From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes an epic tale of love, passion and heartbreak.In the summer of 1940, eyes are focussed on the skies above the South of England: the Battle for Britain has just begun. But Evie Lucas has eyes for no-one but a dashing young pilot called Tony. Evie has a glittering career as an artist ahead of her but seems only to be fascinated in sketching portraits of … portraits of him…
Seventy years later, recently widowed art historian Lucy is putting the pieces of her life back together, and to do that she needs to uncover the mystery surrounding a painting in her home. As Lucy ties up the loose ends of one lifetime, she stirs up a hornet’s nest of history in another. Suddenly, Lucy finds herself in danger from people past and present who have no intention of letting an untold truth ever surface.
Some stories are buried in the darkness forever. Some are just waiting to be told…
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Simplistic romance novel framed in Battle of Britain. Tedious
An incredibly well written and researched multi timeline which had me hooked from beginning to end.
Lucy begins to write a biography on a famous World War II artist, and unearths family secrets going back through four generations.
Loved it and didn’t want it to end.
Very dark. Could have used a little more happiness.
Well, some of the characters are wonderful; others you will despise. The plot moves from current times to WWII. You will be surprised by the action of some of the individuals involved and thoroughly in the cheering section for others. The close of the story holds a surprise that is worth the read.
Being from England myself I loved every minute I was reading this book.
I remember reading Lady of Hay too
There is something very haunting about WW II stories. My dad found in that work and he seldom spoke of the horror and tragedy and hardships experienced by all. When he did! It was like he slipped into another place and told a story that was sometimes unnerving.
Liked Characters and evenrs.
I don’t care for ghosts.
I loved this book and was sad when it ended. I felt as if I was there with the characters during every dramatic moment. I loved when they loved, and was angry when they were lied to and mistreated. The ending was incredible.
I highly recommend it.
Great story about the Battle of Britain, pilots of that era and artist painting the action, and falling in love. The story takes you from 1940’s to present day times dealing with Art from a famous artist and her family fighting over her work. Really good story.
Outstanding book – great plot with amazing characters and unable to figure out how this would end well … IT DID! Loved this and couldn’t put it down and sorry that it ended. Highly recommend this book!
This book grabs you in the first few pages, and the characters in this book are so believable you are hooked deeper. The descriptions of watching the British Invasion, the English countryside, and the local farmers support were riveting. I really enjoyed this book and a return to the skies over England in the 1940’s.
Couldn’t finish it
A little slow
It really delves into the gripping, real, urgency of a World War ll. Adding the twist of current drama in the art world was mesmerizing.
What I did not like was the “ ghost” addition and the quite unnecessary insertion of a homosexual couple. It was quite irrelevant to e gripping storyline and very anti’-Christian.
There was a lot of flipping back and forth between present day and WW ll story line but I enjoyed the book.
The Darkest Hour was one of the most interesting I have read in awhile. The story begins as a couple are trying to determine if a painting that Lawrence has purchased is an original Evie Lucas painting, painted by a famous English wartime artist. The book is set in the present but consistently goes back to World War ll in the life of Evie Lucas. There are many twists and turns, a great piece of research, mysterious deaths and ghosts as well. It is set in Sussex England and many of the places were familiar to me. Well written and difficult to put down.
I absolutely love her books!! This one kept my interest all the way through. Thank you Miss Erskine for writing such good quality well researched books.
Rounded characters with a whimsical note. The back and forth between then and now was well crafted. An easy read for any one interested in that WW2 period in Britain when tomorrow had limited certainty and young people had an urgency to living.