And Now the Light is Everywhere

by L.A. MacRae

Argyll, 1998. Stories run deep in the MacArthur family, passed from generation to generation. Tales not just of selkies and changelings, but of the lives and deaths of the family themselves. Anna MacArthur has heard how her beautiful grandmother Netta boarded a ship for Canada after the war, leaving behind her young son Donnie, and was never seen again. Now, fifty years after her disappearance, Anna accidentally pulls a loose thread in the story of Netta's fate, causing the tale of her vanishing to unravel completely. As Anna pieces together a far more disquieting version of events, she is also forced to examine her own memories of her father Donnie's death.

Yet the truth is sometimes bent and buried for a reason. And bringing to light what some have concealed for years may not be free of consequences . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

427 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2024

Reviews

[Fran McBookface · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now the Light is Everywhere is one of those stories you can really sink into and I was thoroughly caught up in it.

Telling the story of the McArthur family, it is a rich story crossing generations. I really enjoy a multiple time period novel and this one is woven together beautifully.

Each member of the family gets a voice and so we see the story unfold from multiple viewpoints. From siblings Anna & Jamie in the 1990s back to their father Donnie and further back to their grandmother Netta & her sisters, each strand is a compelling story on its own.

With their home in rural Argyll and as a family of storytellers, the whole tale is shot through with Scottish folklore and language painting a vivid picture. The wonderful writing , rich with beautiful imagery makes it easy to place yourself at the family home of Crois na Coille among the McArthurs and their stories

As an archivist and a collector of history and oral stories, I particularly appreciated the importance that this was given throughout the book.

I knew from the blurb that I would thoroughly enjoy this one and I was not disappointed. A fantastic debut and I look forward to whatever the author does next.

[Grace Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

L.A MacRae’s debut novel is absolutely stunning. Her writing style is so readable and yet it is laced with such unique and complex imagery which makes it a pleasure to read. I feel that stories set in Scotland often either stay firmly in the countryside, folksy, mythical space or in the gritty underbelly side of things. Writers tend to explore one of these spaces in a way that almost denies the existence of the other. In my opinion neither space is more real or relevant than the other and both are valuable and deserve to be explored. Scotland like any other country has both a rich history and wealth of folk culture that continues to be relevant today but coexists with issues such as poverty, crime and dysfunctional families. I really enjoyed the way MacRae displayed elements of both these things and shows how the existence of one does not stamp out the importance of the other. And Now the Light is Everywhere explores the twisting family history of the MacArthurs and anchors itself with Anna MacArthur in the ‘present’ time line which is set in 1990s Argyll. Anna is feeling lost and very much in the dark about what her next steps might be, so with the passing of her great uncle she decides to go and stay with her great aunts to hide from the world. It is there at Crois na Coille that she starts to dig through the past. The stories of the MacArthur family tangle like the roots of a tree, with each new discovery threating to untether the Anna in the present day.

Folk stories are at the heart of And Now the Light is Everywhere and the novel itself unfolds in a similar way. Many threads of stories are weaving together and unfurling with questions and answers rising to the surface in equal measure. As this is a story that has POVs from three main time periods, many members of the MacArthur family and some other key players it might seem a bit overwhelming at first but once you get into the flow you end up desperate to hear from all of them. Every time a chapter ends, you’re so keen to get back to that character’s tale. I don’t think the story would be the same without each thread spinning from start to finish. I loved MacRae’s exploration of folk collecting with Bella as a tradition bearer. I studied that at university, so it was so lovely to be reading about it again. I admire the way folk stories were shown to be a thing of the people, with lasting relevance through the generations. It really added another layer of intrigue to the story.

And Now the Light is Everywhere is ultimately a story of bonds stretching across the years, sometimes weathered and worn, but enduring nonetheless. It is about finding your way forward by opening up, reaching back, and untangling the mysteries and unasked and unanswered questions of the past.

[Grace -thewritebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"We are only allowed such a small piece of knowledge about who we are, and where we really come from. We march relentlessly into our unknown future, beginning anew with every second."

This was just the most exquisite novel, absolutely took my breath away. Right from the start, before I even knew who the wide range of characters were, I had already fallen in love with the beautiful Scottish landscape in which the story is located. For me, the descriptions of the hills and the water and the way of life felt like someone had taken thoughts straight from my head: a combination of childhood holiday memories and my own deep love of traditional folklore (and even how we see it in academia, and the accompanying emotions and ethics - it ticked so many boxes, and was so relevant to where I find myself in life at the moment)
And then I realised that as well as this, I was going to have to fall in love with the MacArthur family. Each character was written with so much detail I felt like they were performing on stage in front of me, or as if I were sat in the kitchen with them as they narrated their lives. The layers of relationships between each character grew and grew and with every twist and surprise I could only feel for them more deeply - for the pain that they all went through and felt they couldn't share with one another, as is the way of complex histories.
There were so many pieces to this story, some that by the end I was desperate for - wanting as badly as our characters to understand the whole arc of a family history, and others I didn't even realise were missing until they quietly opened up whole pieces of the puzzle that had previously been hidden. Ultimately, stories like this can have no perfect conclusion because we are an imperfect people who, out of love or hate or fear or bravery, make choices that ripple through history, but I felt MacRae offers us a beautiful hommage to these complicated feelings in the way we leave Anna, Jamie, Donnie, Bella, Fern, and Netta at the end of the novel. A masterpiece of historical fiction, and one I am glad to have experienced!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and L.A. MacRae for my ARC copy!

This was a wonderful little story and such a great debut. I loved learning about each character and the different timelines were very interesting!
I did find it hard to keep up at times, if you take your time reading and maybe write down some notes it helps.
The ending wasn’t what I expected but I loved it!
I’ll be looking forward to reading more of her books for sure!

[Cara McDermott · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We are only allowed such a small slice of knowledge about who we are, and where we really come from. We march relentlessly into our unknown futures, beginning anew with every second”

A multi generational family saga where we learn about the MacArthurs, their lives, loves, and losses, and some very dark secrets along the way. I think it’s a book where the less one knows before starting, the greater the reading experience.

I will caveat, there were more characters than I’d have remembered without some off-book note taking, and I wonder if all the sub plots were quite so necessary. With the varying timelines, characters and stories, there was a lot for this reader to remember. I can easily imagine it being wonderful if adapted to screen, and considering it’s the author’s debut I am only impressed.

[Ambika · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now the Light is Everywhere was a spectacular read focused on family throughout history and how the past and present can meet and influence the future. I was very much invested in the stories told however, I do think the number of characters were a bit much to keep abreast of in my mind. This novel is unique, in that, the end is still somewhat unknown and readers are left feeling okay by it which is a first haha.

My favorite quote says, "We are only allowed such a small slice of knowledge about who we are, and where we really come from. We march relentlessly into our unknown futures, beginning anew with every second. But right now, there is the present. Life is a series of moments called now."

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few pages of this book I struggled with.
I felt there were too many names being thrown at me, and I didnt know who was who.
It obviously became clearer, and then I came fully immersed in the tangle MacArthur family.
Some excellent characters, and a story that flicks back and forth in time, slowly revealing the bigger picture, the final picture, and it wasn't always what I thought it was going to be.
A very pleasant few hours were spent with this one.

[Maria Angela A Meireles P · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning, it took me some time to get going, but then, I could not put down the book. It was a nonstop history. After some chapters, I was struggling between reading and preparing my meals!

[Rachel N · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now The Light is Everywhere is a debut novel but never feels it - the writing is beautiful and very confident. The story, set in rural Argyll in Scotland, is split between three generations of a family which has been touched by tragedy, from a grandmother who left for Canada and never contacted anyone again, her son who died tragically early, and his children. Folklore and story telling in the area provides a strong element and when researchers arrive to find out more, the family history also starts to be questioned by Anna, the daughter/granddaughter of the two mentioned above.

It's a complex story with a lot of characters but each of them is defined enough to make it easy enough to follow. I did find them all slightly distant so I didn't connect with them fully but was certainly interested in what was happening. I also liked the fact that, while we discover what happened, there is still a lot left unknown by the characters, people still hold secrets, their behaviour not fully understood and that felt more honest than everything wrapped up too neatly.

I'll definitely be looking for what comes next from L.A. MacRae, this was a very unusual setting and story and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

#AndNowtheLightisEverywhere #NetGalley

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkably memorable multilayered debut from LA Macrae who adroitly handles different generations of family, dysfunctional, the question of identity, with her adroit shifts in time and characters, storytelling enriched by Scottish culture, traditions, and folklore. This is a tale of family mystery, where pieces of the puzzle are orchestrated to come together, to throw a light on its darkness and secrets, illustrating the connections between the past and the present, what impact might the truth have on the future? Set in 1990s Argyll in Scotland with an uncertain Anna MacArthur feels unsure of her future, and is aware of her grandmother, Netta, leaving post-war for Canada on a ship, leaving her son behind, but never seen again. Anna inadvertently pulls at this family thread, delving into the past, the stories told, where each little bit of what she uncovers chips away at who she thinks she is. An enthralling read from a talented writer, with twists and turns, that heightened my curiosity and kept me gripped from start to finish. I look forward with great interest and anticipation to her next book!! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Lydia Omodara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If our family history is cloaked in secrecy and we are denied the opportunity to learn from it, are we doomed to repeat the wretched mistakes of those who came before us?

Anna MacArthur's family are story tellers - her great-grandmother - then her great-aunt - collectors and keepers of an age-old assortment of folk tales which are as much a part of their rural Argyll home as the hills and lochs which surround it. When it comes to the history of the MacArthur family, however, the stories are told only in snatched mentions, in dark allusions and in dismissive half truths. Why did Anna's grandmother, Netta, flee to Canada and leave her young son behind, never to set eyes on him again? What exactly happened the night Anna's father (and Netta's son) died? When a visitor poses his own questions about his family to Anna, she starts to reconsider everything she has been told - and even her own memories.

Bookended by a death and a birth, both of which signify a moment for reflection and action for one or more of the MacArthurs, And Now the Light is everywhere is an ambitious, beautifully written family saga which interrogates the idea of generational cycles through the exploration of three generations of one family spanning more than fifty years.

Author L.A. MacRae gracefully weaves the threads of the MacArthur family history, from one fateful summer in 1942 to the story's present day in the spring of 1998, keeping the reader one step ahead of Anna as she begins to pull at the fabric of the family mythology which has always been presented to her. The tension remains high throughout, as we root for her to figure out the truth while there is still time to change the fate of the generations to come.

MacRae skilfully juxtaposes the folksy magic of the oral storytelling tradition with the often bleak reality of real life. Just as characters in legend might make a deal with the devil to save their soul, generation after generation of MacArthur's is forced to make similarly devastating choices as a result of social mores, poverty, gender norms and the unrelenting tug of responsibility. Regarding Netta as a kind of selkie-esque creature who found her metaphorical sealskin and slipped right out of the story may have helped her family to reconcile themselves to her absence (and to anything they did which might have contributed to her leaving), but, as more is gradually revealed about her final months in Scotland, the reader is forced to confront the grim reality of her situation.

Each narrative could function by itself, thanks to deft world-building and thoughtfully written characters; I loved how the descriptions of the changing buildings and the unchanging landscapes evoked each time period, along with references to the events which shook and shaped the area, such as the arrival of the so-called lumber jills from the Women's Timber Corps during World War II. The central characters are complex, flawed and likeable, and MacRae suggests parallels between them rather than over-emphasising their similarities. Even the secondary characters have a depth which belies their non-narrator status; I would have been fascinated to read more about the events of the 1940s from the perspective of Bella, Netta's sister, or to discover more about the third sister, Fern's life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[AHR - · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Argyll Scotland 1998, and moving backwards and forwards in time, telling of the story, learning about the characters and how they fit into the storyline.
The MacArthurs, going back through the generations.Telling the stories to the story collector, who has called intermittently over the years.
Descriptions of a beautiful area of countryside to live.

At first I found the book a little slow and difficult to get into, but I am so pleased I continued as it was a good read.
Getting to know the characters and their feelings. Some nice, some not so.
Family secrets, stories carried forth in their re telling of old folks tales.
Family bonds and traditions. Love, where people fit in their family and affections.
A book I found hard to put down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own

[Elizabeth Currie · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now the Light is Everywhere is a beautifully written debut moving across three generations of the McArthur family to weave a compelling story of family secrets and family bonds.

The strength of this book lies in Macrae’s beautiful prose. With Scottish folklore running through the book, this is a book that feels truly rooted, with the Highlands setting coming very much to life as we learn the McArthurs’ complex family history and long held secrets are revealed.

Told from multiple points of view and moving from the 1940s to the late 1990s, and with a fairly large cast of characters, this is a book that takes a bit of concentration initially but you soon become invested in the family’s world. Whilst much comes to light, things aren’t all wrapped up neatly - but sometimes being able to put the past to bed allows us to move forward.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The McArthur family have lived in their small farmhouse for generations, eking out an existence and buoyed by family ties and secrets. When Arthur John dies, Anna returns to the family home and slowly starts piecing together the story of the past alongside a young Irish scholar whose relations may have also been involved. Incorporating three generations and uncovering the past does not give Anna any answers.
I was pleasantly surprised with this novel as I approached it thinking it was going to be a little twee story about families in a quiet generic way. It definitely isn't that! There are some nasty little secrets in the past which the reader is made aware of but not the protagonists which means that this is a not neat story. It is a very impressive debut.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy read. Anna in 1998 is drifting a bit and her brother Jamie is expecting his first baby; he makes swords. Their father DOnnie was a bit of a drifter too and never got to build the house he had land for; they lived in a caravan. Donnie's mother disappeared 'to Canada' and left behind two sisters who still are core to the family. Donnies father was the 'laird' but no one knew he was the father; he was a WWi vet, fairly damaged. There's also Geordie GIlroy ex-policeman, violent; there's Bridget & Josephine, two WW2 land-girls, Donnie's mother had an affair with one of them. There's John from Ireland who is writing about local history and he & anna are falling for each other. Written in WW2, 1960, and 1998. Good page turner

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant debut! Wonderful story telling, captivating and well thought out. All the classic features of life in a small, Scottish village: the interconnected lives, the ‘big house’ and elders within the community who have folk songs and stories to ‘pass on’.

I wasn’t sure how the plot would play out from reading the blurb alone but the beauty of this book is that the reader learns the truth alongside the family members. It is very much a gradual pulling back of the layers, revealing how many hidden secrets one family can have.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley for my arc of this!

at around 40% i was kind of lagging with this and almost dnfed but i am EXTREMELY glad i did not. this is a story that starts subtle and creeping and then rears back to PUNCH you in the face. tore through the last half of it. breathlessly readable and sweeping in florid, lovely prose. love all these guys! anna! jamie! netta! harriet! those are my kids.

this takes a bit of concentration, i had to work quite hard to piece things together and keep track of who everyone was, but that made it so gorgeous and rewarding. what a gem!

[Joe Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last 30 pages of this book are so compelling, moving and emotive that I have to say it is one of the most gentle, surprising and raw descents into the core of the human soul that I have ever read. First time reviewer but anyone who reads And Now Light is Everywhere with an open mind will find a take on life and its complex tapestry that is uniquely calm, sometimes turbulent and painfully beautiful whilst still finding charm and humour in lighter moments. Poetic and muscular, this book will be read again and I look forward to what comes next from this unknown author…

[Ella-Mae Campling · Rating 4 out of 5]

“crafting a fairytale-esque darkness that I AM THRILLED BY.”
A beautiful debut of a multi-generational family with narratives across multiple points of time. It is a lovely piece, with complex imagery and mythologies, that craft a fairytale-esque darkness that I AM THRILLED BY. The connection between any folk stories, and the families that carry them forth is such a beautiful story, it is beautiful to see it woven into this tapestry with such skill from a debut author.

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Not the biggest hit at bookclub, but I quite enjoyed this family saga with a hint of mystery. Following multiple generations of the same family, the story centres on Anna in 1998, as she pieces together the events surrounding the disappearance of her grandmother Netta after the second world war. With multiple characters and personal narratives, the story was a little hard to follow at times - but the delightful audiobook narration made it a pleasant experience.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The secrets that lie dormant within a family brought to life through this book. Told in different voices across several time lines to bring together this embedded mystery. Skilfully portrayed across what could have been a confusing read with each character telling their part . It certainly climaxes as the story unfolds and you need to keep close track of the characters

[Anne Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about family, secrets , history and redemption. Things happen which have long term consequences- unknown at the time. It is told from the perspective of different characters so we get differing viewpoints on the same incidents. I thought that it was a perfect reminder to speak to our older relatives to gather all the family history while we can. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

[Alison Macrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Now the Light Is Everywhere, drew me in immediately and its unrelenting pace made it impossible to put down till the last page! The beautifully written story, told mainly through compelling dialogue by members of a family over several generations, is at the same time place specific, the highlands of Scotland, and universal. A very satisfying read.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Highlands of Scotland in the 20th century with a cast of beautifully evoked characters relating the story over a period of eighty years. Fascinating and atmospheric in the mysterious disappearance of the key character, with the story shot through with suspected crimes past and present and ancient Gaelic tales. Touches of dry humour too!

[Fleurtje Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A substantial and layered story with an intriguing setting, both the way the characters were linked to each other and the way the landscapes were described.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now the Light is Everywhere weaves together the stories of three generations of the MacArthur family of Argyll, Scotland. I found it really difficult to get into. The pacing at first seems rather slow and disjointed and it was a struggle for me to keep track of the various characters. That said, I’m so glad I persevered. The second half of the book is brilliant with a satisfying and emotive conclusion.

A powerful debut novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rosalind McCord · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written debut novel. Family stories are intertwined and the secrets are slowly revealed. You won't be able to put this book down, towards the end! Looking forward to LA MacRae's next book.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A multigenerational saga, secrets, legends, tradition. The story of a generations.
Fascinating even if a bit too crowded at times.
3..5 upped to 4
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Sheila Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Now the Light is Everywhere

Very well written and evocative of the S cottish Highlands. Poetic in language and an unfolding family drama spanning 4 generations, I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to LA MacRae's follow up to an excellent first novel.

[Katie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engrossing novel spanning three generations and multiple characters, this is an exploration of the influence of the past and our ability to escape it. I sped to the end. A really strong debut novel.