The Shock of the Light follows twins Tessa and Theo, living in Britain in 1942. They were born and raised in England but have a French mother, making France dear to both of their hearts. Theo is an RAF pilot, and Tessa has recently returned after finishing her studies at the Sorbonne just before the war broke out, harbouring a major secret that leads her to jump at the chance to join the Special Operations Executive and return to occupied France. While both twins are fighting in the war, only one returns.
For me, this is exactly where the pacing moved beyond some of the initial clichés and the slower setup of Tessa’s character development, and I was completely pulled into her world as an SOE courier behind enemy lines.
This one initially caught my eye because of the praise for the historical research Lori Inglis Hall undertook. I found myself constantly Googling names to figure out what was real and what was fictional, and it’s such a great example of how fiction can spark real learning.
I absolutely loved this book. The care taken to weave in historical fact alongside its ever-unfolding secrets had me hooked until the very end. I inhaled the final chapters, it broke my heart in so many ways, and I just know it’s going to make for a fantastic Bookety Club discussion.
More books to read if you enjoyed The Shock of the Light
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