Set in two time frames which is always intriguing, we have two distinct story lines. One is from our present times where Joanna is in Portugal, trying to decide what she wants for her future and also to escape an over-whelming relationship. The other story is set in decades past in a time when Portugal was neutral during WWII and faced with many intrigues - from spies, to vast corruption and to a sorrowful story of child abductions.
The child abductions becomes the link in the two time frames and we slowly unravel a heart breaking story of Josh or Nathan or the future Rafael. There are many people who do not want these old stories brought to the forefront again and who have a lot to lose if they do come out. They are still powerful cabals in Faro and they will do anything to make sure that the past stays firmly in the past.
Joanna's encounter with a long standing English expat in Faro and his cryptic message of the story being in the book given to her is not easy to link or understand at the beginning but as the story goes on the pieces start coming together.
The story and characters are complex, the unraveling slow but it brings about a story of immense interest.
This was sent to me by Netgalley for an unbiased review courtesy of Lawsome Books.
Sounds like a book I'd need to keep notes on until it all began to straighten out, but I suspect a rewarding read once it was all sorted. Never knew Portugal was neutral in the war so new learning for me!
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