Reviews

I wasn’t sure I was going to like it for the first few chapters, but once I got into it I stayed up too late reading. . . Then couldn’t sleep as my mind tried to work through it all. Is Charlotte losing her mind (which would be totally understandable given her experience of the Blitz) or being hunted? Or is something else entirely going on? Even at the last 10 percent I really didn’t know where it was going. Very good.

Content Warnings

srufe's review

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mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

carireadsbooksandtarot's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Estranged from her wealthy family, Charlotte Richmond is trying to build a life for herself on her own in London in the days of the Blitz. When she loses several friends in quick succession and keeps seeing the same man in various locations, she begins to fear that her friends’ deaths were not just a result of German raids. With the help of a coroner’s son, Tom, she starts asking questions in relation to her friends’ deaths but this behavior may lead her further into danger.

This is one of the most unique historical fiction novels I’ve ever read. Far more than just a “surviving the Blitz” story, Baker tackles the prevailing ideas about mental illness in women and its treatment during this time in history. Charlotte and Tom are both excellent characters representing demographics that tend to get very little page time in typical WW2 fiction.

At times, it moved really slowly, but throughout I was invested in finding out what was really going on. The prose is quite beautiful and Baker does a stellar job recreating 1940 London on the page.

krista0610's review

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lediamond4's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was a lot. Wonderfully written with great characters, but my goodness, I do admit that the plot lost me for a good deal of it. Perhaps there was TOO much going on. I know World War II fiction is probably overdone, but I’m not sure this one needed the addition of the murder mystery/mental health crisis crossover.

I was engaged for almost the entire book, even if it was confusing. Charlotte is a very likable protagonist and the writing was visual and pleasant to read. I’ll have to give it another reread to see if it’s less confusing but the fact that I’m more than willing to do that means it’s worthwhile for me.

erinhosthisaw's review

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3.5

worth reading

kmac2022's review

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dark hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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