The Stranger's Companion
The island always had visitors, but victims were a first
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'Inspired by real events, and making use of a variety of narrative techniques, The Stranger's Companion is a compelling and unusual novel' The Times, A Top 10 Historical Fiction Book of 2024 'A mesmerising historical mystery . . . based on a fascinating real case. Delectable' Anna Mazzola, author of The Book of Secrets October 1933 With a population of five hundred souls, isolated Sark has a reputation for being 'the island where nothing ever happens'. Until, one day, the neatly folded clothes of an unknown man and woman are discovered abandoned at a coastal beauty spot. As the search for the missing couple catches the attention of first the local and then national newspapers, Sark finds itself front-page news. When young islander Phyllis Carey returns to Sark from England she throws herself into solving the mystery. As Phyll digs through swirls of gossip, ghost stories and dark rumours in search of the truth, she crosses paths with Everard Hyde, a surprise visitor from her past. As press coverage builds to fever pitch, long-suppressed secrets from Phyll's and Everard's shared, shadowy history begin to surface. The Stranger's Companion is a beguiling historical mystery inspired by a real-life crime, which remains unsolved to this day. 'A compelling mixture of mystery, community secrets revealed and ghosts from the past disturbing the present' Sunday Times 'A fascinating mystery [and] truly transporting read' Woman's Weekly 'Such a wonderful, distinctive cast of characters . . . I thoroughly enjoyed the wit and spark of the writing' Zoë Somerville, author of The Marsh House
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The Stranger's Companion is an historical mystery, set on the island of Sark, and is based on true events on the island in the same time period. The year is 1933, the month is October. Two sets of clothes, belonging to a man and a woman, are found on a cliff top. Of their owners, there is no sign.
The story has two timelines, 10 years apart. The narrative contains newspaper headlines from the real life Sark mystery, and excerpts from a guidebook of Sark. It is written in the first person, but we never learn the identity of the narrator.
What I loved about this book was the sense of foreboding throughout the story, and the superstitions that seemed to abound on the island, not to mention the possibility of witches abroad. Who doesn't love superstitions and witchcraft? I also loved the expert weaving together of fact and fiction.
I devoured this book. It was an engaging and easy read. It has made me very curious about Sark and its history, something I hope to look up at a later date.
Thanks to John Murray Press and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
