A page turning, literary post-war historical novel full of secrets and mysteries.England, Christmastime 1946A young widow leaves behind the tragedy of her wartime life, and returns home to her ageing aunt and uncle. For Lucy – known as Mrs P – and the people who raised her, the books that line the walls of the family publishing business bring comfort and the promise of new beginnings.But the kind … comfort and the promise of new beginnings.
But the kind and reserved new editor at the Kershaw and Kathay Book Press is a former prisoner of war, and he has his own shadows to bear. And when the old secrets of a little girl’s abandonment are uncovered within the pages of Robert Underhills’s latest project, Lucy must work quickly if she is to understand the truth behind his frequent trips away.
For a ghost dwells in the record of an orphan girl’s last days. And even as Lucy dares to risk her heart, the grief of her own past seems to be whispering a warning of fresh loss…
The Book Ghost will be published in the UK as Mrs P’s Book of Secrets.
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The story begins in 1946, just after the end of WWII, during the wintertime in the north Cotswolds town of Moreton-in-Marsh where Lucy, better known as Mrs P has come back home to help out in her aging aunt and uncles’ publishing house “Kershaw and Kathay Book Press”.
Lucy’s husband was just killed during the war, and despite her experience is now working as a clerk/receptionist/tea girl alongside her uncle and a new editor named Robert Underhill. Underhill prior to the war was studying to become a doctor. Though he could have been excused, he volunteered in the war efforts only to be captured immediately and became a POW for the last 5 years. Underhill would disappear from the office from time to time and the mystery surrounding his disappearance from the office intrigues Mrs. P.
I love historical fiction reads especially the WWII period. I enjoy learning about the circumstances surrounding the story line and the author gifts the reader with amazing detail and backstories of the characters.
England at that time was still reeling from the war, and while the country recovers, the people remain in rations. The men have come back and the women have to step back from their roles – running the country while the men were gone. The widows are trying to find their way back and are dealing with the guilt from the loss of their loved ones, mostly finding difficulties with establish relationships.
There are new ways of speaking in society where prying questions are not acceptable unless information is freely offered. The men that have come back are dealing with their own trauma from the war and I find that the author did a great job in creating that world post WWII.
The story is told through Lucy’s experience and point of view. Overall, I did enjoy the writing as it feels very much to the time period and the details were rich and vivid. It did move a little slow for me though I did enjoy the beautiful descriptions and the character development in this story.
I recommend this book for HF fans who are interested in the post WWII England setting.
The Book Ghost by Lorna Gray is a book that is part historical fiction part period drama that takes place in England 1946 . This book focusses on the aftermath and coming to terms with the ending war and picking up the pieces of the lives that are broken and touched by such devastation and loss and trying to make sense of where, and how, to move on.
Many books out now cover events during WWII, but not as many cover what becomes of the “ordinary” citizen after they are then thrust back into a life half-changed. One can neither go back nor forget and move on with their life as if they are they same person. This process of reflection, acceptance, and putting one foot forward step by step is where we read about Lucy (a war widow at the young age of 26) who has been forced to come back to a rather depressing position as a menial secretary living with her elderly aunt and uncle and Robert, whom has his own demons and ghosts to contend with, a man that was hired and is staying with her family to help edit and man the publishing company that Lucy’s relatives own. What ensues is a treading of water in which both characters just try to stay afloat while they figure out who they are now and where they want to go.
This is not an action-packed read, but one does not read the synopsis and think that is what they are getting. Just like a healing wound, things take time, and the author weaves her tale at that slow, but steady, pace to put her readers in the right frame of mind and lead them to an appropriate and fitting conclusion. This book puts the reader into what it may have felt like coming to terms with tragedies in one’s life, finding a way to accept these losses, and to discover a purpose and a route to happiness moving forward.
4/5 stars.
I was 25% into reading this book and I was just pushing myself through it. I had just read a fantastic book and thought maybe that was why I was feeling as I did. I went to scan some reviews on Goodreads.com for this book and saw that the reviews posted at that time, were a reflection of how I was feeling. I was determined to continue to read to the end.
Approximately 50% through the book, the story finally was holding my interest, but the it was still moving very slow. About 80% read, I was finally involved in the story and was anxious to know how it ended.
In summary, the book had a pretty good plot, but it was not written well in my opinion. The story dragged quite a bit and was very wordy. I do think that if the reader can hang on long enough to finish the book, the story is worthwhile.
I was not very interested in any of the characters except in the very last part of the book, when new characters were the focus. I wish the story revolved more around them.
I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for allowing me to read the ARC. My review is my own opinion, not influence by receiving the ARC.