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A review by zoe_reads87
The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Emma Stonex’s *The Lamplighters* is a haunting mystery inspired by the real-life disappearance of three lighthouse keepers. Set in 1972, the novel alternates between the keepers—Arthur, Bill, and Vince—leading up to their unexplained vanishing, and the women they left behind, grappling with their loss two decades later.
The tension between the keepers and their personal struggles adds to the novel’s psychological depth. At the same time, the emotional weight of their wives’ grief and the secrets within their relationships provide a poignant counterpoint to the central mystery.
While I felt the novel offered no clear resolution, its strength lied in exploring themes of isolation, love, and the unknowability of others.
The tension between the keepers and their personal struggles adds to the novel’s psychological depth. At the same time, the emotional weight of their wives’ grief and the secrets within their relationships provide a poignant counterpoint to the central mystery.
While I felt the novel offered no clear resolution, its strength lied in exploring themes of isolation, love, and the unknowability of others.