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The Briar Club: A Novel

Author:
Kate Quinn
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Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
252
Narrator
118
Release Date
July 9, 2024
Duration
15 hours 3 minutes
Summary
AudioFile Earphones Award Winner

As she did with The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code, Saskia Maarleveld’s nuanced narration brings to life every character in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse in New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn’s haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets 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.
Reviews
Profile Avatar Kathy L. Jul 2024

History, the characters stories, narrator, the build up…it was all so good.

Profile Avatar Tracy A. Aug 2025

The author never disappoints, nor does the narrator. Great story with terrific performance by the reader.

Profile Avatar Lin Aug 2024

Great book and narrator… couldn’t stop listening.

Profile Avatar Sarah F. May 2026

Very good, although I thought Nora's chapter was a bit too long, once I got through it, I found the rest just delightful.

Profile Avatar BCos May 2026

A fabulous story - a motley crew of characters whose stories are so cleverly woven together. Mystery held throw out.

Profile Avatar Shirley A. Mar 2026

A great listen. narration was terrific, wonderful engaging story. I enjoyed it immensely.

Profile Avatar Razorette Mar 2026

What a great book. Both the story and narrator were outstanding. Can’t wait to read another one of her books!!

Profile Avatar Anonymous Feb 2026

Engrossing-tho it's time to delve into our very own war, the erasure of our native people in America We are and have always been terrorists much as we envision ourselves as good people-look at the Peace Corps-then look at our capitalistic influence throughout Latin America-the killing of Oscar Romano by soldiers trained at our very own Fort Benning, toppling budding governments in Chile, Argentina The Peace Corps is a minuscule drop in the bucket of colonialism. Folks aren't fooled!

Profile Avatar Lorry S. Dec 2025

❤️

Profile Avatar monique Oct 2025

This book was extremely long and hard to follow due to the overwhelming number of characters. I got lost so many times that I had to backtrack after almost every chapter. The ending was a complete fizz and not at all satisfying — after all that buildup, I expected something shocking. Overall, not worth it for me. disapointed.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Aug 2025

This was a super fun book with great characters! I loved listening to it! Could totally see it in my head and imagine all the characters!!!!!!

Profile Avatar Genevieve D. Aug 2025

The narrator does a great job of switching between the many varied voices of the nuanced characters. The book itself, with its intertwined characters and their respective stories, set against historical periods from that era, is both entertaining and informative. The mystery aspect introduced in the first part keeps the reader engaged as we learn about each character and try and piece together what could have happened in Briar house

Profile Avatar BatGroove Jul 2025

I loved this so much more than I thought I would. The beginning was dreadfully slow but once it picked up, it kept me hooked. I love these women and Pete in their little cubby club.

Profile Avatar Heather Jul 2025

I throughly enjoyed this book and the many characters!

Profile Avatar Elizabeth V. Jul 2025

Wonderful book, fell in love with all the housemates. The way the author weaves in history within each character arc is fascinating and the narrator has the smoothest, most pleasant voice and is able to go between voices so seamlessly, you know exactly who is talking with each voice. Loved every minute of it.

Profile Avatar Marc S. Jul 2025

Fantastic book

Profile Avatar Carol B. May 2025

Captures the dark side of Camelot and the loss of innocence of America. Finally, a birdseye view of what really went on over there through Z”the Women’s “ eyes. Historically correct.

Profile Avatar Deb H. Apr 2025

Fantastic book!!! Highly recommend!!

Profile Avatar Ellen D. Apr 2025

Loved this book. Characters were great! Loved the inclusion of recipes. The narrator did an excellent job of voicing all the different characters.

Profile Avatar Anonymous Feb 2025

Five stars all around and wow, Saskia is a phenomenal narrator!!!

Profile Avatar Shannon D. Feb 2025

This should be a movie

Profile Avatar Andrew T. Feb 2025

One of Kate Quinn’s most entertaining. Great narrator too

Profile Avatar Patty C. Jan 2025

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator did an outstanding job.

Profile Avatar Patrick M. Nov 2024

One of my favorite authors and Ms Quinn did not disappoint me! Another great story from a master storyteller! Always appreciate her authors notes and interviews.

Profile Avatar Jessica W. Nov 2024

This book was amazing! I loved the character development and each story was engaging and the story concluded perfectly!

Profile Avatar Lisa J. Oct 2024

Narration was amazing. Characters were so relatable. I liked how the book jumped from character to character and I also liked how recipes were incorporated. Makes me want to start a dinner club. Really enjoyed this audiobook.

Profile Avatar Lucy B. Oct 2024

RIGHT NOW I AM READING ALL OF KATES BOOKS. LOVE HER WRITING.

Profile Avatar Rachel E. Oct 2024

Very well done

Profile Avatar Sourabh S. Sep 2024

What an amazing book

Profile Avatar Reina H. Sep 2024

Such a great book. Characters were so well developed. I enjoyed every minute of the book. Definitely a MUST read!

Profile Avatar Lisa H. Aug 2024

Enjoyed the story and how all the character stories came together

Profile Avatar Anonymous Aug 2024

Excellent book and narration

Profile Avatar Kathryn B. Aug 2024

Great narration except one thing: people from Indiana or anywhere in the midwest (Bea) do NOT speak with a heavy Boston accent, no matter how long they may have lived in Boston

Profile Avatar Anonymous Jul 2024

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the way the story came together and the reader was great.

Profile Avatar Ronni D. Jul 2024

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Kate Quinn does not disappoint!

Profile Avatar Cabeat Jul 2024

Excellent! A change of pace for Kate Quinn, but a very intriguing story. Narration of the vast number of characters was extremely good.

Profile Avatar Melissa T Jul 2024

I loved it! Subject of each individual struggles throughout their lives is very prevalent today even if the setting of the book was 70 years ago. I highly recommend this book.

Profile Avatar Linda C. Jul 2024

Great book, characters well developed and the story line was amazing. As always, her books do not disappoint. The narrator was masterful.

The Briar Club: A Novel

The Briar Club: A Novel

Author: Kate Quinn
Read by: Saskia Maarleveld
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