The Golden Hour

From decadent Cairo in the 1930s to bohemian Beirut in the 1970s, an epic yet intimate story of great love and lasting friendship . . .

‘Exquisite’ Ruth Hogan
‘Evocative’ Good Housekeeping
'Epic, sweeping and gloriously romantic’ Veronica Henry
‘Sumptuous and immersive’ Platinum

As her home, Beirut, teeters on the brink of war, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell – about her best friend, Juno, and their life together in Cairo. Juno was vital and brilliant – and determined to succeed in her ambition to uncover Nefertiti’s tomb.

But Juno and Polly’s friendship was bound by a secret, one that has never been told. Now, as Polly’s daughter, Lucie, travels to Beirut to be with her dying mother, the mystery of what happened many years ago must be revealed . . .
 

‘Wonderfully escapist with beautifully drawn characters, stunning locations and an unashamedly romantic heart, The Golden Hour is a captivating story of female friendship, devastating tragedy and a long-buried secret coming into the light. If you love books by Dinah Jefferies or Santa Montefiore, you’ll adore Kate Lord Brown’s The Golden Hour’ Hannah Richell

‘A Kate Lord Brown novel is always a treat, and I think THE GOLDEN HOUR is her best yet, with its sumptuous combination of love, war and intrigue and its gorgeously exotic setting. Kate’s knowledge and understanding of North African and Middle Eastern life and culture shines out of every sentence, and Polly and Juno make a pair of fictional friends for the ages’ Jane Johnson

‘An exquisite story of love and the enduring power of friendship. Kate Lord Brown’s writing is so evocative and immersive that I felt transported to faraway shores and stood beside her characters sharing their experiences rather than simply reading about them. The Golden Hour is pure gold’ Ruth Hogan

'Kate paints such beautiful pictures with her words, you feel as if you are right there, in the heat and the dust. Epic, sweeping and gloriously romantic, this is the kind of book we have all been longing for, with all the ingredients of a classic page-turner - exotic locations, intrepid women and thrilling adventure. An absolute delight' Veronica Henry

‘Headily romantic, richly detailed, with marvellous characters and a vividly stirring landscape both geographical and historical, The Golden Hour offers escapism of the most elegantly seductive sort’ Christobel Kent
‘I particularly loved the evocative sections that flash back to1930s Egypt’ Good Housekeeping

‘This is a tale of love, sacrifice and a lost generation’ My Weekly

‘At its heart is a study of female friendship; the carefully drawn characters and sumptuous settings lead to an evocative and immersive romantic epic’ Platinum

‘Heady and romantic… Heat, dust and forbidden passion play their part in this swoony story’ Daily Mail
 
‘The lavish lifestyle of Europeans in pre-war Cairo is evocatively portrayed, as is the situation in Beirut just before civil war erupts. The plot moves along well, alternating effectively between the two storylines, which converge by the end of the book. An enjoyable read.’ Historical Novel Society

‘A tale of ambition, sacrifice and the lure of buried treasure’ Yours

KATE LORD BROWN was a finalist in ITV’s The People’s Author contest, and her novel The Perfume Garden, which has been published in nine languages, was shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2014. Her books have been top ten bestsellers in the UK, Canada, and several European countries. In 2020 she was highly commended in the RNA Elizabeth Goudge Trophy. Kate has also written editorial, reviews and regular columns for Traveller, Conde Nast, Good Housekeeping, the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Express and others. She wrote the first book club column in the Middle East, introducing a host of writers to the region through the pages of Ahlan! After many years living overseas, she has returned to the wild and beautiful south-west of England, where she grew up. Find out more: ordbrown. com and connect with Kate on Instagram and Facebook @KateLordBrown

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