Lady Audley's SecretLady Audley's Secret
Score Classic
What it's about
Mary Elizabeth Braddon's most successful novel, in what was then called the "sensation" genre, known for inventive, slightly scandalous plots.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's a Victorian sensation novel.
By the numbers
- Readers14 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller4 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Lord of the Rings
The Color Purple
1984
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
A Brief History of TimeExplore the best-of lists
All 47 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Lady Audley's Secret worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,929 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 54.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Lady Audley's Secret about?
Mary Elizabeth Braddon's most successful novel, in what was then called the "sensation" genre, known for inventive, slightly scandalous plots.
What should I read after Lady Audley's Secret?
If you liked it, try The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, Affinity by Sarah Waters or Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.