Mary Horlock The Stranger's Companion : The perfect escapist read for the

Inspired by real events, and making use of a variety of narrative techniques, The Strangers Companion is a compelling and unusual novel The Times, A Top 10 Historical Fiction Book of 2024A mesmerising historical mystery . . . based on a fascinating real case. Delectable Anna Mazzola, author of The Book of SecretsOctober 1933With 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 frontpage 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, longsuppressed secrets from Phylls and Everards shared, shadowy history begin to surface. The Strangers Companion is a beguiling historical mystery inspired by a reallife crime, which remains unsolved to this day. A compelling mixture of mystery, community secrets revealed and ghosts from the past disturbing the present Sunday TimesA fascinating mystery [and] truly transporting read Womans WeeklySuch a wonderful, distinctive cast of characters . . . I thoroughly enjoyed... | Mary Horlock The Stranger's Companion : The perfect escapist read for the