camaraderie without being forceful. It immersed you in a different era like a time capsule, exploring a four-year period from multiple perspectives, even from the house itself. It gave me vibes similar to "Fried Green Tomatoes" and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially with the added recipes and music from that time.

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Hard to put down

A story celebrating women, friendships and the resiliency of the human spirit. I laughed, I cried and, although I couldn't wait to see how the story ends, hated when I finished the book. I didn't want it to end. Saskia Maarrleveld adds a whole new dimension with her engaging narration. Definitely worth listening!

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