They were not her children. But she would protect them with her life…
Corfu 1944. Though they don’t know it, five-year-old Matilde and three-year-old Anna have kissed their mother for the last time. The Nazis have reached their sun-scorched home, and they are being taken to a place of safety, on the north-eastern tip of the rocky island, to be hidden at great risk by kindly Agata and her husband until the terrible war is over.
Matilde and Anna’s tears are soothed by Agata’s bedtime stories, but she is always alert. So far no soldiers have ventured down the steep rocky hillside to their secret haven, but Agata knows they are constantly scouring the island for missing Jews. And then, on a day when Agata’s husband is away, a German soldier appears…
2016. Under a baking June sun, Amber and her husband arrive in Corfu from England, hoping for a fresh start. But not everyone is pleased by their arrival, and with the pressures of pregnancy, the couple grow further apart. Desperate to find a sense of belonging for herself and her unborn child, Amber finds herself drawn to the local story of two little girls, left by their parents and hidden for their own protection.
But there are some who would rather Amber left Corfu’s terrible history well in the past. Can Amber uncover the heart-breaking truth about the two little girls, and what happened after a German soldier took a swim in the bay by their house? If she does, can the secrets of the past help her find happiness, or send her running from the island, alone?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of Burning Island to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Burning Island is the second book by Suzanne Goldring who brought us the superb My Name is Eva last year. For me, this new book didn't quite have me as gripped as her previous offering but none the less it was a very good read and it shows what careful and impeccable research Suzanne puts into her books in order to bring the time she is writing about alive onto the pages for her readers. This book was set between the present day and World War Two and I have read many, many books set during this time period so it was refreshing to see that the story took place on the island of Corfu. So many other books in this genre are set in France or Poland etc. so it was interesting to see how people living on an island coped with invasion and having their lives ripped to shreds all because of the actions of a mad man. Although, I couldn't shake the feeling throughout that I had read a book with similar themes and being set on an island during the war. The title still alludes me but it still feels as if I had read previously about what had happened to the Jewish people on the island during the time. I pushed this to the back of my mind and became immersed in the story as it weaves back and forth between Amber and James in modern day Corfu and Rebekka and her family in 1944.
Usually I would prefer one time period over another when a book has a dual timeline running through it but here I found myself equally enjoying both parts. Ultimately, I was intrigued as to whether there would be a connection between the two stories and if so what would it be? Would there be lessons to be learnt from it? In the brief prologue we are introduced to Amber who lives on the island having escaped from the rat race that was London with her husband James. She is thinking over what has recently happened and now that she knows the truth she will never look at Corfu with that same innocence again. The echoes of the past sound all around her and she wishes to strive for the truth as she knows this sun soaked island where people come to seek both pleasure and relaxation has a powerful history which should not be forgotten.
We then go back to the time when Amber and James arrive on the island both stressed and overworked but Amber in particular. They needed to get away from the life which would eventually break them if they kept going the way they were. Grabbing the opportunity to help a friend of James' with his property rentals on the island they soon find themselves miles away from their previous existence. They leave their well paid but demanding careers behind but little do they know what new experiences await them and what Amber sees and hears will change their lives forever. Is she ready to take on board what will eventually emerge and what they will also discover about themselves in the process?
The descriptions of the island were stunning and I felt like I was right there alongside Amber and James as they get used to their new surroundings and life as they made the decision try and open up a restaurant. This would allow James to fully indulge his true passion for cooking and food. The vast majority of the novel when set in the modern day was about how James and Amber went about this. There were also several characters introduced including Greg Richards, a successful entrepreneur married to Pat, but also a local Dimitri who seems to be very helpful in guiding James when it comes to picking out property. From the outset, there just seemed to be something very off about the whole buying property thing and as the book progressed I found myself even starting to dislike James. I think he changed when he came to the island, as did Amber, but his alterations were for the worse not the better. It's like he lost the spark and love he had for Amber as he became all consumed by the end goal of getting the restaurant up and running with the help of Greg and Dimitri.
Amber also seemed to be separating herself from James as if she could see that the people he was surrounding himself with maybe were not the best. She found allies in two women Marian and Inge who run two shops full of antiques and unusual objects on the island. These two characters I definitely felt I had read similar characters to them before even down to the fact that one of them was ill. But in the present day story they were the most interesting characters. I did question for quite some time as to their inclusion but I should have trusted as to what the author was doing as they do play a very pivotal role both in terms of being like surrogate mothers to Amber and the role they have to play in tying the story together. They were an unusual pair but Amber feels a deep connection to them and I suppose as she uncovered their story and was feeling neglected in a way by James she knew she could rely on both Marian and Inge when times got tough. In getting to know them she came to understand they had a story to share and she mustn’t let it go unheard.
At times, I did feel the modern day aspect of the story did become a little repetitive with not much happening. It is only as I reached part two that I felt the action really picked up and things became an awful lot clearer and little clues and connections I had missed before began to make themselves known. It was tense edge of your seat stuff and very well written and I had no idea how things would pan out. In terms of the outcome for Amber, the author could have gone the usual clichéd route but I am glad she didn't but that the character stood true to her principals and also with her discovering of past events and didn't go down the route I had fully expected her to and I appreciated the fact the norm didn't happen.
As for the scenes in the past, we come to know the story of the island through chapters from Rebekka's point of view who is only 13 when the Germans arrive on the island of Corfu and her life is changed forever. What unfolds is a desperate story of sorrow, hardship, destruction and brutality as the Jews on the island are rounded up. At times, it was difficult to read of all they were enduring. It showed how no one was safe or immune to what was going on at the time even living on an island. The Italians had left but then the Germans arrived exerting even more power, cruelty and barbaric acts. The Jewish community was one of peace but an annihilation occurred as deportations began but amidst this dark time and events a ray of hope shines through in relation to Rebekka's sisters Matilde and Anna.
Their story and those surrounding them was one of courage and bravery and highlighted the lengths people went to at that time to keep anyone safe if at all possible. So many people put their own lives in danger and on the line even though they didn't have to and the author has highlighted this and brought it to our attention particularly in relation to Corfu which rarely, if ever, gets a mention in historical fiction books. I found the Corfu of the past aspect of plot fascinating and horrifying in equal measure but again I was curious as to how Suzanne Goldring would tie everything together but she did so very well and in a surprising way I didn't guess until literally a page or two before the reveal.
Burning Island is a very good book but I think there was even more of a shock factor in terms of the reveal in My Name is Eva and that's what slightly edges it out for me in terms of which book I prefer. That said this is an interesting and informative read and certainly an eye opener at times to a time that shouldn't be forgotten where the relative peace of so many was shattered by such cruel and destructive behaviour. Suzanne Goldring is a talented author and I look forward to seeing where her future books will take her readers to.
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