In Darkness Look For Stars by Clara Benson is a historical fiction set in a duel timeline of the second world war and also after, 1949-50. We are plunged into the story right from the beginning when Flight Lieutenant Alec McLeod is forced to bail from his plane in the French countryside, mission abandoned. Injured, lying in a field in France he expects to be captured.
Maggie is a member of the resistance and finds him, so he is instead whirled away to safety. Maggie is a rebel daughter of a famous musical family, but defied everyone to become part of the resistance. Her mother Rose is busy courting anyone and everyone to aid Maggie’s brother, Sebastian, further his musical career, while her sister Cecilia is in the South of France still shielded from the realities of war. Maggie falls in love with a fellow resistance fighter, Emil, who is also a Jew and when Maggie has no choice but to send him to Cecilia for his safety, she is educated more than she ever expected.
The story moves to Hertfordshire in 1949. Harriet Conway, who is a woman who has suffered losses of her own begins to work for Rose. As time passes she realises that Rose and her family have suffered losses also and soon begins to find out the family secrets.
I found the book which spans a very important decade and brings two people, who never met, Maggie and Harriet , together in the way that their stories intertwine and, yes, it can be heartbreaking but there is love to be found also. Clara Benson has written a very emotional and enthralling story and brough to life her characters which make the story even more powerful. I loved being a part of this Blog Tour and thanks to Sarah Hardy of BOTBS Publicity and Bookouture.
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 