Compelling and Deeply Moving

Let's start with the blurb:

That was then…

Seventy-five years ago, British SOE spy Guy Barclay was forced to leave behind the woman he loved in war-ravaged Yugoslavia.

…This is now

As ninety-three-year-old Guy’s days draw to a close, he asks his granddaughter, Leo Holmes, to go looking for answers. Given that her marriage has imploded and her City job is on the verge of killing her, Leo agrees and rents a house on the island of Vis, where her grandfather was stationed in the Second World War.

But as Leo’s search takes her down unexpected roads – and into the path of a gorgeous local, Andrej Pintaric – she begins to wonder if this journey down memory lane might yield unexpected results for more than just her beloved grandfather…

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My thoughts:

As always with Eva Glyn, this is a beautifully written and emotional story with a wonderful sense of place. It is a dual-time story with the two strands of plot fused together naturally and seamlessly.

In the past, we have a war story of courage and cruelty that does not flinch from the horrors of war and presents Gus with some impossible choices. In the present, Gus, now an old man, asks his granddaughter to make a pilgrimage to his wartime haunts in search of the truth.

This is a fascinating tale about a little-known aspect of the Second World War. It is meticulously researched, though this never gets in the way of the story. In fact, all the period detail blends in perfectly. The characters are well-drawn - not just the principals but also the supporting cast - and the vivid descriptions will sweep you right into the book and plonk you down in the middle of the scenery. A fascinating, compelling and deeply moving exploration of two love stories, this is a book that will make you think.

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Here is the link to Eva Glyn's page on Amazon.

And here is the link to her other author page on Amazon - writing as Jane Cable.