Listen to a sample
The House of Secrets and Lies
The Crawley Family Saga (Book 1)
- Author
- Rosie Clarke
- Narrator
- Esme Lonsdale
- Publisher
- Boldwood Books
- Publish Date
- 23 February 2026
- Run Time
- 10 hours 54 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
What to expect
One girl's chance of a new life, or a sacrifice too far?
Cambridgeshire, November 1945
Young Betty Cantrel is just 14-years-old when she reluctantly leaves her troubled family home to take up a position as companion to Frances Crawley, the ailing daughter of Eben and Mary Crawley.
As Betty begins her new life at the grand and imposing The Willows, she becomes drawn to Nathan Crawley, the handsome, yet mysterious nephew and ward of Eben Crawley of whom malicious whispers linger – whispers of a tragedy that claimed the Crawley’s’ young son Edward.
As her friendship grows with Frances, Betty accompanies her to London, where she glimpses another world – a world full of art, music and freedom and she begins to dream of a different kind of life.
But her growing loyalty to both Mary and Frances comes at a cost. And when tragedy strikes, Betty must choose where her true allegiances lie: with the family who opened her eyes to endless possibilities, or the one she left behind.
For young Betty Cantrel, her story is only just beginning…
Previously published in paperback as Lovers and Sinners by Linda Sole
The compelling first instalment in the Crawley Family series — a gripping saga of class tensions, coming-of-age, sacrifice and long-buried secrets from bestselling author Rosie Clarke.
If you love this, try Rosie's other fabulous series - Harpers Emporium, Blackberry Farm, The Trenwith Series, Dressmakers Alley and Mulberry Lane.
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Rosie Clarke
- Narrator
- Esme Lonsdale
- Duration
- 10 hours 54 minutes
- Release Date
- 23 February 2026
- ISBN
- 9781835181317
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Boldwood Books
- Genre
- Historical fiction, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Generational sagas, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Social issues, Fiction: general and literary, Historical romance, Family life fiction, Fiction: narrative themes
Synopsis
A deeply moving and utterly unputdownable family saga brimming with heartbreak, hidden truths and sacrifice in the aftermath of war from MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING author Rosie Clarke. Perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Jean Fullerton! 📖One girl's chance of a new life, or a sacrifice too far?Cambridgeshire, November 1945Young Betty Cantrel is just 14-years-old when she reluctantly leaves her troubled family home to take up a position as companion to Frances Crawley, the ailing daughter of Eben and Mary Crawley.As Betty begins her new life at the grand and imposing The Willows, she becomes drawn to Nathan Crawley, the handsome, yet mysterious nephew and ward of Eben Crawley of whom malicious whispers linger – whispers of a tragedy that claimed the Crawley’s’ young son Edward.As her friendship grows with Frances, Betty accompanies her to London, where she glimpses another world – a world full of art, music and freedom and she begins to dream of a different kind of life.But her growing loyalty to both Mary and Frances comes at a cost. And when tragedy strikes, Betty must choose where her true allegiances lie: with the family who opened her eyes to endless possibilities, or the one she left behind.For young Betty Cantrel, her story is only just beginning…Previously published in paperback as Lovers and Sinners by Linda SoleThe compelling first instalment in the Crawley Family series — a gripping saga of class tensions, coming-of-age, sacrifice and long-buried secrets from bestselling author Rosie Clarke.If you love this, try Rosie's other fabulous series - Harpers Emporium, Blackberry Farm, The Trenwith Series, Dressmakers Alley and Mulberry Lane.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.