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The Secret Rooms
The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret | Catherine Bailey
21 posts | 21 read | 25 to read
After the Ninth Duke of Rutland, one of the wealthiest men in Britain, died alone in the Rutland family archives in Belvoir Castle on April 21, 1940, his son and heir ordered the room sealed. Sixty years later, Catherine Bailey became the first historian given access. She discovered a mystery: The Duke had painstakingly erased three periods of his life from all family records -- but why? As Bailey uncovers the answers, she provides an intimate portrait of the very top of British society in the turbulent days leading up to World War I.
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Slajaunie
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Pickpick

This was a fabulous story! I have not read nonfiction in a long time and this was a successful return to it. I flew through this book. The author did a wonderful job of telling John‘s story and finding his secrets. I highly recommend!!

marleed I love to drop in a nonfiction (something beyond a memoir) for every 10 or so fictional reads. If I‘m immersed in the NF, I just feel lucky with an ownership of newfound knowledge. It makes me think of my own classroom experience and how important it is to peak the interest of a young mind. 5y
Slajaunie Absolutely! I have always lived history but some books are so dry and uninteresting. @marleed 5y
Suetara I really enjoyed this book. 5y
55 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Slajaunie
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It has been a long time since I have enjoyed history this much! Catherine Bailey is now my new favorite author. An old castle with a mystery. Does it get any better? 💙💙💙

Literary_Siren I told you it was good! 😁 5y
Slajaunie Absolutely!!! @literarysiren 5y
JazzFeathers And a great cover too! 5y
62 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Slajaunie
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1. My home library or my yard
2. Bohemian Rhapsody (love to sing it)
3. I was a house painter when I was younger.
#wondrouswednesday
@Eggs

I tag @jlhammar @EriD73

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Slajaunie
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What my bed looks like this morning. All the animals except one taking baths. My book is in there somewhere. 😂😂💙📖🐾💙

JoScho Yes! I usually have four dogs and one cat in bed with me. 🖤 5y
Slajaunie They love their humans and their bed!😂 @JoScho 5y
JoScho That they do! 5y
59 likes3 comments
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Slajaunie
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I have had this arc since 2014. Today I shall begin reading it! The book has been staring at me and asking when gir a whil. 😂😂📖💙

Literary_Siren I liked this! 5y
Slajaunie Good to know! Thanks! @Literary_Siren 5y
54 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Lexeegee
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Pickpick

I received this book in the #cupidgoespostal swap from @Savedbygrace I loved the mystery of this story and the way the author was able to piece together the story from a collection of letters.

33 likes1 stack add
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Lexeegee
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...‘vile torrent of gravy and steaming putrefying blood‘. That‘s the best descriptive phrase I‘ve seen in a long time.

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Lexeegee
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Real life mystery is my favorite. Plus, a really good lunch.

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Lexeegee
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Lunch and a New book!

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Lexeegee
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@Savedbygrace thank you so much for my valentine gooodies! I can‘t wait to read them. Happy Valentines Day! #cupidgoespostal

Savedbygrace You're welcome; I hope you like them! 💓 6y
Slajaunie The secret room sounds intriguing. 6y
47 likes2 comments
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Amanda.T
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24 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Literary_Siren
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I‘m 151 paged into this surprisingly true story. I know it‘s been rated so-so and been panned by other Littens. But I find it to be (already) equal parts fascinating and heartbreaking. Reading true stories (or semi-fictional) like this just make me want to visit Great Britain and visit all the places I read about.

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Bookishlie
Mehso-so

A solid 3.5. Very dry in places and that's a lot of buildup to nothing earth shattering. But the buildup and history told mostly through letters is a very interesting and enough to keep you reading.

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LeslieO
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This is how I read. Stack of books, glass of wine, comfy chair. #howyouread #RIOTGRAMS

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LeslieO
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A sinus infection has allowed me to stay home and read this one all day. Loving it! What could be better than "a haunted castle, a plotting duchess and a family secret " #nonfictionchallenge2017

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LeslieO
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Here's my pick for June from the #TBR. #junemostanticipated ##junebookbugs

Zelma Sounds very interesting! 7y
booksandsympathy I have that same book mark. 7y
LeahBergen This is on my TBR, too. 👍🏼 7y
29 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Letterbranch
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Mehso-so

There are three main mysteries in this book. The first two kept me hooked. The third, which takes up the majority of the book, was far less intriguing. It is an interesting look at English aristocracy during World War I, and the lengths they would go to in order to keep up appearances and lineages.

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LeslieO
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I have so many shelves! #shelfie #aprilbookshowers

LeahBergen Look at the Goreys! 😍 8y
LeslieO Are you a Gorey fan @LeahBergen ?? We have so much in common! 8y
LeahBergen Yes! 😄 8y
47 likes3 comments
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ABookGeek
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Loving this one. Found it at Books a million in Chicago.

11 likes2 stack adds
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PennyNotSoDreadful
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Panpan

Initially was excited to be reading behind the scenes with British aristocracy & the lives the accompany it from coal carrier -an actual job title circa 1940(😳)- to duke. However, was disappointed as only a very little of that in the beginning, & the secrets are, sorry to say, a bit of a snoozer.

jessicarenee I like that mug! ☕️👍 9y
Sigritona I also like the mug! 🙋🏻 8y
10 likes2 comments
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PennyNotSoDreadful
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To fill the Downton Abbey-sized hole in your heart. True account of historian who gets access to a sealed archive (of sorts) & the family secrets/mysteries she uncovers. Julian Fellowes might have gotten some of his dialogue from these letters 😉

7 likes3 stack adds