Marrying the Mistress

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Marrying the Mistress

By: Joanna Trollope

Narrated by: Lindsay Duncan

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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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Merrion Palmer has been Judge Guy Stockdale's mistress for the last seven years and his wife and two grown-up sons know absolutely nothing about her. Up until now, Guy and Merrion have enjoyed a blissfully, uncomplicated relationship in stolen moments in Merrion's flat, and to the rest of the world, Guy has played the part of model husband, father and grandfather.

But now the time has come for things to change. Guy has become conscious of wasted years and he wants to share his relationship with Merrion with the world. He wants, dammit, to marry her. Yet he is quite unprepared for the storm that will follow...

Joanna TrollopeLindsay DuncanAudible Studios

Romance

Marriage

Romance Marriage

Critic reviews

"The court official leaned closer. 'What's gone past', he said, 'is not just an advocate, any old lady advocate. What's gone past is his Honour's totty.'" And what's going past is the life of Guy Stockdale, a 62-year-old judge, who has been married forever, has two sons--Simon and Alan--and three grandchildren. For the past seven years, he's also had a mistress. Merrion Palmer is intelligent, attractive, and half Guy's age, which also makes her younger than both Simon and Alan. Her dad died when she was a toddler and she's well aware that Guy is something of a father substitute. For years the role of mistress has suited her, but, suddenly, this style of relationship isn't enough for either of them. They've both had enough of sneaking around and avoiding people, so Guy has momentously made up his mind to leave his wife, Laura, and marry Merrion. Marrying the Mistress dives into the shock waves that buffet the Stockdale family after Guy leaves Laura. The novel addresses the question of how his sons are going to cope, the explosive opinions of his forthright daughter-in-law Carrie and what his teenage grandchildren make of it all. Can any of them avoid taking sides? Should they? And what about the abandoned wife, Laura, a woman apparently so long-sufferingly self-sacrificing she makes Mother Teresa look selfish? From queen of the saga Joanna Trollope comes a dexterous portrayal of the causes and effects of marital breakdown." (Amazon.com review)

Most relevant

I read this book years ago, accidentally found it in Audible, liked the sample reading and thought I'd give it a go.

So glad I did. There were bits I'd forgotten, bits I'd remember just before they happened. It's Joanna Trollope doing what she does, showing the sort of mess a family can just slide into, how something quite unexpected can not only awaken them to said mess, but show them a way to sort it out. And brilliantly have them do so. You can't go from one of her books to another without a break, or the pattern spoils the interweaving of the situations. It was good to revisit this one.

It was, also, a delight to revisit it in the more than capable hands (or voice) of Lindsay Duncan. Absolutely spot on! I was particularly entertained by the voices she used for Laura, the difficult mother. Excellent.

It's not intellectual, it's certainly NOT froth. It's keenly observant of personal tangles. It's a good listen not taxing but which will capture your attention.