Member Reviews
Really interesting book set over different timelines. Beautiful setting for the tense drama in a glorious house, home to strong women during the war era and in present day.
Excellent characters with good plot lines in each era, narrated by the women about their own stories. Some really tough themes explored both then and now and nicely woven together to make a really interesting story that I finished in one day, I was so keen to find out what happened.
Highly recommend to those who enjoy a family drama and have an interest in local history and family sagas.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a beautifully written book which splits between modern day and WW2 effectively to build the bigger story. I found the characters realistic and engaging and the way that they two stories blend together very believable. An interesting and unusual read, one that I would recommend.
Two engaging and compellingly enjoyable stories from the past and the present, expertly woven together in the same house, Tall Chimneys, Sidmouth, Devon. Murder, mystery, drama and plenty of secrets and revelations to discover, as the timelines alternate, and connections between the two are revealed.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for ARC.
After her step brother is convicted of a horrible murder in the parental home, Nancy escapes to the seaside, seeking anonymity and peace in her mother's old home. She rapidly discovers that she's too easy to find, and someone still wishes her harm. Who can she trust? And what secrets does the old house hold?
This has two timelines, loosely connected by the old boarding house itself and the generations that have lived in it. There's WWII spy craft, illicit romance, evacuees and rationing, plus in the present day much more modern forms of danger.
I know a lot of people will love this. Sadly I wasn't one of them - the threads didn't knit together for me and I found the legal and forensic material included very sketchy, and the characterisation implausible.
Once again Jane has written a superb novel, set over two timelines. An excellent story- atmospheric and enjoyable- if it’s possible to say that about a book set in war time! Tall Chimneys is a house with a hidden history that slowly gives up its stories through the different women who lived there and the bravery they displayed. War was full of tragic events, but true friendships definitely helped, especially when you were not sure who was on which side.
This novel seamlessly weaves a dual narrative and the rich descriptions made me feel like I was there! Love a brooding mystery and this one didn’t disappoint! It had all the hallmarks of a great mystery novel and I loved it.
Engaging and mysterious. A modern day tragedy sees Nancy fleeing to Devon to take refuge from the media, to Tall Chimneys in Sidmouth. Running entwined are the stories of Elizabeth and Adeline during and after the Second World War when Elizabeth lives in Tall Chimneys.
I really could feel the sense of Devon, the waves of the sea and the smell of the apples.
I was engrossed in both stories, wondering how they would come together - thriller and mystery, friendship and families.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the dual timeline and the way the story slowly weaved together. Beautifully written, as you would expect from Jane. An entertaining read.
Sometimes, when an author switches from one era to another the results can be quite confusing. Not so in this instance. The switching backwards and forwards enhanced the story. Set in the present and WW11 in Sidmouth the story develops with many unexpected twists.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the advance copy of this book.
I did want to enjoy this story - the idea behind it was intriguing but I found the writing very stilted and unemotional. Also the constant flitting from 1941 to the present day tended to interrupt the flow. I felt a lack of depth to the writing. I like to get lost in a story but sad to say this just didn’t grip me! Too stark, no depth of emotion and moving from one drama to another without being able to imagine the pain or the pleasure! Sorry, but not for me!
Amazingly good! Beautifully constructed telling a story of people over three generation whose lives interlocked. Neither difficult to understand or to follow. Highly recommended.
I was offered this book and therefore my thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the chance to leave an honest and unbiased review.
An enthralling read that flips back and forth between two timelines to reveal the tragic story of the house and family. You need to keep your thinking head on to keep track of the twists through the timelines but it's worth it.
Sometimes I find with books that have parallel storylines, one can be weaker than the other and I’m skimming it to get back to the one that I’m more taken with. I found both storylines in this book equally captivating and it had two really strong characters in Nancy and Elizabeth. There’s a lot of twists and turns and the air of mystery is kept right up to the end, I also like the moral grey areas that kept popping up throughout the book, it definitely added to the characters.
This novel starts with and ends with killings being revealed. The backdrop is provided by Tall Chimneys - a house inherited by Nancy [the main character] from her mother situated in Sidmouth. It is to here that Nancy retreats to try and escape media attention. As the old family home gradually reveals its secrets Nancy grows more and more attached to both it and the friendly neighbours. Not all of what she discovers is expected. Indeed some of the past is extraordinarily grim particularly when we travel back in time to the early years of the WW2. However, these painful times are counterbalanced with stories of people housed in Tall Chimneys when it served both as a Guest House and as a home for children evacuated from London.
There are some well drawn characters and a cleverly interwoven storyline that ensures "Coming to find you" is an enjoyable and at times, quite pacy, read which won't disappoint.
A really gripping story that keeps you enthralled throughout. Set between World War Two and the present day the story has two narrators, one in each decade, and comes together at the very end with a twist that you don’t see coming.
I loved the style of writing and warmed to the characters. This was one of those ‘just one more chapter’ books that becomes addictive. Highly recommended!
Brilliant, a story that encompasses several eras in history with the common thread being a house beside the sea with a great feeling of history and echoes of its past. It reminded me a bit of the House Through Time TV programme and has left me wanting to probe the past custodians of my own house.
I particularly enjoyed the wartime aspects of the storyline and the strengths found through adversity and the real tests of human spirit.
There are some strong themes tackled in the plot and nothing is too tricky to tackle beautifully and sensitively it seems. There are threads of childhood evacuees, secret resistance units and spies and taboos such as wartime affairs, illegitimacy, domestic abuse and then the very real effects of wartime losses and PTSD. The modern side of the story also has brave themes such as sexual abuse, murder and post natal depression. All of the areas explored are done brilliantly and interwoven into a heartfelt and very human story which prompts a great deal of questioning of what is right and wrong and how people react in impossible situations on the spur of the moment faced with such incredible dilemmas in adversity. All of this immense detail is somehow wrapped up into an utterly compelling and page turning love story bridging the generations and eras. Loved this and can imagine it having broad appeal.
Very enjoyable story that has two timelines, an interweaving of a horrible family tragedy with a mystery from the Second World War. Lots of twists and red herrings. A thriller with a difference.
This book certainly did not disappoint. It started off in such a way that I was on high alert from being scared as I turned the pages. This is very unusual for me.
The plot is really 3 stories in one crafted carefully by the author.
First there is the main one - a woman with issues returns to where she she grew up - intending to perhaps get a fresh start and a bit of peace. The second plot-line is a murder story and you must wonder who really did the murders? I found that challenging enough! The third is a wartime 'yarn' that smoothly links to the present day.
All in all a very cleverly constructed book that provides so many elements of entertainment.
This is certainly a good read with its combination of historical fiction, murder and family secrets. Nancy is involved in a murder of her mother and step father along with her step brother who is besotted by her. He, Martin, goes to gaol for the crime. She retreats to her inherited mansion in Sidmouth. That triggers recollections of the history of the house and in particular its experience of the Second World War. That part of the story is very well researched and written. It is a reminder of experiences that should not be allowed to be forgotten.The house does seem to have been cursed by more than one generation of domestic problems. This book is an unusual combination of story lines. It reads well and I recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley the the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Coming To Find You" by Jane Corry is a gripping and captivating novel that takes the reader on a journey through two different time periods, the Second World War and the present day, set in the same house with tall chimneys in Sidmouth. The author has done an excellent job of weaving together the past and present, making the story come alive with vivid details and captivating characters.
The story revolves around Nancy, who after a tragedy in her family, decides to seek refuge in her grandmother's house, Tall Chimneys.
Jane Corry has crafted a well-paced and well-plotted story that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed, and the author has done a great job of making them relatable and likeable.
Overall, "Coming To Find You" is a fantastic novel that I highly recommend. The combination of two different time periods, a compelling mystery, and engaging characters make for a truly unforgettable reading experience. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for Jane Corry's next book.