The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

This is my first book by Beatriz Williams, a historical fiction novel that was set on the beautiful island of the Bahamas, as well as in Germany and England between the first and second WW. But what I loved most about this novel was the connection to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

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The Bahamas, 1941. Newly-widowed Leonora “Lulu” Randolph arrives in Nassau to investigate the Governor and his wife for a New York society magazine. After all, American readers have an insatiable appetite for news of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, that glamorous couple whose love affair nearly brought the British monarchy to its knees five years earlier. What more intriguing backdrop for their romance than a wartime Caribbean paradise, a colonial playground for kingpins of ill-gotten empires?

Or so Lulu imagines. But as she infiltrates the Duke and Duchess’s social circle, and the powerful cabal that controls the islands’ political and financial affairs, she uncovers evidence that beneath the glister of Wallis and Edward’s marriage lies an ugly—and even treasonous—reality. In fact, Windsor-era Nassau seethes with spies, financial swindles, and racial tension, and in the middle of it all stands Benedict Thorpe: a scientist of tremendous charm and murky national loyalties. Inevitably, the willful and wounded Lulu falls in love.

Then Nassau’s wealthiest man is murdered in one of the most notorious cases of the century, and the resulting coverup reeks of royal privilege. Benedict Thorpe disappears without a trace, and Lulu embarks on a journey to London and beyond to unpick Thorpe’s complicated family history: a fateful love affair, a wartime tragedy, and a mother from whom all joy is stolen.

The stories of two unforgettable women thread together in this extraordinary epic of espionage, sacrifice, human love, and human courage, set against a shocking true crime…and the rise and fall of a legendary royal couple.

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

MY THOUGHTS

I recently watched the first two seasons of THE CROWN and was spellbound. Of course I wasn’t surprised by how little I knew about it all. And I’ll admit that I was watching the show and also researching facts about certain events. It was just too juicy not to.

So when I was invited to the Bookstagram tour for this novel, and read that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were mentioned in the blurb, I knew I wanted to read the book. It’s not surprising that my interest was immediately snagged by the Windsors. Even if their role in this story was only a secondary one, it only added to the overall enjoyment.

I must say I enjoyed this novel. Although the plot was probably more romance heavy than expected. But I’m not complaining about it because both storylines/couples were quite captivating. And I thought the connection between the two generations was well done.

I can’t compare this book to the author’s other works. And of course it’s not comparable to books like The Nightingale, but for someone who is a novice when it comes to historical fiction, The Golden Hour was rather enjoyable. An easy book to escape in.

The overall story was solid. Well researched, with interesting characters, and romantic subplots. The audiobook was an easy one for me. With 16 hrs and 18 mins it was on the lengthy side, nevertheless I had no issue finishing it in three days. I listened to 8 hours on the first day, and another 6 on the second, with the rest being finished on the third.

I received a copy of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks for free, in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

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The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams