X-Book

The House with Nine Locks

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Added to cart

Continue shopping or head to checkout

View cart

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

A master forger transforms a young woman’s life – but what will it cost her?

In post-war Flanders, Adelais de Wolf's family is slowly, inexplicably, falling apart: her mother evermore lost to religious devotion, her father to alcohol. But with the death of a beloved uncle, Adelais finds herself in receipt of an unexpected legacy: a shuttered house in a rundown district and its contents – contents that hold the promise of independence and wealth. All that is required is application, nerve, and a willingness to break the law.

Adelais stifles her doubts and her fortunes are transformed. But with her rise comes complications: her victimless crimes may not be as victimless as she supposed. Nor has she counted on the singular fanaticism of Major de Smet of the Federal Gendarmerie, a brutal detective who never forgives and never forgets.

Caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, will Adelais find that her new life comes at too high a price?

Cinematic and seductive, The House with Nine Locks is a compelling and sweeping historical novel with characters you won’t soon forget.

© Philip Gray 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critics Review

One of the best historical crime novels I’ve ever read
Frances Quinn
A riveting detective story that turns the genre on its head. Gray captures the complexity of postwar Belgium with empathy and ruthless precision. And he gives us an unforgettable heroine to root for at the heart of his superbly crafted novel
Alice Austen, author of 33 PLACE BRUGMANN
In Two Storm Wood Philip Gray brought the scarred post-Great-War battlefields of France to life; in The House with Nine Locks he moves to a grimy post-Second-World-War Flanders. Adelais de Wolf reinvents herself at the glamorous heart of society by embracing life at its murky edges. A page-turner: morally complex and beautifully written.
Leonora Nattrass, bestselling author of BLUE WATER
Adelais is a tremendous central character ... Beautifully realised ... Enchanting ... Has [the] power to compel and intrigue
Time & Leisure
'This intriguing, pacy novel contains a host of memorable characters [and a] magical evocation of place … Adelais de Wolf, a heroine worthy of the name … makes fantasy into a reality and captures everyone’s heart, the reader’s included'
Virginia Baily, author of EARLY ONE MORNING
A wonderfully original and atmospheric crime novel… [a] beautifully modulated tale of forgery, gambling, ballroom dancing and star-crossed love
Mail on Sunday
A captivating read
Woman's Own
This is a book that will keep you reading well into the night
RTÉ Radio
Original and thoughtful
Peter Hitchens, in THE LAMP

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
Author Philip Gray
Narrator Anna Wilson-Jones
Duration 11 hours and 54 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781529955040
Format Audiobook
Publisher Random House
Genre Historical crime and mysteries, Historical fiction, Thriller / suspense fiction
Availability AU, GB, IE
Rating
5.0 (1 review)
Narration
5.0 (1 review)

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.