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The Shock of the Light: A Novel
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“A wonderfully conceived and remarkably assured first novel, rich in emotion and with a truly compelling narrative drive. A brilliant success.”
—William Boyd, bestselling author of Any Human Heart
For readers of The Nightingale and In Memoriam, a sweeping novel of siblings, steeped in love, heart-rending loss, and sacrifice, the story of twins who meet shockingly different fates, but whose bond will last forever
Twins Tessa and Theo are roots of the same tree, in tune with one another’s every thought and desire. As World War II takes hold across Europe, both are eager to do their part. Theo is recruited by the RAF and disappears into the skies, while Tessa jumps at the chance to join the Special Operations Executive, devoted to spying and sabotage behind enemy lines. It will be dangerous, highly classified work, but Tessa, despite all she shares with Theo, is no stranger to secret-keeping.
Two years later, Theo comes home. Tessa does not.
Theo, wounded, broken by the loss of his fellows and his sister, is indefatigable, angry, driven, a clandestinely gay man at a time when homosexuality was illegal—and he will pay a price for pursuing answers about Tessa’s fate.
Decades later, PhD candidate Edie is deep into her research on the Special Operations Executive during the war. When she finds Theo in London, they form an unlikely partnership, and together they finally uncover the truth about Theo’s beloved sister—a truth that stretches back to the summer Tessa spent in France before the war had even begun.
Stunningly and propulsively written, The Shock of the Light is a novel of bravery, the brutal human cost of war, a brother and sister bond that outlasts even death, and the redemptive love that grows in unexpected places.
—William Boyd, bestselling author of Any Human Heart
For readers of The Nightingale and In Memoriam, a sweeping novel of siblings, steeped in love, heart-rending loss, and sacrifice, the story of twins who meet shockingly different fates, but whose bond will last forever
Twins Tessa and Theo are roots of the same tree, in tune with one another’s every thought and desire. As World War II takes hold across Europe, both are eager to do their part. Theo is recruited by the RAF and disappears into the skies, while Tessa jumps at the chance to join the Special Operations Executive, devoted to spying and sabotage behind enemy lines. It will be dangerous, highly classified work, but Tessa, despite all she shares with Theo, is no stranger to secret-keeping.
Two years later, Theo comes home. Tessa does not.
Theo, wounded, broken by the loss of his fellows and his sister, is indefatigable, angry, driven, a clandestinely gay man at a time when homosexuality was illegal—and he will pay a price for pursuing answers about Tessa’s fate.
Decades later, PhD candidate Edie is deep into her research on the Special Operations Executive during the war. When she finds Theo in London, they form an unlikely partnership, and together they finally uncover the truth about Theo’s beloved sister—a truth that stretches back to the summer Tessa spent in France before the war had even begun.
Stunningly and propulsively written, The Shock of the Light is a novel of bravery, the brutal human cost of war, a brother and sister bond that outlasts even death, and the redemptive love that grows in unexpected places.
416 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 17, 2026
6184 people want to read
About the author
Lori Inglis Hall
1 book31 followersLori Inglis Hall was born and raised in Leicestershire, and now lives in the South East. Things she loves (in no particular order): books, words, cats, donkeys, her pals, sea swimming, Fake or Fortune, working museums, walled gardens, roses, A.S Byatt, paintings by Cedric Morris, Paris, hispi cabbage, antiques fairs, The National Trust, Lee Miller's war reports, chintz, ceramics, Kim Deal, Peggy Angus wallpaper, blankets, and archives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 25, 2025
4+
Twins Tessa and Theo are initially very close but a wide space has grown between them but time may heal the bonds. By 1938 Tessa is studying at The Sorbonne, which upsets Theo as they agreed Cambridge, according to him! However, she’s hiding something big from him and before he can get to the bottom of the problem, war intervenes and he’s recruited into the RAF. As for Tessa, she is encouraged to join the clandestine Special Operations Executive, the objective being to meld undetected into occupied France and wreak as much havoc as possible. Clearly, her family know nothing of this, will she make it home alive??
There’s much to praise in this emotionally charged and haunting story, although I think it becomes too long and a bit drawn out. That being said, the twins story is fantastic, their emotional ties come across loud and clear and they both suffer mightily in different ways and so is heartbreaking reading at times. It takes a PhD student, Edie, at the start of the millennium to get to the heart of the truth and I like how she greatly helps Theo. These sections of the novel make me feel everything from sadness to anger.
The novel is extremely well researched, although I do know about the SOE the direction the novel takes is a good one. In addition, the author really captures the strict views society holds at the time which are deeply reflected in both of the twins stories.
If you’re not keen on war stories don’t be put off because this novel is about much more than that which makes it much more accessible. This is because it’s the twins personal stories, set against the backdrop of war and post war. It therefore probably hits home harder because of that and is more powerful.
Overall, this is well worth a read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Twins Tessa and Theo are initially very close but a wide space has grown between them but time may heal the bonds. By 1938 Tessa is studying at The Sorbonne, which upsets Theo as they agreed Cambridge, according to him! However, she’s hiding something big from him and before he can get to the bottom of the problem, war intervenes and he’s recruited into the RAF. As for Tessa, she is encouraged to join the clandestine Special Operations Executive, the objective being to meld undetected into occupied France and wreak as much havoc as possible. Clearly, her family know nothing of this, will she make it home alive??
There’s much to praise in this emotionally charged and haunting story, although I think it becomes too long and a bit drawn out. That being said, the twins story is fantastic, their emotional ties come across loud and clear and they both suffer mightily in different ways and so is heartbreaking reading at times. It takes a PhD student, Edie, at the start of the millennium to get to the heart of the truth and I like how she greatly helps Theo. These sections of the novel make me feel everything from sadness to anger.
The novel is extremely well researched, although I do know about the SOE the direction the novel takes is a good one. In addition, the author really captures the strict views society holds at the time which are deeply reflected in both of the twins stories.
If you’re not keen on war stories don’t be put off because this novel is about much more than that which makes it much more accessible. This is because it’s the twins personal stories, set against the backdrop of war and post war. It therefore probably hits home harder because of that and is more powerful.
Overall, this is well worth a read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
November 9, 2025
Please, read this book. It’s a fantastic, emotionally moving, and deeply researched novel. I’m very impressed and would recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional work of historical fiction. I truly loved it.
Let me start by saying that I’m not usually drawn to stories set during the Second World War, and I’ve rarely read anything from that period. But something about this premise made me want to make an exception. This is the story of twins, Tessa and Theo, who both become involved in the war effort: Theo as an RAF pilot and Tessa working undercover in France. They go to war together, but only one of them comes home. Devastated by the loss of his twin, Theo’s post-war life is haunted by the uncertainty of not truly knowing what happened to Tessa. The physical injuries he suffered are nothing compared to the emotional wounds he endures.
Saying that this book moved me on multiple levels would be an understatement. The author doesn’t shy away from portraying some of the most tragic, dehumanizing, but also lesser-known aspects of the Second World War. Through the bond between two people who share one of the closest relationships imaginable, the story reveals how devastating this conflict was for ordinary lives. In my opinion, showing people against great history is the best way to approach historical fiction, and this book does it masterfully, even if it breaks your heart in the process.
At the same time, this is so much more than just a war story, and not only because much of it takes place after 1945. It’s also a novel about people struggling to be themselves, often against strict social conventions. Ironically, even though Tessa and Theo are closer to each other than to anyone else, they are still forced to hide certain intimate truths about themselves because of social taboos. The story powerfully illustrates how rigid British attitudes toward sexuality and the role of women in society ultimately prevent the characters from finding each other.
In short, this is a very sad – heartbreakingly sad – but also profoundly beautiful story. Following Theo’s search to discover what happened to his sister is a deeply emotional experience. Not all the questions are answered at the end, but I think the best books are often those in which endings also feel like new beginnings.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Let me start by saying that I’m not usually drawn to stories set during the Second World War, and I’ve rarely read anything from that period. But something about this premise made me want to make an exception. This is the story of twins, Tessa and Theo, who both become involved in the war effort: Theo as an RAF pilot and Tessa working undercover in France. They go to war together, but only one of them comes home. Devastated by the loss of his twin, Theo’s post-war life is haunted by the uncertainty of not truly knowing what happened to Tessa. The physical injuries he suffered are nothing compared to the emotional wounds he endures.
Saying that this book moved me on multiple levels would be an understatement. The author doesn’t shy away from portraying some of the most tragic, dehumanizing, but also lesser-known aspects of the Second World War. Through the bond between two people who share one of the closest relationships imaginable, the story reveals how devastating this conflict was for ordinary lives. In my opinion, showing people against great history is the best way to approach historical fiction, and this book does it masterfully, even if it breaks your heart in the process.
At the same time, this is so much more than just a war story, and not only because much of it takes place after 1945. It’s also a novel about people struggling to be themselves, often against strict social conventions. Ironically, even though Tessa and Theo are closer to each other than to anyone else, they are still forced to hide certain intimate truths about themselves because of social taboos. The story powerfully illustrates how rigid British attitudes toward sexuality and the role of women in society ultimately prevent the characters from finding each other.
In short, this is a very sad – heartbreakingly sad – but also profoundly beautiful story. Following Theo’s search to discover what happened to his sister is a deeply emotional experience. Not all the questions are answered at the end, but I think the best books are often those in which endings also feel like new beginnings.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 21, 2025
Tessa and Theo are so connected as twins, as children they would show off at school by reading one another's thoughts. They have a bond that no one can break. Being a mother of boy-girl twins, I instantly related with this unique bond between Tessa and Theo. This wonderfully written book is told in four parts. The first two parts of the book you meet Tessa and Theo. When WWII hits, Theo decides to join the Royal Air Force. Tessa wants to do anything but secretarial work, so she joins in the fight as a Special Operations Executive. She will be a courier, carrying messages that will move between the parts of a network of agents and French Resistance groups. She leads her family to believe she is serving in another entity and even predates letters to home. One night after much preparation, Tessa is parachuted into France and things go terribly wrong. At this point she is on her own and does what she must to survive. Part two of the book gives Theo's story. He has heartbreaking struggles that cause him pain during and after the war. Part three comes decades later where you meet a PhD student, Edie. She is wants to uncover what really happened to Tessa and the reason she never returned home. She teams up with Theo and I just loved their relationship. Edie has so much doubt about herself, but it is Theo who gives her self confidence. Part four is told from Tessa's perspective. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This is going to be one of top reads and I will tell everyone to go ahead and reserve a copy for themselves on March 17, 2026. I would love to see a sequel, one can only hope. If you love Kristin Hannah or historical fiction, this debut novel is for you. I will read anything Lori Inglis Hall writes!
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin / Pamela Dorman Books for the opportunity to read this heartbreakingly sad, but beautiful ARC. Thank you to one of my favorite authors, Kate Quinn for reading and rating this book 5 stars on Goodreads. That rating led me to add this to my TBR list.
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin / Pamela Dorman Books for the opportunity to read this heartbreakingly sad, but beautiful ARC. Thank you to one of my favorite authors, Kate Quinn for reading and rating this book 5 stars on Goodreads. That rating led me to add this to my TBR list.
December 18, 2025
"And so the circle turns"... It is to be dragged into the light, after all."
Lori Inglis Hall's debut novel is a fascinating exploration of the role of women in in the Special Operations Executive - women parachuted into France to work with the resistance. But this is a story that is not simply a war story- this is about truth; denials; complicity in the upper echelons of leadership and the impact of the war.
This is the story of Tessa and Theo - twins who have always been close- but following a single moment in Tessa's life that bond is stretched and the with outbreak of World War War II she feels compelled to do more without the knowledge of her sibling . Unbeknownst to her family, she is enrolled as a secret agent Her journey and subsequent events behind enemy lines in Vichy France form the crux of the story but it is also the search for truth by her brother Theo that counter balances the novel.
It is the third section of the book that gripped me the most as research into the war and Tessa's role uncovers many more secrets than anticipated. and how the truth has to come into the light
Deftly plotted, meticulously researched, this is an ambitious and engrossing read. It also shines a light upon a group of women who have often been neglected in the exploration of the events and bravery in World War II.
Lori Inglis Hall's debut novel is a fascinating exploration of the role of women in in the Special Operations Executive - women parachuted into France to work with the resistance. But this is a story that is not simply a war story- this is about truth; denials; complicity in the upper echelons of leadership and the impact of the war.
This is the story of Tessa and Theo - twins who have always been close- but following a single moment in Tessa's life that bond is stretched and the with outbreak of World War War II she feels compelled to do more without the knowledge of her sibling . Unbeknownst to her family, she is enrolled as a secret agent Her journey and subsequent events behind enemy lines in Vichy France form the crux of the story but it is also the search for truth by her brother Theo that counter balances the novel.
It is the third section of the book that gripped me the most as research into the war and Tessa's role uncovers many more secrets than anticipated. and how the truth has to come into the light
Deftly plotted, meticulously researched, this is an ambitious and engrossing read. It also shines a light upon a group of women who have often been neglected in the exploration of the events and bravery in World War II.
September 8, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read this year. The author impresses not only with the research she has carried out but also the way in which she weaves this into an altogether believable story. Towards the end she leaves a lot of loose threads, which would be inevitable in the chaotic aftermath of the Second World War, but then cleverly addresses many of them through the ploy of having a fictional PhD student open up the files in the National Archives in her own research.
December 24, 2025
Oh I love this book. This is the story of twins, Tessa and Theo. A world war two story told over several decades, but at its heart it’s an ode to the love between siblings, an unshakeable bond between twins, a bond that can’t be broken no matter how much time and distance comes between them.
This is a novel that will break your heart and stay with you forever. It is expertly crafted & researched, with an incredible feminist hero in Tessa, there is romance for both Theo and Tessa, and a representation of what it’s like to be gay in the early 20th century.
If you loved In Memoriam, Still Life and All the Light We Cannot See, you’ll love this too. It has so much heart, and an incredible dual perspective format, and all the makings of a modern classic.
This is a novel that will break your heart and stay with you forever. It is expertly crafted & researched, with an incredible feminist hero in Tessa, there is romance for both Theo and Tessa, and a representation of what it’s like to be gay in the early 20th century.
If you loved In Memoriam, Still Life and All the Light We Cannot See, you’ll love this too. It has so much heart, and an incredible dual perspective format, and all the makings of a modern classic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Théo and Tessa are twins. They have an incredibly close bond, knowing everything there is to know about the other. But this begins to change when Tessa, wanting a degree, decides to study at the Sorbonne rather than Cambridge with Théo where she could study but not be given a qualification.
When Tessa returns there is something different in her that Théo cannot reach and Tessa refuses to talk. But as their education ends they are both drawn into the war. Théo goes into the RAF and Tessa, bored with the secretarial job at the Foreign Office, is recruited to the SOE where she will learn to be a spy. Her job will take her to France where she will be in constant danger.
At the war's end Théo returns home; Tessa does not.
This is one of the most moving books I've read this year. I was often in tears. Tessa and Théo's story may be fiction but the story of the British women parachuted into France without even the protection they would be afforded as Prisoners of War, were they captured, is now well known.
I thought the novel extremely well told and sensitive subjects such as homosexuality, rape, torture and the denials of the British government about what had happened, were very sensitively handled. Tessa and Théo's characters are beautifully drawn, adding touches of vulnerability and humour with a light touch.
I was sobbing by the time the book ended, simply because we know Tessa's story was all too real. It was extremely moving. Wonderful storytelling. I would very highly recommend this novel.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and HarperFiction for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.
When Tessa returns there is something different in her that Théo cannot reach and Tessa refuses to talk. But as their education ends they are both drawn into the war. Théo goes into the RAF and Tessa, bored with the secretarial job at the Foreign Office, is recruited to the SOE where she will learn to be a spy. Her job will take her to France where she will be in constant danger.
At the war's end Théo returns home; Tessa does not.
This is one of the most moving books I've read this year. I was often in tears. Tessa and Théo's story may be fiction but the story of the British women parachuted into France without even the protection they would be afforded as Prisoners of War, were they captured, is now well known.
I thought the novel extremely well told and sensitive subjects such as homosexuality, rape, torture and the denials of the British government about what had happened, were very sensitively handled. Tessa and Théo's characters are beautifully drawn, adding touches of vulnerability and humour with a light touch.
I was sobbing by the time the book ended, simply because we know Tessa's story was all too real. It was extremely moving. Wonderful storytelling. I would very highly recommend this novel.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and HarperFiction for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.
November 15, 2025
What an absolute fabulous read. An emotional rollercoaster to say the least. Theo and Tessa are twins. As with most twins theirs is a close loving relationship in which they share everything, until they don’t. As the world is engulfed by war Theo joins the RAF. Tessa, bored and frustrated at being ‘just a typist’, jumps at the chance of being recruited into the SOE (Special Operations Executive), set up for spying and sabotage. Tessa is highly intelligent, resourceful and, she thinks, fully aware of the dangers. The author has done some in depth research and brings into the narrative the oversights, the errors and the ineptitude of the powers that be in relation to the women recruits, which have dire, fatal consequences.
Tessa is parachuted into France, behind enemy lines in order to act as courier to the French resistance. Immediately, things go horribly wrong and the consequences of this disaster resonate throughout the book. Meanwhile, Theo is traumatised by the events and sights of his time in the RAF.
This is a fantastically researched, heart rending novel dealing with the true horrors of war, and its effects on ordinary people, turned into extraordinary brave people through facing death or worse. It’s also a story of uncompromising love, of ‘forbidden’ love found amid the chaos and horror of a world at war.
The second part of the novel, post war, is equally compelling. One twin fails to return home. The other is damaged, physically and mentally, angry at being fobbed off about the fate of their twin, and pays the price of trying to find out what happened to them as the government cover up a huge wartime scandal. But truth will out. Even if it emerges decades later from a surprising source.
This book is sad and tragic but it resonates with truth and humanity. It’s not about the superficial derring-do of “heroes” at war, so not an “adventure” story. I think it’s more profound than that and the characters, especially Tessa and Theo, are portrayed with all their frailties and strengths, fears and joys. So don’t let my “sad” and “tragic” comments put you off. It’s an emotional brilliant read and the characters, fictional though they may be, will stay with me for a while yet.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC for my kindle. It is my honest opinion after a full read of the novel.
Tessa is parachuted into France, behind enemy lines in order to act as courier to the French resistance. Immediately, things go horribly wrong and the consequences of this disaster resonate throughout the book. Meanwhile, Theo is traumatised by the events and sights of his time in the RAF.
This is a fantastically researched, heart rending novel dealing with the true horrors of war, and its effects on ordinary people, turned into extraordinary brave people through facing death or worse. It’s also a story of uncompromising love, of ‘forbidden’ love found amid the chaos and horror of a world at war.
The second part of the novel, post war, is equally compelling. One twin fails to return home. The other is damaged, physically and mentally, angry at being fobbed off about the fate of their twin, and pays the price of trying to find out what happened to them as the government cover up a huge wartime scandal. But truth will out. Even if it emerges decades later from a surprising source.
This book is sad and tragic but it resonates with truth and humanity. It’s not about the superficial derring-do of “heroes” at war, so not an “adventure” story. I think it’s more profound than that and the characters, especially Tessa and Theo, are portrayed with all their frailties and strengths, fears and joys. So don’t let my “sad” and “tragic” comments put you off. It’s an emotional brilliant read and the characters, fictional though they may be, will stay with me for a while yet.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC for my kindle. It is my honest opinion after a full read of the novel.
December 8, 2025
“The Shock of the Light” is an exceptional spellbinding historical fiction by Lori Inglis Hall. It is a WWII story that sheds a light on a topic I have not read before even though this is my favorite book genre.
The story revolves around twins that are inseparable until their paths diverge at University. She attends the Sorbonne where women are allowed degrees and he to Cambridge. Something devastating happens at the Sorbonne which causes a momentous shift in the twins relationship. And then the war breaks out!
He joins the RAF and she jumps at the chance to join the SOE where she is trained to become a spy and saboteur. She parachutes into France thinking she is aware of the danger but the errors and ineptitude of the powers in charge cause dire and fatal consequences for all the women in the SOE.
This is a fantastically researched, heart rendering novel dealing with the true horrors of war. It is also the story of the trauma and tragedy lived, when one twin fails to come home and seeks to find out the fate of the other. A huge wartime scandal and a decades old government cover up are finally discovered from a very surprising source.
This is a a profoundly sad but equally beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. I wish I could give it 10 stars!
The story revolves around twins that are inseparable until their paths diverge at University. She attends the Sorbonne where women are allowed degrees and he to Cambridge. Something devastating happens at the Sorbonne which causes a momentous shift in the twins relationship. And then the war breaks out!
He joins the RAF and she jumps at the chance to join the SOE where she is trained to become a spy and saboteur. She parachutes into France thinking she is aware of the danger but the errors and ineptitude of the powers in charge cause dire and fatal consequences for all the women in the SOE.
This is a fantastically researched, heart rendering novel dealing with the true horrors of war. It is also the story of the trauma and tragedy lived, when one twin fails to come home and seeks to find out the fate of the other. A huge wartime scandal and a decades old government cover up are finally discovered from a very surprising source.
This is a a profoundly sad but equally beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. I wish I could give it 10 stars!
November 14, 2025
Excellent! Not your usual WWII novel: this one feels more real, more personal. The storyline is gripping featuring twins, Theo and Tessa. Tessa will operate as a spy behind the lines. Theo will fly for the RAF. Along with the risks, the fear of being caught, of being betrayed they both experience, the plot goes deeper. Indeed I will remember both characters as individuals, and not only as heroes. A big achievement on the part of the author! I loved reading as well about the special bond the twins share : a beautiful bond that can make you frail. The novel is also based on this relationship, intricacies and inevitabilities. Brilliantly done.
What I found particularly intriguing and astounding was to get an insight into the way women spies were considered. After the war. Particularly when they did not come back...
A very human and powerful novel. Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
What I found particularly intriguing and astounding was to get an insight into the way women spies were considered. After the war. Particularly when they did not come back...
A very human and powerful novel. Highly recommended!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
November 22, 2025
Great historical fiction shedding insight into the undercover women’s resistance in WW2. Amazing story of the bond that twins share.
November 13, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for a review copy of this novel. Powerful and moving are words that immediately come to mind when describing this novel. Though the setting, the Second World War lends itself to powerful novels it’s very much down to Hall that the novel’s power is carried. Big concepts like the French resistance and women who worked behind the scenes drive the novel, but there are also other ideas like loyalty, romantic and family relationships, especially those of a sibling, as well as loss, rape that loom large too. Big ideas but well handled.
Two twins, Tessa and Theo are the central characters. Siblings, one impulsive and the other cautious, but who are so close they can immediately know and understand the thoughts of the other, until Tessa goes off to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. After her return, Theo knows she’s changed and something happened to her that he can’t discover. But war interrupts the brief time after her Sorbonne sojourn and Theo becomes an RAF pilot and Tessa stuck typing for the war office. Until a family friend who Tessa finds distasteful manages to secure her a change from her boring typing to something far more adventurous because of her perfect French and her mother’s French birth – to act as a courier behind enemy lines. Theo is posted meanwhile to Africa, completely ignorant of Tessa’s role. The distance becomes more than geographical as the war years go on and Theo must confront the changes in the world as well as his own life.
The author explains at the end that the story was inspired by the real group of women who risked their lives behind the lines, not officially recognized or enrolled in the British forces so if they were captured they couldn’t be treated as soldiers but would be treated at the whim of the Nazis. Many of their acts of bravery were swept under the carpet to avoid a scandal. Their contribution was only belatedly recognised and some not at all. A powerful fact added to a very powerful novel. As a women’s historian this novel provided extra appeal, perhaps, and led to the hope that this might be a novel that would be included in many must read lists in and out of educational institutions. Really a must read.
Two twins, Tessa and Theo are the central characters. Siblings, one impulsive and the other cautious, but who are so close they can immediately know and understand the thoughts of the other, until Tessa goes off to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. After her return, Theo knows she’s changed and something happened to her that he can’t discover. But war interrupts the brief time after her Sorbonne sojourn and Theo becomes an RAF pilot and Tessa stuck typing for the war office. Until a family friend who Tessa finds distasteful manages to secure her a change from her boring typing to something far more adventurous because of her perfect French and her mother’s French birth – to act as a courier behind enemy lines. Theo is posted meanwhile to Africa, completely ignorant of Tessa’s role. The distance becomes more than geographical as the war years go on and Theo must confront the changes in the world as well as his own life.
The author explains at the end that the story was inspired by the real group of women who risked their lives behind the lines, not officially recognized or enrolled in the British forces so if they were captured they couldn’t be treated as soldiers but would be treated at the whim of the Nazis. Many of their acts of bravery were swept under the carpet to avoid a scandal. Their contribution was only belatedly recognised and some not at all. A powerful fact added to a very powerful novel. As a women’s historian this novel provided extra appeal, perhaps, and led to the hope that this might be a novel that would be included in many must read lists in and out of educational institutions. Really a must read.
October 11, 2025
British secret agent Tessa Armstrong’s behind-the-lines mission in World War II occupied France gets off to what seems a very bad start when she freezes for a second before jumping from her plane and ends up a good distance from the drop site. A fortuitous thing her hesitancy will prove to be, though, with how her fellow agents are massacred almost as soon as they hit the ground by waiting Germans in an apparent betrayal by a mole in the ranks of the undercover operation.
Lucky to be alive Tessa is, but now very much on her own.
Caught up, too, in the war is Tessa’s twin brother, Theo, a pilot in the RAF who sees a fellow aviator whom he has come to love shot down and then, when his own plane is downed, ends up on the ground with a badly injured leg.
More fortunate than Tessa he is, though, with how (spoiler alert) he ends up in the hands of friendly partisans and in short order is rescued by friendly forces and mustered out of the service and returned to England, albeit with his injury which will trouble him for the rest of his life.
As traumatic for him as the physical injury, though, is worry over what happened to Tessa, something the reader will come to know more about than Theo through sections devoted to Tessa, though even the reader will not know until the novel’s very end exactly what became of her.
A captivating read it all makes for as well as an illuminating presentation of not-so-well known aspects of the war’s aftermath, including, in a scene that particularly affected me, how women who consorted with the Germans had their heads shaved and had insults and swastikas painted on their bodies (men who’d collaborated were shot) and perhaps most disturbing, how the British government initially refused to release missing women’s names to the Red Cross for not wanting to draw attention to the fact that women had been sent behind enemy lines.
Lucky to be alive Tessa is, but now very much on her own.
Caught up, too, in the war is Tessa’s twin brother, Theo, a pilot in the RAF who sees a fellow aviator whom he has come to love shot down and then, when his own plane is downed, ends up on the ground with a badly injured leg.
More fortunate than Tessa he is, though, with how (spoiler alert) he ends up in the hands of friendly partisans and in short order is rescued by friendly forces and mustered out of the service and returned to England, albeit with his injury which will trouble him for the rest of his life.
As traumatic for him as the physical injury, though, is worry over what happened to Tessa, something the reader will come to know more about than Theo through sections devoted to Tessa, though even the reader will not know until the novel’s very end exactly what became of her.
A captivating read it all makes for as well as an illuminating presentation of not-so-well known aspects of the war’s aftermath, including, in a scene that particularly affected me, how women who consorted with the Germans had their heads shaved and had insults and swastikas painted on their bodies (men who’d collaborated were shot) and perhaps most disturbing, how the British government initially refused to release missing women’s names to the Red Cross for not wanting to draw attention to the fact that women had been sent behind enemy lines.
November 23, 2025
‘The Shock of the Light’ is an incredibly powerful story of twins, Theo and Tessa, growing up in 1930s Cambridge, whose war experiences are very different and equally damaging. Whilst Theo takes the path of RAF Spitfire pilot, Tessa is secretly recruited by the Special Operations Executive and finds herself behind enemy lines in France. Almost bilingual, thanks to her French mother, she finds it relatively easy to adjust to rural French life whilst awaiting instructions from London on how to disrupt life for the German occupiers. Lori Inglis Hall has clearly thoroughly researched the lives of the SOE women and uses her knowledge to build a convincing picture of their very dangerous lives. And, without giving away the plot, the author makes sure that we are always aware of this risk.
Whilst the first half of the novel focuses on Tessa, the second sees the war and its aftermath from Theo’s viewpoint. He is one of the so-called lucky ones – it’s almost a miracle that he has survived the war physically, albeit with a permanent limp. However, psychologically it’s a different matter. Haunted by the past and looking for answers that no one will supply, much of life after the war is coloured by the guilt he feels at being alive, his desperation for Tessa, and his terror of being exposed as homosexual.
The final section of the novel introduces Edie, a PhD student focusing on the SOE who is intrigued by the lack of information on Tessa. After an introduction to Theo, with his support she follows various lines of enquiry and much of Tessa’s tale emerges after decades of murky inference. The final pages are extremely well judged and a moving tribute to all those who disappeared during the course of WW11. A really good read; well written and full of absorbing detail.
My thanks to NetGalley and The Borough Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Whilst the first half of the novel focuses on Tessa, the second sees the war and its aftermath from Theo’s viewpoint. He is one of the so-called lucky ones – it’s almost a miracle that he has survived the war physically, albeit with a permanent limp. However, psychologically it’s a different matter. Haunted by the past and looking for answers that no one will supply, much of life after the war is coloured by the guilt he feels at being alive, his desperation for Tessa, and his terror of being exposed as homosexual.
The final section of the novel introduces Edie, a PhD student focusing on the SOE who is intrigued by the lack of information on Tessa. After an introduction to Theo, with his support she follows various lines of enquiry and much of Tessa’s tale emerges after decades of murky inference. The final pages are extremely well judged and a moving tribute to all those who disappeared during the course of WW11. A really good read; well written and full of absorbing detail.
My thanks to NetGalley and The Borough Press for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
December 5, 2025
If like me you have read WW2 books such as “The Nightingale”, then you will definitely enjoy “The Shock of the Light” which tells the story of female SOE agents during the Second World War.
Tessa and Theo are twins and extremely close. When war breaks out Theo joins the RAF, flying Spitfires and Tessa works as a secretary in the Foreign Office despite her Sorbonne degree. However it becomes clear that the twins have lost some of their closeness’s, particularly after Tessa’s time in Paris in the late 1930s. Both have secrets but are fearful to reveal them to each other.
When Tessa is recruited to the SOE due to her fluency in French, Theo and their parents cannot be told because of the secrecy of the work.
The first part of the book is told from Tessa’s point of view and is extremely atmospheric, convincingly conveying her life as an agent in war torn France, the fear of betrayal being ever present.
After the war Theo tries to find out what has happened to his beloved sister but to no avail until Edie, a PHD student researching the SOE women, meets up with him and decides to look into what life was like for Tessa during the war and why she did not return to her family as a heroine.
Theo has almost lived his whole life not knowing about her last days as he has been too scared to find out and it takes Edie, an outsider, to help him gain some closure.
I loved the two main characters in the book and the fact that they were twins made it all the more interesting. They were both compassionate and brave, living through difficult times with extreme fortitude.
This is an extremely well researched and compelling first novel. The author knows just how much factual information to put in to the book without slowing down the plot. I will certainly be looking out for any further novels by Lori Inglis Hall.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced copy.
Tessa and Theo are twins and extremely close. When war breaks out Theo joins the RAF, flying Spitfires and Tessa works as a secretary in the Foreign Office despite her Sorbonne degree. However it becomes clear that the twins have lost some of their closeness’s, particularly after Tessa’s time in Paris in the late 1930s. Both have secrets but are fearful to reveal them to each other.
When Tessa is recruited to the SOE due to her fluency in French, Theo and their parents cannot be told because of the secrecy of the work.
The first part of the book is told from Tessa’s point of view and is extremely atmospheric, convincingly conveying her life as an agent in war torn France, the fear of betrayal being ever present.
After the war Theo tries to find out what has happened to his beloved sister but to no avail until Edie, a PHD student researching the SOE women, meets up with him and decides to look into what life was like for Tessa during the war and why she did not return to her family as a heroine.
Theo has almost lived his whole life not knowing about her last days as he has been too scared to find out and it takes Edie, an outsider, to help him gain some closure.
I loved the two main characters in the book and the fact that they were twins made it all the more interesting. They were both compassionate and brave, living through difficult times with extreme fortitude.
This is an extremely well researched and compelling first novel. The author knows just how much factual information to put in to the book without slowing down the plot. I will certainly be looking out for any further novels by Lori Inglis Hall.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced copy.
November 25, 2025
Twins Theo and Tessa grew up in Cambridge to a French mother and English father. As children they were inseparable and had their own understand of each other, blocking out even their parents, but when Theo goes to Cambridge university, Tessa decides to go to the Sorbonne to study. All is well until her third year when Theo finds something changes in his sister and he no longer understands her as he used to.
Then the reality of World War 2 is on them and Theo joins the airforce, flying spitfires. Tessa is initially employed as a secretary, but she is bored and somewhat jealous of her brother's active role in the war and she pursues an opportunity to join the SOE. With her fluency in French she is well suited to the role and she takes on the training without her family's knowledge.
The first half of this novel is essentially Tessa's story of growing up and the war. The plot then jumps about a bit as it follows Theo, then there is a more recent section when a PhD student, Edie, begins to try and track down Tessa's story and makes contact with Theo.
This is a well researched novel, telling what I think must be in very realistic detail what it must have been like for Theo and Tessa at the time. I really enjoyed Tessa's section then the story of Edie's search for Tessa's history is very moving, but the section in between jumped around rather and was a bit slow and drawn out.
Having said that, it is a haunting story, of love, loss, grief and resilience and moving reminder of how much some gave up for our freedom in the 1940's.
With thanks to Netgalley, Team HarperFiction and Lori Inglis Hall for an arc copy in return for an honest review.
Then the reality of World War 2 is on them and Theo joins the airforce, flying spitfires. Tessa is initially employed as a secretary, but she is bored and somewhat jealous of her brother's active role in the war and she pursues an opportunity to join the SOE. With her fluency in French she is well suited to the role and she takes on the training without her family's knowledge.
The first half of this novel is essentially Tessa's story of growing up and the war. The plot then jumps about a bit as it follows Theo, then there is a more recent section when a PhD student, Edie, begins to try and track down Tessa's story and makes contact with Theo.
This is a well researched novel, telling what I think must be in very realistic detail what it must have been like for Theo and Tessa at the time. I really enjoyed Tessa's section then the story of Edie's search for Tessa's history is very moving, but the section in between jumped around rather and was a bit slow and drawn out.
Having said that, it is a haunting story, of love, loss, grief and resilience and moving reminder of how much some gave up for our freedom in the 1940's.
With thanks to Netgalley, Team HarperFiction and Lori Inglis Hall for an arc copy in return for an honest review.
November 22, 2025
What a fabulous book. I am sure it will be a great success when published early next year and I’ll be reminding you all to go and buy a copy!
Tessa and Theo are twins, born in the 1920s to a pacifist father and a French mother. They grow up inseparable until their paths diverge at University, Theo to Cambridge and Tessa to the Sorbonne, where women could get degrees in the 1930s. Something awful happens to Tessa, which shifts her relationship to Theo, and then war breaks out.
The story which unfolds from this point is astonishing, and based on research the author has completed about British women sent behind enemy lines. Tessa returns to France to pass information back to England. She never returns to Theo after the war.
A PhD student, Edie, comes to Theo when he is much older and is researching Tessa. Will this give him a chance to find out what happened to her? Theo has lived a complicated life, personally and professionally and has never been able to find out what happened to his beloved twin.
This is a meticulously crafted, beautiful book, which doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war, but also has love at its heart. It made me cry, which is always a sign that I am immersed in the lives of the characters. Wonderful.
Thanks to Harper Fiction for the ARC of this book.
Tessa and Theo are twins, born in the 1920s to a pacifist father and a French mother. They grow up inseparable until their paths diverge at University, Theo to Cambridge and Tessa to the Sorbonne, where women could get degrees in the 1930s. Something awful happens to Tessa, which shifts her relationship to Theo, and then war breaks out.
The story which unfolds from this point is astonishing, and based on research the author has completed about British women sent behind enemy lines. Tessa returns to France to pass information back to England. She never returns to Theo after the war.
A PhD student, Edie, comes to Theo when he is much older and is researching Tessa. Will this give him a chance to find out what happened to her? Theo has lived a complicated life, personally and professionally and has never been able to find out what happened to his beloved twin.
This is a meticulously crafted, beautiful book, which doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war, but also has love at its heart. It made me cry, which is always a sign that I am immersed in the lives of the characters. Wonderful.
Thanks to Harper Fiction for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Moving, raw and emotional, and disturbingly credible.
The characters and story are fictional but so true to life, and with autobiographies, Leo Marks’s for one, and extensive research, the truth is coming to light which has been hidden for so many years. This book portrays perfectly the way these people lived at that time. It is atmospheric in description which is so vivid; and the prose and dialogue flow seamlessly, it is a joy to read.
Twins Theo and Tessa, growing up so close in their childhood years they almost know each others thoughts, until an unexpected event in Tessa’s life forces her to go her own way for a while. And then the war intervenes and she is recruited to the SOE to work underground with the resistance movement in France. Lost at this point to her beloved family and reported as ‘missing’ when the war is over, Theo does his best to find out what happened to her but wherever he turns he is met with a brick wall – very oddly no-one knows anything. Many years later along comes Edie researching the roles of women in the SOE, for her PhD, re-opening and bringing new life to the search.
A novel that lingers long after the final page, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much to Lori Inglis Hall, The Borough Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.
The characters and story are fictional but so true to life, and with autobiographies, Leo Marks’s for one, and extensive research, the truth is coming to light which has been hidden for so many years. This book portrays perfectly the way these people lived at that time. It is atmospheric in description which is so vivid; and the prose and dialogue flow seamlessly, it is a joy to read.
Twins Theo and Tessa, growing up so close in their childhood years they almost know each others thoughts, until an unexpected event in Tessa’s life forces her to go her own way for a while. And then the war intervenes and she is recruited to the SOE to work underground with the resistance movement in France. Lost at this point to her beloved family and reported as ‘missing’ when the war is over, Theo does his best to find out what happened to her but wherever he turns he is met with a brick wall – very oddly no-one knows anything. Many years later along comes Edie researching the roles of women in the SOE, for her PhD, re-opening and bringing new life to the search.
A novel that lingers long after the final page, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much to Lori Inglis Hall, The Borough Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.
October 29, 2025
2025 has been a fine year for literary fiction and "The Shock of the Light" is one of the best books I've read so far. It's such a moving story, so hard to put down and so tough to leave when you're done.
Twins Tessa and Theo are ready to serve during World War II. Theo joins the RAF, but Tessa is stuck in a secretarial job until her French fluency attracts the attention of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and is sent into occupied France as a courier. One of the twins will return, and one will not.
Lori Inglis Hall draws a powerful portrait of wartime France and England--shabby, scrappy, proud, and frightened. The chaotic post-liberation return of concentration camp survivors is heart-rending. Women in the SOE also faced British government denial that women had been part of the spy network. This meant that they did not qualify for special treatment as prisoners of war.
There are some threads left dangling which tempt this reader to hope that there could be a sequel. Oh, I would love that! And once you finish this novel, so will you.
Many, many thanks to Pamela Dorman Books, NetGalley and Edelweiss for a digital review copy of this remarkable book
Twins Tessa and Theo are ready to serve during World War II. Theo joins the RAF, but Tessa is stuck in a secretarial job until her French fluency attracts the attention of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and is sent into occupied France as a courier. One of the twins will return, and one will not.
Lori Inglis Hall draws a powerful portrait of wartime France and England--shabby, scrappy, proud, and frightened. The chaotic post-liberation return of concentration camp survivors is heart-rending. Women in the SOE also faced British government denial that women had been part of the spy network. This meant that they did not qualify for special treatment as prisoners of war.
There are some threads left dangling which tempt this reader to hope that there could be a sequel. Oh, I would love that! And once you finish this novel, so will you.
Many, many thanks to Pamela Dorman Books, NetGalley and Edelweiss for a digital review copy of this remarkable book
November 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for the prepublication digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I rarely read historical fiction relating to this time period but was drawn to the overlaying story of the twins, whose relationship is really well explored here. Although a very hard read in many places I really enjoyed this novel and have romped through it in two days, the hardest part is knowing that so much of it is based on real life events and real people’s experiences of WW2. It is so well written that I quickly cared deeply about what was happening to each twin, and was really feeling their varying emotions of excitement, fear, pain, grief etc. Issues of forbidden love and hidden ‘shameful’ events for those times are really well described. Overall I loved this book, but was a little disappointed with the sudden end, I’m hoping this means there will be a sequel. Really well done Lori, what a great first novel, I’ll definitely recommend it to others.
November 18, 2025
I was asked to review this book by NetGalley and so glad I did.
I have an interest in second World War history, at half term I visited the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and came across an SOE musum in the grounds which fascinated me. Mark Smith from the Antiques Roadshow - brings together not just enuthusiasm for this period but also real people were involved.
The author has carried out a great deal of research which is intertwinned with this story of two fictional characters Theo and Tessa - Theo comes home Tessa does not.
What is remarkable that this is not just the story of that time and never knowing really what happended- today research is being carried out that we now are privilaged to know - sadly relatives at that time would never have been able to find ou.
Fast forward to a PHD student who is researching the SOE during the war - finds Theo and through her research they uncover he truth.
So well written and what a story i loved this so thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Lori Ingles Hall for letting me read this before others will have the chance.
I have an interest in second World War history, at half term I visited the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu and came across an SOE musum in the grounds which fascinated me. Mark Smith from the Antiques Roadshow - brings together not just enuthusiasm for this period but also real people were involved.
The author has carried out a great deal of research which is intertwinned with this story of two fictional characters Theo and Tessa - Theo comes home Tessa does not.
What is remarkable that this is not just the story of that time and never knowing really what happended- today research is being carried out that we now are privilaged to know - sadly relatives at that time would never have been able to find ou.
Fast forward to a PHD student who is researching the SOE during the war - finds Theo and through her research they uncover he truth.
So well written and what a story i loved this so thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Lori Ingles Hall for letting me read this before others will have the chance.
November 30, 2025
The Shock of the Light by Lori Inglis Hall
This is a story mainly set during the Second World War about twins who are torn apart by the war. The bond between he two is beautifully evoked and you are instantly drawn into their lives. The story is in 4 parts in the first two parts you meet the twins and part three is set decades later and focuses on a PhD student investigating the role of women during the Second World War and in Part 4 we return to Tessa’s story.
I became deeply involved with Tessa’s story and her decision to place herself in danger as a member of SOE in France. Theo’s story I felt could have been developed a little more fully in the second part of the book and in part 3 many years later we can piece together the events which are alluded to in the earlier parts.
I was thoroughly impressed with the story and would recommend it highly to those who appreciate historical novels and have enjoyed novels such as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. This novel deserves to be a great success and I will be highly recommending it at my various book groups.
This is a story mainly set during the Second World War about twins who are torn apart by the war. The bond between he two is beautifully evoked and you are instantly drawn into their lives. The story is in 4 parts in the first two parts you meet the twins and part three is set decades later and focuses on a PhD student investigating the role of women during the Second World War and in Part 4 we return to Tessa’s story.
I became deeply involved with Tessa’s story and her decision to place herself in danger as a member of SOE in France. Theo’s story I felt could have been developed a little more fully in the second part of the book and in part 3 many years later we can piece together the events which are alluded to in the earlier parts.
I was thoroughly impressed with the story and would recommend it highly to those who appreciate historical novels and have enjoyed novels such as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. This novel deserves to be a great success and I will be highly recommending it at my various book groups.
November 19, 2025
Although I have read many books about World War 2, this was a very different type of story. Twins, Theo and Tessa are incredibly close. However, in 1938, something happens to Tessa and their bond is stretched. In the war, Theo becomes a pilot and Tessa ends up as an operative in France. However, there is a traitor and despite Tessa warning about him, he remains untouched. There is the suggestion that Tessa was a traitor. Much of the book focuses on Theo's life after the war and the eventual unraveling byPH D student, Edie, of what really happened. This looks at gender issues, rape, cover-ups, homosexuality , class and many issues of the time. Tessa is portrayed as a vibrant character, and one can only feel so sad for Theo for happened to him on top of his loss of Tessa. Clearly, there was a lot of research behind this book and I learned more about the war and life afterwards. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for offering this book to me in exchange for a honest review.
November 23, 2025
An example of good historical fiction which weaves together several threads to tell the story of lesser known events and people. This one concentrates British women agents who were sent to occupied France to act as couriers but whose fate remains unknown because many them were caught by the Germans, ended up dead or in camps and the government for a long time denied their existence. The story of the twins Tess and Theo spans several decades and illustrates how the attitudes towards women, but also towards gay men were problematic for a very long time. The author has written a beautiful story and manages to capture the atmosphere of the era as well as the emotions of the protagonists. Definitely a great read for the lovers of historical fiction.
December 23, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read this year!
Theo doesn’t understand why his twin sister Tessa isn’t coming to Cambridge with him and is going to study in France instead. The fact that Cambridge won’t award degrees to women to study there in the 1930s doesn’t factor into his thinking. This is the first time the twins have been apart and puts their bond at risk.
Later when WWII breaks out, Theo again has an important role and Tessa again feels undervalued due to her sex until an opportunity to prove her value in France is presented to her.
Part one is told from Tessa’s perspective over these two periods and the writing completely absorbed me. The characters felt real and the sense of place made me feel like I was there.
Part two then switched to Theo’s perspective. Sometimes a different voice can ruin a book when you loved the first voice, but here it adds to the experience. I knew where I expected the story to go after part one but I kept finding myself surprised in the best way as the end result was much better than I expected.
I felt for so many of the characters and the ending was beautiful.
I think this asks the question of who we really are. Is it possible to be close enough to someone to truly know them and what does it mean when the version of someone in your own mind differs significantly from how others describe them? All while considering how the lenses of sex, class, nationality or political beliefs distort how we view others.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK / the Borough Press for the arc.
Theo doesn’t understand why his twin sister Tessa isn’t coming to Cambridge with him and is going to study in France instead. The fact that Cambridge won’t award degrees to women to study there in the 1930s doesn’t factor into his thinking. This is the first time the twins have been apart and puts their bond at risk.
Later when WWII breaks out, Theo again has an important role and Tessa again feels undervalued due to her sex until an opportunity to prove her value in France is presented to her.
Part one is told from Tessa’s perspective over these two periods and the writing completely absorbed me. The characters felt real and the sense of place made me feel like I was there.
Part two then switched to Theo’s perspective. Sometimes a different voice can ruin a book when you loved the first voice, but here it adds to the experience. I knew where I expected the story to go after part one but I kept finding myself surprised in the best way as the end result was much better than I expected.
I felt for so many of the characters and the ending was beautiful.
I think this asks the question of who we really are. Is it possible to be close enough to someone to truly know them and what does it mean when the version of someone in your own mind differs significantly from how others describe them? All while considering how the lenses of sex, class, nationality or political beliefs distort how we view others.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK / the Borough Press for the arc.
November 3, 2025
A heartbreaking historical novel set during WWII . Twins ,Tessa and Theo, both become involved in the war effort, he as an Ace Pilot, she as an underground agent. Only Theo returns. Years later, Edie, A Ph.D student , working on Special Agents during the war reopens secrets from that time period. With the help of Theo, they trace Tess's involvements and what had happened to her. The end of the story left me with some unanswered questions, the reason for the 4 star rating, I look forward to reading more from this author in the future! A book to recommend for your book club members.
November 17, 2025
This has to be my book of the year. Based on fact and covering the war years up to early 2000’s. A story of twins separated by war and their own dark secrets. One twin survives, one doesn’t. The surviving twin is torn apart trying to find out if his sibling is alive or if not how she died. It takes a student studying for her thesis to help him unravel the awful truth 50 years later.
Well researched, informative, heartbreaking, raw and gritty, a book that stays with you, the true horror of war coming alive in a remarkable story.
Well researched, informative, heartbreaking, raw and gritty, a book that stays with you, the true horror of war coming alive in a remarkable story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Wow! Brilliant, heartbreaking and beautiful. This novel far exceeded my expectations, bringing to life the world of secrets, espionage and survival of those who worked for the SOE during WW2. I loved the characters, whose lives were partly fictional, and the bond between twins. The author’s research stands her in good stead, highlighting the deception and cover-up of government departments in their efforts to shut down truths. It left me in tears.
I am so grateful to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins for allowing me to read and review this remarkable story.
I am so grateful to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins for allowing me to read and review this remarkable story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Theo and Tessa are twins. They feel they have an unbreakable connection but this is severely stretched by World War 2. Theo becomes a pilot and in answer Tessa enrols to go to France.
The novel explores how they both fare during this time. Then later a PhD student decides to follow up on the fortunes of women like Tessa when the archives are available. This devices conveniently ties up the loose ends.
Overall an innovative approach to this period of history.
I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The novel explores how they both fare during this time. Then later a PhD student decides to follow up on the fortunes of women like Tessa when the archives are available. This devices conveniently ties up the loose ends.
Overall an innovative approach to this period of history.
I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
November 30, 2025
This was a fantastic book. The characters so well written and the plot line held my attention well. The bond between Theo and Tessa, the account of wartime France, the guilt and pain made for an emotional but inspiring read. Thank you #Netgalley
For the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
For the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
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