Published by Head of Zeus

1st June 2017

Synopsis

Sam grew up in the shadow of the secret state. Her father was an undercover agent, full of tall stories about tradecraft and traitors. Then he died, killed in the line of duty.

Now Sam has travelled to Hoy, in Orkney, to piece together the puzzle of her father’s past. Haunted by echoes of childhood holidays, Sam is sure the truth lies buried here, somewhere.

What she finds is a tiny island of dramatic skies, swooping birds, rugged sea stacks and just four hundred people. An island remote enough to shelter someone who doesn’t want to be found. An island small enough to keep a secret…

My thoughts

Clare Carson’s beautifully written thriller will keep you guessing right to the end. The story is split into two time frames, 1976 and 1989 and flits back and forward between the two for the majority of the book, giving the reader the character of Sam’s perspective both as a child and as an adult studying for her Archaeology PHD. This dual narrative works well at building the mystery and suspense that gives the story an edginess that would otherwise be missing, as Sam learns the secrets of her Father’s past in the Police security services, she discovers that not everyone is who they seem and sometimes the good are bad and vice versa.

Great characters who are well defined and believable, all are human and Carson shows how everyone has both good and bad sides to them, a great insight to human nature and how people react when pushed to extremes, a great read for sitting on the beach or by the pool.