The Lighthouse Project

by Taylen Calder

Happiness requires something to do, something to love and something to hope for."~ East African Proverb.Before he could even scream, two arms lunged through the opening and seized him by the shoulders before dragging him through the window and throwing him to the ground. He knew was going to die and looked up to take a first and final look at his assailant, his knife ready. Then Coleb blinked in the moonlight. "You?" He had just seen a ghost and an orphan's secret was forged.

When Sheila Knight decided to leave a personal legacy by establishing a volunteer work project in Uganda, East Africa, she could never have imagined the journey that lay ahead nor the world she would be drawn into by Coleb who wasn’t quite the innocent child he at first appeared to be.

Written by a former child protection manager and chair of a charity working within a community in East Africa, The Lighthouse Project is a mystery and suspense thriller novel inspired by real events in Uganda and chronicles emerging love and friendship spanning five years built across western and African culture divides against a background of crime, manipulation, betrayal of trust and ultimate tragedy. Lives are changed forever as Coleb strives to complete his African adventure and secure his future in this heart-warming coming of age fiction drama that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Fun, Engaging and Memorable - Well Worth the Read!

"An entertaining and memorable account of what can go wrong when the goals of non-profit benefactors collide with the needs and culture of the Ugandan beneficiaries. ... The characters are well-developed and memorable, the passages often humorous, with some schadenfreude moments, and the writing style is engaging. Many situations were deja vu with my experiences in Haiti and Ethiopia. ... Well worth the read especially for those working with non-profits abroad. In fact, it should be required reading."

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2019

Reviews

[Karamira George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this paperback by a friend in the UK as I live in Uganda and she thought it would interest and entertain me as much as it had her. The story is about a family from the UK setting up a volunteer project in Uganda and the highs and lows of their experiences. It offers a very realistic view of village life in Uganda and I'm sure will be liked by those who have already been here,those who are considering coming and others who enjoy an often humourous and funny story about human relationships and family life between the generations in both countries. Although The lighthouse project is about overcoming challenges in different cultures,in the end it is a story about an orphan and his journey to find somewhere to call home.
Highly recommended.

[Mandy Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often write reviews but this novel about an orphan in Uganda trying to find somewhere called home was recommended to me by a friend given that I have spent some time in Uganda myself. In turned out the storyline was much more fulfilling spanning five years as a British family struggled to set up a charitable project in the country and became something of a mystery thriller as the orphan's personal story became entwined. Very emotionally satisfying and heart warming with a number of OMG moments along the way. If you have been to East Africa you'll want to read this, if you haven't been you'll want to go. Now to read the author's other books....

[Duncan Ifource · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have travelled to East Africa and enjoyed this thoughtful book immensely as it was very well observed. The characters were well developed as the story unfolds over a number of years ending with an emotionally satisfying ending. Although this will bring a wry smile to those who are familiar with the area it is a great story for anyone interested in human relationships and how they develop, driven by unexpected events.