70 pages 2 hours read

Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Lady Audley's Secret

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1862

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon follows Lucy Graham, a governess who marries Sir Michael Audley, moves to Audley Court, and charms everyone except her stepdaughter Alicia. Concurrently, George Talboys returns to England to find his wife Helen dead. His friend Robert Audley brings him to Audley Court, where he mysteriously disappears, leading Robert to investigate and uncover Lady Audley's hidden past.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon is lauded for its gripping narrative and rich character development, particularly the complex protagonist, Lady Audley. Reviewers praise its blend of mystery and Victorian melodrama. However, some critique the novel's pacing and occasional predictability. Overall, it's a compelling read, especially for fans of Gothic fiction.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Lady Audley's Secret?

Readers who enjoy sensation novels, Victorian literature, and intricate plots with themes of deception and social intrigue will appreciate Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon. Fans of Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre are likely to find this novel engaging and satisfying.

RecommendedReading Age

14+years

Lexile Level

1170L

Book Details

Genre

Mystery / Crime Fiction

Classic Fiction

Topics

Gender / Feminism

Themes

Identity: Gender

Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Period

Victorian Period