Dark Tides

A Novel

By: Philippa Gregory

Narrated by: Louise Brealey

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Tidelands—the “searing portrait of a woman that resonates across the ages” (People)—returns with an evocative historical novel tracking the rise of the Tidelands family in London, Venice, and New England.

Midsummer Eve 1670. Two unexpected visitors arrive at a shabby warehouse on the south side of the River Thames. The first is a wealthy nobleman seeking the lover he deserted twenty-one years earlier. Now James Avery has everything to offer: a fortune, a title, and the favor of the newly restored King Charles II. He believes that the warehouse’s poor owner Alinor has the one thing he cannot buy—his son and heir.

The second visitor is a beautiful widow from Venice in deepest mourning. She claims Alinor as her mother-in-law and tells her of the death of Rob—Alinor’s son—drowned in the dark tides of the Venice lagoon.

Meanwhile, Alinor’s brother Ned, in faraway New England, is making a life for himself between in the narrowing space between the jarring worlds of the English newcomers and the American Indians as they move towards inevitable war. Alinor writes to him that she knows—without doubt—that her son is alive and the widow is an imposter. But how can she prove it?

Set in the poverty and glamour of Restoration London, in the golden streets of Venice, and on the tensely contested frontier of early America, this is a novel of greed and desire: for love, for wealth, for a child, and for home.

Critic reviews

"Louise Brealey's performance is just one good reason to listen to the second in Philippa Gregory's Fairmile series. Gregory's unparalleled storytelling is another. Alinor's health never recovered after being 'swum' as a witch in the tidelands in 1648. It's now 1670. Alinor's close-knit family members live peaceful, if hardworking, lives in London. Their quiet is disrupted by two unwelcome visitors: Sir James, who abandoned pregnant Alinor 21 years earlier, and Livia, the devious alleged widow of Alinor's son. Brealey's delivery is subtle and nuanced or over-the-top, as needed. She is especially credible portraying Alinor's brother, Ned, in America. Her depictions of white settlers and natives are believable, making clear the rising animosities between them and chilling listeners with their struggles during the harsh New England winter."

Soooo Good!!!!

Philippa Gregory is one of my favorite authors. She never lets me down. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. All of the characters are so interesting. You MUST READ this book!

Loved this story! Thank you

Amazingly well done treachery! Loved the reader! She made all characters come to life👏 going ahead with last book in series… can’t wait!

Ever present family connections

The story pulls you in and you can’t stop listening! I felt like I knew the characters personally.

Sequel to Tidelands

You need to read Tidelands first, in order to appreciate the story in Dark Tides.
Despite the title, this second book in the series is brighter than the first--in tone and atmospheres.
The reader is excellent.
I was disappointed by the very ending of the book, which felt rushed and, honestly, strangely disingenuous. I could think of at least two other ways to steer the story to its end that, while in keeping with the mood of this novel, would have also brought to an elegant, less banal, more satisfying resolution. I am referring here to the last 30 minutes at most of this very long book. So, never mind the ending, the whole experience is worth every moment!
Great audio book.

Engrossing story. Loved it!

Phillips Gregory is an outstanding author. She seems to have a magical way of stringing words together.