Author:Carol Drinkwater
'A story to savour, complete with wonderful settings stretching from Paris to the glorious countryside of southern France' Dinah Jefferies
A LOVEREADING BOOK OF THE YEAR from the bestselling author behind Channel 5's Carol Drinkwater's Secret Provence
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Since her teenage daughter went missing four years ago, Kurtiz Ross has blamed and isolated herself. Until, out of the blue, Lizzie is sighted in Paris.
But within hours of her arrival, Kurtiz sees the City of Light plunged into terror.
Amid the fear and chaos, a hand reaches out. A sympathetic stranger offers to help a terrified mother find her daughter.
The other woman's kindness - and her stories of her own love and loss in post-war Provence - shine unexpected light into the shadows.
The night may hold the answers to a mystery - but dare Kurtiz believe it could also bring a miracle?
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'A gripping tale' Sunday Post
'Mesmerising, haunting and extraordinarily relevant' Lovereading
'An unforgettable journey of family, romance, regret and renewal' The Gloss
'The perfect holiday read that manages to keep you guessing the whole way through' Living France
Ranging across time periods this is a story to savour, complete with wonderful settings stretching from Paris to the occupied territory of the West Bank, and to the glorious countryside of southern France and La Côte d'Azur. Most of all I enjoyed the descriptions of France, particularly the 'wild heady scents', the sloping vineyards and the olive groves of the south. I felt I was breathing the fragrant air and eating dinner beneath the stars
—— Dinah Jefferies , Number One Sunday Times bestselling author of The Tea Planter's WifeThe perfect holiday read that manages to keep you guessing the whole way through
—— Living FranceAn unforgettable journey of family, romance, regret and renewal
—— The GlossCarol Drinkwater is a great and compassionate writer
—— Danuta Kean , GuardianMesmerising, haunting and extraordinarily relevant
—— LovereadingA gripping tale
—— Sunday PostAn emotional tale of loss and kindness
—— French Property NewsThe Lost Girl is a story of love and loss, of sadness and great joy . . . Through a cast of frequently complex but immensely likeable characters, the author takes us on a journey - across five generations - that challenge a wide range of political, social and moral mores. Ultimately, The Lost Girl offers a message of hope and regeneration, in addition to the timely reminder that it is often darkest before the dawn
—— The Middle EastA brilliantly told story set against that dreadful night. The characters are superbly written . . . I couldn't put it down
—— NetGalley ReviewerA great book, one you become immersed in, highly recommended
—— NetGalley ReviewerGreat read and easy to follow, look forward to reading more
—— NetGalley ReviewerSuperb book . . . two different eras that tie in beautifully . . . I couldn't put the book down
—— NetGalley ReviewerPraise for The Forgotten Summer
—— -Secrets, tragedy, hidden pasts and family secrets all set in glorious Provence - I loved this
—— Santa MontefioreA lovely book packed with the sunshine, scents and savours of the South of France. Plenty of page-turning drama but also mouthwatering descriptions of Paris and Provence. Enough to make you rush straight to the Eurostar
—— Daily MailThis atmospheric read will whisk you straight to the South of France as you become immersed in the tale of secrets and heartbreak
—— Marie ClaireGripping
—— CandisI loved this book. I kept snatching a few more pages whenever I could. It has left me wanting to head to warmer climes and take part in the grape and olive harvests. Well I can dream can't I?
—— MumsnetPitch dark and thrillingly original
—— Jane Casey , TwitterIt took me two sittings to gobble it up - a page turner. You'll just snap it up and you'll love it. A cracking read
—— Ryan Tubridy , RTÉSpellbinding
—— Declan Hughes , Irish Times, Best Crime Fiction of 2018Spectacular
—— Declan Burke , Irish Times, Best Crime Fiction of 2018It's a blast ... Liz Nugent has done it again
—— Sunday Business PostCrime fiction has never seen a character quite like Hulda Hermannsdóittir; nor a series launch so entirely willing to take risks and obliterate long-standing tropes . . . There is no doubt that The Darkness will rank as one of the most popular and powerful reading experiences of the year
—— Bolo Books ReviewBreathtaking. Read it in two sittings. Yet another instant Ragnar Jonasson classic
—— Thomas Enger, bestselling author of the Henning Juul seriesThe Darkness is a bullet train of a novel, at once blazingly contemporary and Agatha-Christie old-fashioned. With prose as pure and crisp as Reykjavik snowcrust, Ragnar Jónasson navigates the treacherous narrative with a veteran's hand. I reached the end with adrenalized anticipation, the final twist hitting me in the face. I dare you not to be shocked.
—— Gregg HurwitzThe Darkness is Ragnar Jonasson at the top of his game - deft plotting, a great central character and a story as chilling as the Icelandic winter. I couldn't put it down
—— William Ryan, author of The Holy ThiefIt had an intense, visceral sense of place and the connection between the emotional lives of the character and the landscape was evoked beautifully
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of Dear AmyIt will get your pulse racing, and keep you hooked to the last page
—— Simon Kernick of The Bone Field seriesMagnificently dark and twisted and that ending - blimey!
—— C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk ManPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
—— -Jónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today
—— Lee ChildA classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens... first rate and highly recommended
—— Lee Child, on , SnowblindA modern take on Agatha Christie--style mystery, as twisty as any slalom . . .
—— Ian Rankin, on , SnowblindRagnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir
—— Peter JamesHis clues are traditional and beautifully finessed - and he keeps you turning the pages
—— The Independent on SnowblindDistinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction...atmospheric...economical and evocative prose
—— The Guardian on NightblindSeductive ... an old-fashioned murder mystery with a strong central character and the fascinating background of a small Icelandic town cut off by snow. Ragnar does claustrophobia beautifully
—— Ann CleevesThe ending hits the reader like a kick in the stomach
—— FRÉTTATIMINN ****Jonasson's books have breathed new life into Nordic noir ...all the skilful plotting of an old-fashioned whodunit although it feels bitingly contemporary in setting and tone
—— Sunday ExpressThe threads lie in various places, the plot is well woven and the pieces in the puzzle come together well in the end. The structure is good, the main characters are believable, the story flows well, everyone is a suspect á la Agatha Christie and the solution unveils the mystery and leads the readers to the truth. But not all the truth, as some things are better left hidden
—— Morgunbladid (Icelandic newspaper)Hulda Hermannsdottir is a welcome addition to the selection of Icelandic crime fiction protagonists . . . It is almost impossible to put the book down until the last word has been read
—— Fréttablaðið ****Out of all of Ragnar's books, this is the one I like the most . . . The book of his which reminds me most of Agatha Christie
—— Kiljan, on The IslandA very good book, gripping and interesting, with all the threads carefully managed. Hopefully the author will publish as many books as possible with lead character Hulda
—— Vikan Magazine, on The IslandPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
—— -No country associated with the label Nordic noir is as bleak, cold, snowy and empty as Iceland. And no crime writer portrays those elements as evocatively and scarily as Ragnar Jonasson
—— The TimesA classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens... first rate and highly recommended
—— Lee Child, on , SnowblindA modern take on Agatha Christie--style mystery, as twisty as any slalom . . .
—— Ian Rankin, on , SnowblindRagnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir
—— Peter JamesDistinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction...atmospheric...economical and evocative prose
—— The Guardian on NightblindSeductive ... an old-fashioned murder mystery with a strong central character and the fascinating background of a small Icelandic town cut off by snow. Ragnar does claustrophobia beautifully
—— Ann CleevesThe ending hits the reader like a kick in the stomach
—— FRÉTTATIMINN ****Jonasson's books have breathed new life into Nordic noir ...all the skilful plotting of an old-fashioned whodunit although it feels bitingly contemporary in setting and tone
—— Sunday ExpressHulda Hermannsdottir is a welcome addition to the selection of Icelandic crime fiction protagonists . . . It is almost impossible to put the book down until the last word has been read
—— Fréttablaðið ****Out of all of Ragnar's books, this is the one I like the most . . . The book of his which reminds me most of Agatha Christie
—— Kiljan, on The IslandThe threads lie in various places, the plot is well woven and the pieces in the puzzle come together well in the end. The structure is good, the main characters are believable, the story flows well, everyone is a suspect á la Agatha Christie and the solution unveils the mystery and leads the readers to the truth. But not all the truth, as some things are better left hidden
—— Morgunbladid (Icelandic newspaper)A very good book, gripping and interesting, with all the threads carefully managed. Hopefully the author will publish as many books as possible with lead character Hulda
—— Vikan Magazine, on The Island