Once Upon a Camino

by Matthew S. Wilson

Tom, a 28-year-old investment banker, lives a successful life in London with his girlfriend, Ana. Intending to propose, he flies to Spain, seeking her family’s blessing. But his plan runs aground when Ana’s grandfather, Tito, insists the union cannot proceed until Tom walks the Camino de Santiago, an 800-kilometre pilgrimage across Spain.

‘A man would walk across a country without hesitation for the love of his life, no?’

Upon commencing the Camino, Tom’s plans further unravel – his backpack mysteriously disappears, and his phone loses its signal. And when all the other hikers seemingly vanish, Tom makes a discovery that changes everything. Suddenly pursued by the authorities, Tom’s only path home to Ana is alongside a motley band of pilgrims bound for Santiago – among them a reclusive fisherman named Fernando, who carries his own dark secret.

Love. Adventure. Time Travel. Once Upon a Camino is a story of friendship, redemption and untrodden paths, reminding us to follow our hearts over life's next hill. It’s written for those who’ve walked the path to Santiago and others who simply enjoy life’s unpredictable journey and the strangers we meet along the way.

Genres: Travel, Fiction, Audiobook, Time Travel, Spain

460 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2022

About the author

Matthew is an independent writer from Melbourne, Australia. His first book, The Devil’s in the Detail, was released in October 2012.

You can find more of his work and short-fiction at www.matthew-s-wilson.com. For other musings, follow him on Twitter at @Matthew_SWilson.

Reviews

[Maggie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun book about the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I read it while my brother was doing the Camino and really enjoyed going on the journey with him through the story in the book. It combines time travel, mystery, and multiple storylines to really draw the reader in. I like how it tied in the Guardia Civil, Francisco Franco, and the Spanish Legion. It makes me want to learn more about this timeframe in Spain. 🇪🇸 I will say that there is a lot of Spanish and much of it goes untranslated so it would be difficult had I not known Spanish. There were also some grammatical errors with the Spanish that was used. One in particular - someone asks, “¿Cómo estás?” to which the other person responds, “Soy bueno.” Apart from this, the story was fun to read and I enjoyed it very much.

[Sophia Menidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very interesting and out of my usual comfort zone.

Tom has to walk the Camindo de Santo o prove to his girlfriends grandfather that he deserves to marry her. But then suddenly things go wrong, he loses his wallet and all his possessions - including a passport!

From that premise I was excited to see the journey Tom was going to go on. Little did I know this book would have some fantastical elements to it with time-travel and wonderful surprises throughout the story.

While I found the first part of the book to be a bit slow to get into, by the end it really developed and continued to grow and because such a fun read! Each chapter was a different adventure.

I also do love that this book was influenced and inspired by the author’s own trek of the Camino De Santiago. I think this adds such a personal touch because it means the descriptions and feelings felt while doing this walk are based off truth.

And don’t worry! This book has something for everyone. Action, adventure, time travel, romance, friendship, self discovery and more!

Once Upon a Camino is out now! And can be bought on Amazon, Book Depository, Apple Books and more!

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon A Camino is about Tom and his journey on foot as a pilgrim along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Tom is a successful white collar worker in London in love with his girlfriend Ana. He decides to fly to Spain in order to ask for her family's blessing to marry, but Ana's grandfather wants him to prove his love for her. What happens next is an unexpected series of events as Tom agrees to walk the Camino so he can propose to Ana.

Along the gruelling journey, Tom meets fellow pilgrims and they share their stories and motivations for making the same trek. The setting reminded me a little of a modern day take on The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (there's even a Knight!) and I really enjoyed it.

Inspired by his own trek along the Camino in 2010, Once Upon A Camino is thoroughly researched and gave me an insight into Spanish history I hadn't encountered before. Unfolding from multiple character points of view and comprising an element of historical fiction, Once Upon A Camino is a story about love, courage, friendship, regret, fate and destiny and was beautifully told.

I'm currently giving away 5 signed copies of this book over at my book blog Carpe Librum, click here to enter.

[Dave Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has time travel, so automatic points for me. Set on the Camino? It had me there as well. The story? It's decent, if a bit underwhelming. I think the bigger issue I had was finding a way to really care about the book's central character. He is established at the front as someone dealing with a very specific and particular set of circumstances relating to his job. the woman he wants to marry, and the present state of his llife. The scenario itself is simple. The reasons he is at the Camino are simple. But the story also needs us to feel and believe that there is a whole lot more going on underneath the surface.

From the get go, I struggled to understand why this particular American would make the choices that he does in the moment. There just wasn't enough to really make the central plot point that sets the larger story in play convincing. A man supposedly driven wild and crazy by his emotions, and yet seemingly disconnected from them at the same time. This is not the sort of person that drops and risks everything for a flight to the Camino.

That disconnect plays through the book's early chapters, until the plot finally kicks into gear with the whole time travel motif which defines the rest of the story. Ambitions are big here, trying to use the symbolism and significance of the Camino (people finding themselves and looking for clarification) as a platform to grow the book's central character. Even then though, not much happens. Compelling mysteries emerge rather late in the game, the crisis the time travel presents to the main character (as in, how does he find his way home) largely fades from significant portions of the book's disconnected series of plot developments. The larger vision that finally comes into view in the final quarter, which is where the book is at its strongest, feels like its not anchored in the actual journey. It needed more intentionality when it came to shaping who this man was at the beginning, and who he comes to be at the end. It even teases a potential spiritual journey that it does nothing with.

Thus it's all a mixed bag, albeit one that I can say I did enjoy well enough at points. it hooked me with the premise and the plot twist, both of which energized me at around the quarter point. And I got exctied again about the potentials of its vision in the back quarter. The middle portion? i kept waiting for it to at least hint at that larger vision, to give me a sense of where this journey was headed, but kept getting bogged down by the seemingly aimless nature it goes for instead.

[Pam Chatburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Good story and twist at the end!!

[Peg Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not at all what I was expecting but a fun read.

[Carol N · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Once Upon a Camino" reminds me of a modern-day version of "Canterbury Tales" read by many of us in our high school English classes. I enjoyed Canterbury then and delighted to find Wilson's "Camino" version, including the presence of the dashing Scottish knight. The book's main character is Tom, a successful London businessman who finds himself in love with a Spanish girl, Ana. He travels to Spain to ask for her family's blessing in marrying her when her grandfather asks him to prove his love for her by walking the Camino. This book covers Tom's journey on foot along the Camino de Santiago. Along his grueling journey Tom meets fellow pilgrims who share their stories and their motivation for completing this same trek.

Inspired by his own 2010 trek along the Camino, Mathew Wilson shares his insight into a thoroughly researched story about courage, friendship, love and regrets, all from many characters' points of view. Containing multiple storylines and great characters you will find yourself getting far too attached to, this time travel mystery will draw you in. The book has something for every kind of reader . . . action, adventure, romance, friendship and most of all self-discoveries. All combined into making it a refreshing and different reading experience.

[Ans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one surprised me in how enjoyable it was, to be honest. I had expected it to be a run-of-the-mill love story where a boy has an epic journey (the Camino, in this case) to win the love of his life. What unfolded was a delightful story with strong characters that left me completely immersed on the trials of this pilgrimage (that I had very little idea of) and the pilgrims. There is a terrorist plot, close escapes, mysticism, science fiction and a whole lot of heart in this story. Kudos to the author for having managed to make this physically gruelling journey, one with so much meaning for readers.
I was far more involved in the story of Fernando than the protagonist, Thomas, after a point.
Finally, the author has described the path of St. James with so much authenticity that I hope to do the Camino myself one day. He has brought to life the punishing heat and climbs, the charming villages on the way, the breathtaking scenery, and the beauty of austerity when one is walking for redemption. We are all walking for redemption, so one might as well do it in pleasant company.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book. It started off really good and the character description was great, I have wanted to do the camino so I was intrigued with the plot. Its about a man who in order to get a blessing to marry his granddaughter he must do the Camino De Santiago and start that very day. Its enjoyable for the first few chapters then it kind of goes awry and the plot changes and at times you don’t even get updates about him. I got bored with it half way through and finally read the last chapter to see what happpend so I could end the madness. I was disapppointed, but onto other books now.

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this one. I've been enchanted by the idea of traveling on The Camino since I watched the movie, The Way, around 5 or so years ago. This novel gives the reader a glimpse into the journey pilgrims have experienced throughout the ages. The time travel aspect is also interesting and thought provoking.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

the beginning is wonderful

I love de the beginning of the book. It was fabulous. I lost interest after that. The story became too convoluted for me.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. The cover is stunning, but it’s not just a pretty face. It takes a few chapters to get into it, but once in I enjoyed the walk.

I thought it might be kind of an Eat, Pray, Love sort of story, but it was so much better. I realized I was wrong about it upon the first death in the book. I then realized I missed the time-travel bit in the description. It was much more adventurous and fantastical than I hoped. Upon the appearance of a Templar knight, I officially loved this book (so I was a bit disappointed with how that arc twisted. Why???).

I applaud the author’s story weaving, his ability to pull together the different storylines into a comprehensive narrative. I was repeatedly surprised by the twists and turns this Camino took me on. (But not always; I’m not a complete idiot when it comes to foreshadowing.)

Like another reviewer, I read it while my brother walked the Camino. For that reason, I was disappointed at the barebones descriptions of the cities and villages, if there was a description at all. I am not usually one for long descriptions of scenery, but I felt this book failed to take advantage of the photogenic setting.

Could definitely see this as a movie or limited series that does take advantage of the scenery. It has it all: romance, adventure, danger.

Complaints: I’ve said this about other books, but it will always drive me crazy. When characters speak another language, it is not the time for the author to throw in what little of that language he knows. The Spanish speakers in the novel never once say “yes,” always “si.” There’s just no reason for that. Even when they are supposed to be speaking English, they randomly slip in a couple simple Spanish words. Spanish speakers don't randomly pepper their English with Spanish 101 vocabulary to sound more Spanish. And I am admittedly prudish about F-bombs, but the number in this otherwise cozy tale are just unnecessary, particularly since there is no direct translation in meaning or harshness in Spanish. Several times a character supposedly speaking Spanish says “F—ing” as an adjective. The closest translation for that (“maldita”) is not even a swear in Spanish and would translate maybe as “damn” at its harshest. You can’t translate “si” into “yes,” but you have Spanish speakers use this uniquely English expression?

And secondly, there are other Spanish writers besides Cervantes. If Pablo really loves literature and poetry, he would be quoting Lope de Vega and from "Lazarillo de Tormes" as well, or maybe talk about some of the writers exiled by Franco. It just seems like the author knew one Spanish author and ran with it. It came across as a bit stereotypical.

Lastly, the narrator is amazing. His English, Scottish, and Spanish accents are delightful, and his English-accented Spanish is appropriately comical. Not so sure about his Scottish-accented Spanish (that must be difficult; not something you hear a lot. I couldn’t say for sure that it wasn’t accurate, just that it didn’t sound like Scottish Spanish to me), and what was with that Australian accent?! Fortunately, those were not needed much in the narration.

[Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas, an investment banker and his girlfriend Ana, a Spaniard lawyer live in London but travel frequently to Spain where her grandparents Tito and Esmeralda live. On a whim, Tom surreptitiously escapes for a solo overnight trip to Santiago to ask for Ana’s hand in marriage. The crusty old Tito withholds his blessing until Tom makes the 800 km pilgrimage from France to Santiago; but he must begin immediately. He has to return to England to his job and his love. If he goes on the pilgrimage he can marry Ana but if he doesn’t he can’t have the old man’s blessing. Should he follow his heart or his mind? His love for Ana overrules his reason, so he takes off on the walk. On the train to the start of the walk, he falls asleep and wakes up 56 years into the past! He must now walk the Camino careful to not affect anything that would change the future as he knows it, including losing Ana.

[Barbara Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and I have been following a blog written by a pilgrim on the Camino and were in Santiago last year so thought this book would be enjoyable. When I chose it, I didn't realize that there is some fantasy involved in the story and, at first, we were both put off by that. It was a quasi-fairy tale, but some real Camino experiences included. As the story progressed, we both wanted to see how things resolved and became more satisfied with the book as it went on. I would have given it a 3.5 if that were available, but my husband liked it more than I did, hence 4 stars.
If you are interested in walking the Camino and learning more about it, this isn't the book for you, although it did provide some life lessons, which seems to be the common outcome of most Camino pilgrims.
We listened to the audio version when we were traveling, and the narration was excellent.

[Vivienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book, thinking it was another true tale of walking the Camino . . . and so it is about walking the Camino, but with so many other fantastical and totally unbelievable elements, that make the story highly convoluted and really a work of total fantasy.
Much of my dislike of the story is due to my own personal prejudices. I do not generally enjoy fantasy, nor romance and so much of this book had no appeal for me. I had quite enjoyed it up to the moment that time travel was introduced, and it was pretty much all down hill from there. Nonetheless, the writing style, while convoluted, had a certain appeal and many of the characters were well portrayed. **

[Elaine Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy going

I never give a book less than 2 stars if I manage to finish it. Such a garbled and unbelievable story, and I didn’t quite work out the ending. Too mush Spanish ( some untranslated) , some bad grammar and odd mistakes I couldn’t work out. I found the characters quite unbelievable - a 9 month pregnant woman would not have been able physically to complete such a journey for example. In fact most of the characters seemed one dimensional. The writer can write, however and I quite liked his style. I would advise him to keep well away from sci- fi in the future!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hidden gem of literary brilliance! A delightful read that had me googling historical facts and locations. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and love that the ending left a lot to the imagination. I would love to hear the authors take on the ending to see if it's in line with what I, myself, imagined. The fact that the author actually walked the Camino himself made the story much more intimate and special. This story was definitely worth my limited time, it will not disappoint!

[Julie Haskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great holiday read that kept me wanting to read on and on! From the very beginning it was captivating with its various surprising twists and turns. The dialogue was believable and the characters were likeble. The development of the storyline and the intriging way in which the characters were developed kept the interest throughout the book. Highly recommended!

[Wendy Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I loved this book but to be honest if I knew there was time travel involved before I read it I may not have chosen it.
However it cleverly captures some of Spains history and has lovely descriptions of each village that is visited which is entertwined with several strong characters.
I want a few. month off work and where are they boots?

[Lmcglynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was thinking this would be a story to give me insight into what a Camino pilgrimage might entail. Turns out it is a bit more fantastical, with elements that include time travel.
Still, I got caught up in the story and it does embody the spirit of an actual pilgrimage. Not gonna lie.. got a few tears out of me!

[Dr Geraldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such as rewarding read

I loved the pace and the plot plus the unexpected twists and turns of the story. Great characters that you empathise with immediately. Add to all this a smattering of Spanish 20th century history and you have a compelling and rewarding read. Right until the end of the book.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camino de Santiago with a time traveling twist

Because my husband and I walked part of the Camino in 2014, I especially enjoyed this time traveling version with a lovely ending. I wondered how the author was going to resolve what looked at first like a corner he had written himself into, but he did a masterful job of pulling it all together in the end.

[Rebecca C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this book on Audible and think it may have been better to read versus listen. I was a little confused about some of the sidebar stories and found myself not being able to track timelines at times. Still enjoyed but wished it had been a bit more reflective of the journey on the Camino and didn’t have some of the sidebar characters. Needed more character development on main characters.

[Dragonladymoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobooks are not my favourite for enjoying a story however there were times in this tale when I enjoyed relaxing to let the story flow about me. It was quite a tale enhanced by the conditions of the Camino and the problems that plagued the pilgrims in their journey.

[Nigel Kirton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect of this book as I picked it randomly because of its title. I was lucky that I did. I loved this book, I found it highly imaginative, gripping and well written.
Not perfect, hence the 4 stars, however, very enjoyable.

[Sylvie Rochon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very surprising read! There is a twist or two that turn the story you think you are reading on its head. I really liked the characters of Thomas Fernando, Sophia and Pablo. I won't sauy more yo avoid spoilers. I loved the audiobook!

[Lauren Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the Camino book I was expecting but grew to enjoy the story and found some of the historical stuff about the Camino and Spain interesting (makes me want to read more about that) I actually did the audion edition but that wasn't an option.

[Aga Beb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I am planning to do Camino next year and read a few books about Camino in preparation but this one was very different and my favourite. I loved the idea of the time travel & learning a bit about Spanish troubled history.

[Camille Alberti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A journey with a happy ending.

This is a delightful read, woven with interesting characters that you take an immediate liking to. It’s sort of a cross between Lord of the Rings and Timeline.

[Tammy Ramadan · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this story!

One of the best books I have read for a long time. This is the kind of story where you get attached to the characters and want to walk beside them. It’s about friendship, love, hope and learning to trust life and what comes.