Nine Coaches Waiting

By: Mary Stewart

Narrated by: Ellie Heydon

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Mary Stewart transports her listeners to mid-century Savoy for a plot of danger and deception, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. A classic tale by one of the world's most beloved authors.

Linda Martin understands what is to be lonely: her parents died when she was young, and she was raised in an orphanage. When she is hired as a governess to the orphaned young Philippe, Comte de Valmy, Linda finds a kindred spirit in the lonely little boy. But Philippe is the heir to a vast estate in Savoy, and his dangerously handsome uncle may be willing to kill to ensure that Philippe never inherits it.

Mary Stewart's wonderful novel of suspense and intrigue set in the idyllic countryside of Savoy. A classic tale by one of the world's most beloved authors.

©1958 Mary Stewart (P)1958 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

"A wonderful wordsmith." (Scotsman)

"She built the bridge between classic literature and modern popular fiction. She did it first and she did it best." (Herald)

"One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century." (Independent)

a classic!!

I first read these when I was 12 years old. my Grandma got me into these books. There are just as good now as they were then!

Story and Narrator are Well-Matched!

I love to read Mary Stewart when I want to be transported to an exotic locale (France, in this instance), and experience a suspenseful, exciting, and romantic adventure. I really connected with the heroine, and the French countryside is described almost poetically. Also, the narrator was superb! She sounded the right age and personality for Linda, and she spoke clearly and with the right voices for different characters. I could always tell who was speaking, which is so important in an audiobook. She did a beautiful job, with the right tone and inflection in her voice for each scene. I saw that she's narrating more of Mary Stewart's books, and I look forward to listening to more. Well done!

Amazing lost classic

I think this book was once very well known, though it seems to have been lost to time. It is a fine read in modern times as well. It is set in post-war Europe. A girl of ill fortune ends up as a governess for a wealthy family in France. There are many creepy goings-on, with an odd cast of characters. Which ones are allies? Which ones are plotting? I couldn't stop listening. I don't even think the author knew how she was going to end the book until she wrote the very last chapter. Lots of fun to read!

Wonderful!!

I loved this book! It is a beautifully written story filled with breathtaking descriptiveness, mystery, and romance. Throughout, the author paints vivid and unique descriptions of settings, characters, feelings, and entanglements. What a treasure this has been! I will probably listen again, as it was absorbing and colorful, and I want to experience visions I’m sure I missed the first time I listened. Mercy! I love talented writers!

charming, suspenseful and excellent performance

I'm new to M.S. and I'm so glad I have her a chance. he stories are like stepping into another world. delightful.

Wow! And wow!

This is my first Mary Stewart book, but it’s far from my last. The story, the depth, the intensity. WOW. I love this story. I love this as much as I do Susanna Kearsley books. And the narrator is wonderful. This genre is my absolute favorite- mystery romance, and it’s clean, too - which is a definite bonus for me. I HIGHLY recommend this story, especially to anyone who loves Susanna Kearsley.

Beautifully performed. Wonderful story!

This was one of my favorite books as an adolescent. This year it was finally available as an audiobook. I had high expectations of whoever would be the voice artist and she surpassed them. Simply wonderful. Mary Stewart is more known for her Merlin stories but she is unsurpassed in the romantic suspense genre I believe. Treat yourself to exotic locations and thrilling stories mixed with interesting characters.

Enjoyed this more than the first time I read it.

There are some authors whose work survives changing fashions. Stewart sets her early novels in the time she wrote them. They reflect the time in which they were written, but her characters deal with their current problems and pleasures just as people have through the ages. These books will be loved through even more generations.

I want to be ironic about the standard governess falling for the son of the castle and being taken off to riches. Except this trope is dealt with in ways that could and have happened in yesterday's news. Words do matter and in this book the twisted truth could have resulted in death.

Current authors who set their stories during WWII or the Roaring Twenties, or the time between the wars will never give us the feeling that we get from Mary Stewart"s descriptions of time place and people.

I love that her early work is still in print. I wish the choice of people reading her work had stronger voices. They are lovely voices, but they do not sound like a woman who fights back the way these heroines do. Not with swords, but their minds and voices.

Superb!

Lovely narrator, engaging story . Thoroughly enjoyable . Will recommend to many people . Thank you Mary Stewart and Ellie Hayden .

A bit tedious

I am a Mary Stewart fan and as a rule love her mysteries but I found this one irritating in many places. It seemed that everything the heroine saw, smelled, imagined, sensed, or imagined sensing was described in such intricate detail as to almost pull the whole tale off track. Every noun was overwhelmed by adjectives and every verb by adverbs. In proportion to the plot there was way too much focus on each tree and bend in the path for my taste.

The narration, on the other hand, was superbly done. I could listen to that lady all day.