The Girl in the Picture

by Rachel Hore

How do you decide what story to tell – and what secrets to keep . . . ?

When journalist Amy Collins returns to Norfolk, a magazine assignment leads her to Farthington House. As she steps through the gates into the garden, she remembers visits she made as a child to the grand old house, but nothing prepares her for what she finds a portrait of a young woman who looks very similar to Amy herself.

With the help of Kyle Rutherfurd, the house's new owner, Amy uncovers a hidden family scandal involving a young woman nicknamed ‘Bird’. And as Amy finds out more, she discovers a personal connection to Bird that could change everything she thought she knew.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, Norfolk and turning to writing fiction.

Rachel is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dream House (2006), The Memory Garden (2007), The Glass Painter's Daughter (2009), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Novel of the Year 2010, A Place of Secrets (2010), which was a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick, and A Gathering Storm (2011), which was shortlisted for the RNA Historical Novel of the year, 2012. The Silent Tide was published in 2013, A Week in Paris in 2014 and The House on Bellevue Gardens in 2015.

Her new novel, Last Letter Home, will be published on 22nd March 2018.

Reviews

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A straightforward and predictable short story from one of my favourite authors.

[Lucy Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little story! Love the little mystery and finding out more and more each chapter. I thought Kyle and Amy would not end up together after finding out they were distant cousins so the kiss was interesting but glad it all worked out I suppose!

[Maureen Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story, quick to read and very well written.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy, a journalist, wants to write an article about Farthington House, a place she remembers from her childhood. While visiting the house with the new heir, Kyle, she discovers a small painting of a woman who looks just like her. From then on, Amy and Kyle dig into the past to find the truth. This book is one of the 2026 Quick Reads — short stories written to encourage reading among those who don't usually read much. The story is intriguing, even if it is not difficult to understand the plot, and it is a little sappy at the end, but it is perfect for a very warm Sunday.

https://redheadwithabrain.ch/index.ph...

[Hilal Tunçkol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely. Amy is finding out about her family history, and is falling in love in the process. Very enjoyable.

SPOILERS

I have to admit the romance plotline is rushed, probably because the story is so short, and it was also a bit weird, since Amy and Kyle, the guy she fell for, turned out to be distant cousin, but the main plotline, where Amy finds out that her gradmother was adopted, and got to learn more about her real family and relatives.

[Suzanne Sandell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read and a good story, perfect for a lazy afternoon. Amy is a journalist returning home and a magazine assignment takes her to Farthington House. Through researching and talking to Julia, as well as going through family papers, she discovers a link between previous occupants and her own family!

[Clara Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is says on the book; "Quick read".

A little history, some intrigue and a bit of romance. Everything you need in a book that doesn't take too long to read and could get you back into the reading habit.

[Omnia Atef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story of journalist who try to unfold family secret of ancient house the coincidence to be connected to her. Fast read finished in an hour interesting and captivating but could have been more in the story ended abruptly even the love was hassled

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little story

[Elaine M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟 cute little story

[Sophie Beuzeval · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great story, but you can easily get confused with it.

[Kath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, interesting story

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really didn't want this to end when it did and I'm sure there is more to tell of the story.

[Bookishgirl75 🍁📚❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3:75 Good little short story . 2 hrs on audio .

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great quick read

I really enjoyed this story. The plot is somewhat predictable but that did not take away the enjoyment! Highly recommend.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got bored with this one. Story about a family tree, but didn't interest me

[Karren Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to read, simple, if somewhat predictable story, but it did what I needed and pleasantly passed a couple of hours.

[Alison Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable quick read.

[Ian Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant enough quick read. The story is told in such a way that it seems more interesting than it turns out to be, but it's a sort-of rainy afternoon Channel 5 movie sort of book.

[Karen Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant easy and quick read! I’ll now try more by this author. I felt sorry for the family for being ashamed of their past and thank goodness we have moved on.

[Sharon Howle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alot of book

This is alot if book for a small amount of pages, love it and it's so well written with great detail and a lovely story

[Nicola Ferry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short short story. Finished ages ago, however for got to update.

[Kerry Menzies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but entertaining book.

[Sian Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read short story. Nothing too exciting or thrilling about the story but still enjoyable. Reminds me of short stories in magazines.

[Bekwii · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly easy read. Quite neutral about the book, didn’t love it but didn’t hate it. Would possibly read a different book by the author.

[Tina Walmsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just a nice easy read, lovely short story and perfect holiday read!

[Tracey Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was part of the 2026 Quick Reads selection. Enjoyable but predictable story. You knew excactly she was related to the "Girl in the Picture"