Stranger on the Point: Mystery and Romance at Dungeness

by Emma Batten

“Galloways this be. Close enough, but not Dungeness proper.”“Galloways! Galloways Cottage?” Lily felt the tension release from her body. “That's exactly where I wanted to be.”“You did?” The old hag shuffled towards Lily and peered up at her.“Mary sent me. Mary from the teashop in Lydd.”"Oh, she did, did she?” A wide toothless grin spread across and creased the leathery face. “She's a good girl is our Mary. A good girl.”It is the 1920s and Lily sets off to discover the remote coastal village her mother once called home. But a wrong turning leads her to a lonely settlement, far from civilisation. A place where old customs are held sacred and, as the mists clear over the Dungeness Point, her arrival brings hope to the community. A sequel to Secrets of the Shingle, including chapters based in Ashford and Lydd as well as Dungeness. The story of a young woman's struggle to fulfil her worth, as the shadows of WW1 live on.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2018

About the author

I am a truly local author. Living in and writing about Romney Marsh means I can fully engage in the history of the area and connect with my readers. I learn about an event or custom – the great storm which changed the coastline, the body of a monk being secretly carried across the marsh, magical qualities associated with hagstones – and use these to create a whole novel. Fictional characters are put in recognisable settings as we follow the story of their lives. The eras range from the 7th to the 20th century, giving me an opportunity to explore so much of our history through writing. That local feel to my books now extends to them having distinctive covers with original artwork by artists from Greatstone and New Romney, making the books even more special for me.

Reviews

[jax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking read

After reading Secrets of the Shingle i wrongly thought Stranger in the Point would pick up where we left Alice as she returned to Dungeness. However I was pleasantly surprised that we pick up in 1924 where we meet Lily, Alice's daughter. Wanting adventure and wanting to know more about her mum's love of Dungie, she takes off for the weekend hoping to meet mum's friends and find out more about her time as a teacher back in the day.
Poor Lily takes a wrong turn and ends up Wed to a stranger!
With more murder and mysterious goings on Lily also falls in love with Dungie and the people there.
Emma has once again drawn me into the lives and loves of the Kent coast. With a lot of references to landmarks i grew up with its so easy to get lost in the written word and images of yesteryear I nearly missed my tram stop!!
Thanks again Emma I loved this book and would highly recommend to anyone - whatever genre they like,.
If you're looking for new authors you can't go wrong with picking up a Dungeness Saga!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read based in Dungeness. Atmospheric.

[Ali Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

These novels are getting better and better. Never want them to end. Straight to book 4!

[Julie Dickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story full of drugs, death, and love!!

[Tina O'reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Emma Batten, especially if you have any knowledge of this part of the world. The atmosphere she brings to Dungeness and thereabouts is fabulous.
Set at a time when women are starting to be more independent, a young woman goes to stay with friends without her parents or a chaperone. She steps off the train at Dungeness and goes into a cafe where she asks directions of a young waitress girl. Unfortunately she ends up in a strange house with a strange family, welcoming but of a slightly different culture. They feed and clothe her, the son giving up his room for her to sleep in. Soon she is invited to a wedding, she thinks it is the son's wedding, but she is terribly tired and confused.
Eventually she does find her friends and they look after here. She loves living in Dungeness, she doesn't want to go home to her stable life and her stable boyfriend.
I won't say more, you just need to get into these books for yourself!

[Carys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great better than the last book. It had an unexpected start when Lily visited Dungeness and continued to grip me. I found it almost unputdownable.