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  • The Clockmaker's Daughter

  • Written by: Kate Morton
  • Narrated by: Joanne Froggatt
  • Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (416 ratings)

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The Clockmaker's Daughter

Written by: Kate Morton
Narrated by: Joanne Froggatt
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Publisher's Summary

Prepare to lose yourself in the enchanting new novel from Kate Morton. 

My father called me Birdie; he said I was his little bird. Others knew me as his child, the clockmaker’s daughter. Edward called me his muse, his destiny. I am remembered as a thief, an imposter, a girl who rose above her station, who was not chaste. My real name, no one remembers. The truth about that summer, no one else knows. 

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor in rural Oxfordshire. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins. 

Over 150 years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river. 

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets? 

Told by multiple voices across time, The Clockmaker's Daughter is a story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss. And flowing through it like a river is the voice of a woman who stands outside time, whose name has been forgotten by history but who has watched it all unfold: Birdie Bell, the clockmaker’s daughter.

©2018 Kate Morton (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about The Clockmaker's Daughter

Average Customer Ratings
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Such a disappointment

This book was such a disappointment. I love Kate Morton. I have read all of her books which only compounded my disappointment with this book. Quite simply - the book was awful. It's like she didn't have an editor to tell her that she had WAY too many characters and story lines. By the time you get to the 'big reveal' you're so beaten down by the huge cast of characters and their inconsequential story lines that go nowhere, you don't even care. I kept listening in hopes that somehow it might all come together but I was disappointed.

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18 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good, but confusing.

A little confusing for an audio book with all the jumping around between characters and dates. Sometimes hard to follow. Wasn't sure if I'd missed something when I reached the end. The narrator, however, was very good.

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11 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Keep pen and paper to create timeline

The writing is beautiful...the story structure difficult, especially for audio! I will read more by her!

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6 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Way too fast

The reader spoke too fast and I had to slow the speed to .075 in order to listen and understand what was being spoken

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent story as always

I am a big fan of Kate Morton’s books and this one did not disappoint. The narration by Joanne Froggatt was excellent as well. Her portrayal of both men and women, especially with different accents was perfect.

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4 people found this helpful

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amazing

I loved every second of this story and would have gladly listened longer, if only the author had continued.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Stellar

This is by far the best audiobook I have ever listened to.
The narration by Joanna Froggett is impeccable.
There is a lot to this book.
I found I had to just listen to it and not trying to multitask
or I would miss something and would have to go back and listen again.
Five starts all the way for this audiobook!

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

lovely intertwined story

I am impressed at how well the author was able to intertwine all the characters over time into this story. I struggled to follow it at times, possibly because I stopped and started.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly read

Beautiful story of love, art, life and courage. Joanne Froggatt brought it to life! I’ll miss her voice on my morning drives to work!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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a haunting beautiful tale of lives connected

this was my first Kate Morton novel it will not be my last .. haunting love story

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  • maxine
  • 2018-09-21

Good but feels rushed in the ending

I adore Kate Mortons books they make me cry, make me feel and normally I am bewitched by them. This book does not have the same appeal and I am so sorry. Joannes narration is as always amazing, but the story has too many stories within stories that never get resolved - maybe thats the intention but it does result in a constant flicking back and forth.

The concept is brilliant and the setting are part of my childhood so i so wanted to fall in love with this book - but honestly Kate Forsyths Beauty in Thorns by far addresses the era of art and photography more poignantly.

It is still a lovely book but just not on the same par of The Forgotten Garden and Kates previous books which I recommend constantly to friends.

I just didn't feel this book finished itself to many weird loose ends and lost focus somewhat

Still adore Kates writings

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Karen Rowe
  • 2019-03-06

A book that’s left me with mixed feelings

Although I love Kate Morton and I think she’s an amazing author, my love of this book is certainly not as clear cut as with the others. The book starts off very much centered on Elodie. Honestly, I found these first chapters boring and actually gave up on the book for a good while, picking up on other books before trying again. I then stopped and started a few times when, suddenly, it sucked me in...

Although I was riveted, there were also a few holes in the story for me, one of them being that Lily seemed to be very educated and well spoken (perhaps that was the narration), despite her upbringing in the underbelly of London. Perhaps her knowledge of Science was due to her friend, Pale Joe, among other mitigating circumstances mentioned by the author, however it still didn’t fully make sense to me.

And then the story never really returns to Elodie - only a third person view of her. There was obviously method in this, however I was a little surprised when the book suddenly ended.

So, the story also seemed a little unrounded to me, although still an enjoyable book in all. I think that pieces of the story will remain with me for a long time.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • Ruth King
  • 2018-11-09

My least favourite of Kate Morton’s books

I love Kate Morton’s books and was so delighted to have a new one to read. But I almost put it aside by the time I got to chapter 20. But finally finished and then read it a second time. Just too many story lines to follow.

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  • ASwann
  • 2019-02-22

Will the real Kate Morton please stand up !!

I love Kate Morton books and looked forward to reading this new one BUT ....
I think I will wait and see what her next book might be. It felt like she was bored with what she usually writes and tried something new but we love all her past books.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Simone
  • 2019-02-17

I wish it was told in chronological order

Now that I am done and I can look back on the story, I can say I like it - but as I was reading it it got on my nerves.

I think I would have preferred it if the story had been told in chronological order, I feel l missed out on to much details trying to remember who was who and how they were linked back to so-and-so.

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  • sallye
  • 2022-11-27

Twists and turns

I loved this book! Deeply sad but also alive with love. I sat in my car for hours at a time because it was so good!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Monica Raven
  • 2021-03-29

I love her books so much!

I have listened now to all of Kate Morton’s books, and have not been disappointed once.

I love her depth of character, complex people who aren’t perfect but to whom you can relate very strongly.

AND! Thank you SO MUCH, finally, for once, an Australian accent that doesn’t make me cringe, sob and press fast forward. <3

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Liesl
  • 2020-06-01

LOVE

Kate Morton is my favourite author and this book didnt disappoint! So worth it, I will listen to it again!

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2019-09-11

Breathtaking... Literally

One of the best Kate Morton books yet! It was captivating to say the least

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  • Zinia
  • 2019-07-19

a

I just finished the book and I have a sunken feeling in my chest, it was beautiful and sad at the same time

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