Newport audiobook

I absolutely loved this book! Warning though: read at your own risk (of not getting anything else accomplished). I got nothing done over the weekend as every available minute was spent reading Newport. The characters were so vivid and richly drawn that I felt as if I had been watching a movie.The plot twists kept coming, one after another and dialogue was intelligent and witty. I'd love to know what happens to all of the characters in the following decades (hint, hint). An added bonus was reading the essays in the back of the book.

Quite the ride. Dealing with two time frames, many lives (often for the same people) and secrets galore. I’d have to call this a mystery, as so much is left hinged until the end...and oh, what a revealing end it is.The ghost of Elizabeth, deceased wife of Bennet, has a mission to right wrongs and make amends. Talking through the host of Amy, who is pivotal in this labyrinth, she mostly succeeds. It’s set in the late 1800’s to 1900’s, in wealth and servitude to, along with the obnoxious entitlement assumed in such, it relates the disparity of both sides.And it’s a love story, on many literal levels. A page turner the more deeply you read into it and a big bravo to the ending, albeit slightly saddened in scattered ways.Looking forward to reading more from Mz Morrow.

Low-key: I have recently become a binge watcher of period piece mystery shows. Quiet little shows that combine a historical setting with taunt intrigue, romance, great costumes, loads of red herrings, and shady characters who are all guilty of something. ‘Newport’ is the type of story I could totally see Miss Phryne Fisher or William Murdoch trying to decipher on their respective shows…well, minus a golden handgun and Victorian-styled CSI gear.Newport is set at the beginning of the Roaring 20s and it follows attorney Adrian de la Noye and his associate, Jim Reid who are called upon to revise a new will for their most affluent client, Bennett Chapman. Chapman is about to get married to a much younger woman, a Miss Catherine Walsh, and he intends to have Catherine become the sole beneficiary to his fortune. When the two arrive to the remote Liriodendron estate in upstate Rhode Island, they discover that Chapman is only revising the will at the behest of his wife, who has been dead for several years, and comes to Chapman through the psychic abilities of Catherine’s niece Amy. To top, the deceased Mrs. Chapman is one pushy specter as she wants her husband to not waste any time in marrying Catherine, in fact she’s insisting that it’d be done within the next few days. Of course Chapman’s elder children, Chloe and Nicholas, are side-eyeing the hell out of this impromptu marriage as they both believe Catherine and Amy are charlatans, exploiters who are taking their aging father for a ride to rob him blind later on. As they attend séances and come in contact with strange occurrences, Adrian and Jim find themselves questioning their beliefs, pondering if there are such things as ghosts or if they too also are being snagged into a web of crafty manipulation. I proceed with caution reviewing Newport because unlike my other wordy reviews, any further explanations will kill the mysterious air and the character development that Jill Morrow carefully plots out. Lots of twists and turns this story pleasingly takes as the pasts of each of the characters are uncovered and fitted into the present, all coming back to haunt. Focus does draw towards the entwined pasts of Adrian and Catherine. At the beginning you get a sense of what transpired between them, but upon further inspection, their relationship is still not as simple as one thinks. Morrow does a great job here making you understand and feel for two characters who have put walls up about their lives. Dangerously two-dimensional they could’ve been, but the bricks come down around them with ease as the story progresses.As a fan of paranormal/gothic mysteries this taps well into the historical context of the early 1900’s obsessions with spiritualism, and its creepy, but politely so. Newport is a little predictable at times and some suspension of truth is warranted especially when the late Mrs. Chapman gets more and more demanding, but it did have its empirical moments especially with how Morrow lyrically weaves this story. A slight whiff of satirizing the self-absorbed ‘new money’ glitterati is present, winking a bit into Gatsby territory. Flashbacks flutter in and out with ease as the prose just lifts off the page and waltzes. So fluid the text is as it pulls you into the time era. As the 1920s is one of my favorite periods I was pleased with how Morrow really places you into the whir of the era to where you’re clinking a martini glass of prohibited booze with the characters and even doubting your own sense of belief as the mystery unfolds.Ominously glamorous and absorbing, Newport is a gem of a mystery and one that I recommend if you like to play detective while enjoying a quiet, easy read.

Newport was a very pleasant surprise. I never know if I'm going to like period stories like this one. But, as I started the book, I found myself drawn into the story. I even read it straight through in pretty much one sitting. That was a late night! Having grown up near Newport, RI and having visited the mansions and Cliff Walk, I could easily picture the setting of this tale.Basically, Adrian and Jim have traveled to Newport from Boston to re-write the will of a client who is set to marry someone several decades his junior. The kids are protesting because Bennett claims he has been directed by his late wife to marry Catharine. He has heard from her through a medium and believes he must follow her direction. This was a good solid mystery with a sweet romance in the mix. There is a reason that Bennett is being directed to marry Catharine. Through flashbacks and subsequent seances, those reasons slowly unfold. I liked the twists and surprises, especially the reveal in the end. I don't want to talk plot points too much because I think it would ruin the whole story. Throughout the entire book, I found myself constantly questioning whether or not Amy was really channeling Mrs. Chapman or if she was a con artist. I definitely changed my mind a dozen times and I'm sure you will as well.I see a bright future for this author and look forward to see what she comes up with next!

This was a great book set in the opulence of the 1920s, focusing on the storylines of several intersecting lives which began overlapping in the late 1800s. The book flashes between both eras as it weaves the journeys of some very different people who are drawn together by an otherworldly force. I loved how the different eras are captured, and how much can change in the span of just a couple decades... and how little. Looking back at these periods of American history, I was drawn in by how difficult the lives were of those who weren't born into wealth, how excessive the lives were of those who were, and startled by how similar it all was to class and gender divisiveness today. The author isn't trying to make any kind of socioeconomic points with all this, I don't think, but rather uses some of the most real and timeless elements of our culture that translate seamlessly from the characters of 100 years ago to readers today.

I would never have picked this book up on my own without the help of my book club, and I am so happy they did. This novel was enticing, keeping in line with social morals of the time, but not killing the reader in too much historical detail. The plot moved quickly, and dropping mystery in little bits. It was juicy without feeling like I was watching a soap opera.

I loved this book. The writing was poetic at times; the character development was very good. I very much look forward to reading more from this author.

Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/9/15: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2015/...Newport is a beautifully dark historical fiction laced with elements of mystery and the supernatural. I found myself enthralled by the time period and the complicated web that tied the characters together. This is a must read for those interested in the glitz, glamor, and preoccupation with the dearly departed of the 1920's.The novel has several characters that play crucial roles. Newport opens as Adrian and Jim are making their way via ferry to the coastal town. These two are attorneys who have been summoned to redraft a will for one of their most powerful and wealthy clients, Bennett Chapman. Adrian and Jim soon learn that Bennett's children, Nicholas and Chloe, are livid about the proposed change to the will and their father's engagement to the much younger, Catherine Walsh. To round out the group, Amy Walsh, Catherine's niece has the ability to speak to the dead and Bennett's first wife won't stop sending messages to her family. A quest to prove that Bennett is in his right mind and his deceased wife is guiding his decisions from beyond the grave ensues.The preoccupation with spiritualism dominated the nocturnal activities of many in the 1920's. After WWI, almost every family in the United States had been touched by loss. It only makes sense that people would cling to the hope brought by mediums that their loved ones were safe and could still communicate with the living. While I understand the need to believe in such activities, I know that many of the seances were merely shams created for monetary gain. To feed off someone's grief and pain seems loathsome to me.As the various seances play out in Newport, the deceased Mrs. Chapman begins to reveal secrets about the house guests that will alter their lives forever. In the beginning, it was not clear to me if Amy was truly channeling Mrs. Chapman or if she was simply trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes to seal a marriage between her aunt and Bennett. I found this whole competent to be intriguing.All of the characters in Newport, even the ones I found distasteful, are vivid and well formed. I felt like I was walking the halls of the lavish Newport estate and attending the seances right along side everyone. I'm also attracted to stories with rich and vibrant settings. Newport delivers this in spades through both the historical details and the location. I have always wanted to see what the seaside escapes of the wealthy were like and I feel that this novel does a fair job of painting that picture. Class issues arise throughout this one as well as gender issues. As much as I often want to go back and experience things in a different era than my own, I am not sure that I could be happy in a time where women were not seen as the stewards of their own lives.All in all, I highly recommend this one to fans of historical fiction who crave a little bit of the mystical. Jill Morrow kept me guessing as she weaved together the past and present. I would often think I knew how characters were connected only to be surprised by a new twist. I also have a longing to visit Newport after reading this one.One Last Gripe: I wish that Newport had more of the gothic feel to it.My Favorite Thing About This Book: The flashbacksFirst Sentence: The lighthouse on the shore flashed its beacon in time with each rolling heave of Jim Reid's stomach.Favorite Character: AmyLeast Favorite Character: Nicholas

This book was so much better than I expected! I'm just sorry that this author hasn't written more. I bought this at Strand earlier this year and was inspired to read it when Steve and I got back from an overnight trip to Newport!It starts with introducing Jim Reid and Adrian de la Noye on a boat, where they end up meeting the drunk daughter of the client they are en route to meet. It turns out that Bennett has been told by his dead wife (via a medium) to marry a woman his kids' age and this means they would be cut out of the will. It's a great picture of the times, especially how popular seances were at that time. (Even though this book is called Newport, the story could really have happened in any rich town in American in the 1920's... other than mentioning Bellevue and Ledge Road, it didn't really scream Newport to me.)(view spoiler)[I had a hunch that Amy was Catharine's daughter, but I think I was supposed to guess that after learning that Adrian and Catharine probably had a relationship. What I only put together in the final 25 pages or so was that Amy had to be Nicky's kid because she was blond. Adrian and Catharine both were described as "dark." This explains a little about the situation at hand - the dead wife was mad that Bennett cheated on her and that her son grew up to be a monster/rapist, so she ends up setting up Bennett with a woman her son made pregnant 22 years ago and this means all the family money ends up with her. Sweet justice for sure, and certainly the level of mysticism in the book is *nearly* believable.I also liked the last scene, when Adrian goes to the train station. He sees a woman on the bench and the way it's written, I almost thought it was Cassie at first - but it turns out to be his wife Constance. Super sweet. (hide spoiler)]

It’s a common thread – old man decides to marry a young woman and grown children begin to worry over their place in old man’s will. However, this time the story is told with a historical vibe. Attorney Adrian De la Noye is the attorney for Bennett Chapman. After the grown children claim their father has lost his mental capacity to make changes in his will, Adrian must make that determination for himself. The problem? Bennett has been claiming that his late wife, Elizabeth, told him to marry young Catherine Walsh. It seems Catherine’s niece, Amy Walsh, is a medium and they’ve contacted Elizabeth in a séance. In fact, she was not only adamant that he marry Catherine, but that do so very quickly. Jim Reid was Adrian’s associate. He became attracted to Amy. They both begin to sense that Adrian and Catherine already know each other.When I began reading, the time period was Spring 1921. This information was obtained from the back of the book cover and not from the opening paragraphs of the novel. Chapter nine takes us back to February 1898 where the reader begins to learn Adrian and Catherine’s past. I loved the character of Jim. He was a true gentleman and very kindly. There are a few twists in this story and I enjoyed the interplay between the characters who each seemed to have their own secret. The blurb promises “the dazzling, glamorous world of Newport during the Roaring Twenties.” Although I enjoyed the story, I just need to say I didn’t get a “Roaring Twenties” feel from it. Rating: 4 out of 5.

Many thanks to librarything.com for the advanced copy of Newport by Jill Morrow in exchange for my honest review.Despite a slow start, Newport was an excellent novel, one that I enjoyed very much. It captured my attention and engaged me throughout; I read a great deal and many of the books are just shades of the same story. Newport was not your typical novel; I appreciated its originality and creativity. Although Adrian and Jim reminded me of Sherlock Holmes and Watson, they had distinct personalities with their own interesting back story.Adrian and Jim have come to change the Will of their client Bennett Chapman, a wealthy curmudgeon due to marry a much younger woman, Catherine Walsh. Bennett's children despise his fiancé and question her intentions. However, their motives are suspect as well. The children claim that the Will should remain as is due to their father's lack of mental capacity to legally change it. Bennett claimed that his former wife was sending him messages during seances instructing him to marry this woman and to change his Will as soon as their marriage was official. Ms. Morrow skillfully crafted a well-developed, suspenseful story that was smart and unique. I highly recommend it. 4 1/2 stars.

1921- An attorney and his assistant are summoned to the elegant and elite Newport to rewrite a will and get the legal house in order for a wedding. The problem is that the wedding is between the patriarch of an old money family and a much younger woman of no means. That would be enough for a juicy story but the potential bride to be has been commanded to wed by his dead wife who communicates everything through the young bride's niece during seances. Sound fishy? Of course Bennett Chapman's two kids from the first marriage don't want the wedding and will changed leaving them with nothing, but it is up to the attorneys to determine Mr. Bennett's sanity. Is it possible that Amy is really channeling the former Mrs. Bennett and this is on the level? The story feels like Gatsby meets Miss Marple and they play an afternoon of Clue. There are enough plot twists and turns to keep you engaged to the last page as well as an interesting take on the interest in the occult during that time and the con artists who played upon the old and their money. Mrs. Plum in the library with a candlestick?

This was an enjoyable read and I finished it in a week. I liked the mystery aspect and the romance. I thought the ending was quite predictable, though, and I had figured it out about 100 pages before the ending. I liked the characters that I was supposed to like and disliked the ones I was supposed to dislike. I would've liked more character development on Adrian and Catharine. It was unclear why Adrian's character changed so quickly after his post-graduation carousing. Why did he become a man of honor so quickly? What had really happened in Cuba when he was in the war? The author brought up some mystery about Cuba but never elaborated on it! Ugh. So that was a bit sloppy. The ghost of Mrs. Chapman is completely unrealistic and made me want to roll my eyes at the end when she became the "ball of cold light" but I didn't care because it was fun. Overall, a fun and light read with plenty to keep your interest throughout.