Published on 1st June 2017
Illustration: Julian De Narvaez
This is an absolutely gripping historical mystery set during the Second World War, and one which I read in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down!
Olive and her brother Cliff are evacuated to the Devon coast after it becomes unsafe for them to remain in London as the air raids are becoming more and more frequent. Trying to find her sister during such an air raid, Olive makes a surprising discovery … one that is to resonate throughout the story and which leads her to question her sister, the sister who has now gone missing … leaving Olive with a coded message, one she is determined to decipher.
Once in Devon, intrigue ensues and mysteries abound as Olive uncovers a secret mission led by those who take her and her brother in. Late night meetings behind closed doors, mysterious communications, maps, foreign words and furtive conversations. Olive is determined to solve the mystery whilst living in the lighthouse run by Ephraim who she suspects is more than just a lighthouse keeper, and may know more about her sister than he is admitting. She stumbles on discoveries that lead her on a daring mission to save others who are in terrible danger.
Olive is a wonderful young girl: she is clever, resilient, kind and likeable, but is also capable of making mistakes and taking actions which she later regrets. The development of her relationship with Esther, the young Jewish girl who has come to England on the Kindertransport, from enemies to friends is so credible. Esther is angry and resentful having lost her home and family and is finding it incredibly difficult to adjust to her new life. As they find they have something in common, and both aim to help those in need, the girls’ friendship strengthens.
The portrayal of prejudice in a community and how quickly this can turn to fear and hatred is powerfully shown. Both Olive and Esther show great courage and strength in challenging these prejudices from both children and adults, prejudice born of fear and ignorance.
This is historical fiction at its pinnacle. It is a story of mystery and revelation, of loss and hope, of togetherness and separation, of prejudice and enlightenment. It is a story of ordinary people determined to offer help to those in great need … what a powerful message!
Book Craic 
I absolutely loved this one. The audible gasp from Yr6 when they put 2 + 2 together in one part was just brilliant. This was my first introduction to Emma Carroll and I’m so glad I found her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really couldn’t put it down – a really fantastic read! Makes me really, really want to pick up The Somerset Tsunami now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do it, I enjoyed that even more than Letters from the Lighthouse. It’s not what you think it’s about, well it wasn’t for me anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds intriguing! I’ll move it up my TBR!
LikeLike
Mary, I so enjoy reading your reviews of books I’ve loved. You always capture the feel of the book so well that I just want to grab it from the bookshelf and read it again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very kind – this means a lot! This is such a fantastic book – I now really want to read The Somerset Tsunami!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy it! I found it fascinating, although I’m not a native of Somerset I live here now and loved the combination of local history and magical imagination. I was lucky to take my youngest to a local book festival event when Emma first published Frost Hollow Hall, and we’ve loved every book she has published since then! She has an extraordinary talent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really think I will! Totally agree, she’s an amazing writer. I’ve got a few of her books on my TBR!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review, I loved this book too. Have you read any of her others?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’ve only read Snow Sister and Frost Hollow Hall. But I have a few on my TBR: Secrets of a Sun King, The Girl Who Walked on Air and The Somerset Tsunami.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read Snow Sister. I TB ught Frost Hollow Hall was ok but I prefer others that I’ve read – Secrets of a Sun King was great and Sky Chasers is my fave of hers so far. I still need to read the others too though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Snow Sister is very short, but a great story. I’ll try to get Sky Chasers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like it’s really under-rated compared to her others, but I loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have this and am persuaded to move this to the trolley (and this promoted up the TBR) after your review!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
💚 This is such a fantastic book – can’t believe I waited so long to read it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recently got a copy but again can’t believe it took me so long as Emma’s writing is just wonderful
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve got a few of her books on my TBR. I really want to get to The Somerset Tsunami soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have read it 5* but I’ve not written a review! Not sure what happened there! I think it was the last thing I read before The Toll which really killed my reading buzz, and I think Tsunami was a casualty of that as it’s a review I wanted to take my time with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was wondering if you’d read it – well, now I really have to read it with a 5* recommendation! 😀💚
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely. I’m going to have to get myself in order and bash out a review because it’s brilliant- if you’ve read The Merrybegot it has some similar vibes of the witch-hunting
LikeLiked by 1 person