Beyond Summerland

by Jenny Lecoat

Overview

"From the explosive opening to the profound ending, Beyond Summerland is a wonder of storytelling. With a rich setting and secrets shimmering at the core of the narrative, Jenny Lecoat offers up everything we seek in historical fiction."—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

In her spellbinding new novel, New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lecoat explores the secrets and lies in a small community recovering from war, and the two young women at the center of a volatile mystery.

The German occupation is over. The Channel Islands, the only captured territory within the British Isles, are finally liberated. But the people of Jersey are left as scarred as the landscape. No longer a “summerland” holiday paradise, the island now boils with tension as locals seek revenge on anyone suspected of collaborating with the enemy during the war.

Nineteen-year-old Jean Parris, still adjusting to this fractious peace, is shocked to learn that Hazel, a teacher who lives over her dad’s shop, may be responsible for her father’s wartime arrest. Hazel denies all accusations but has reasons to conceal what really happened.

As rumors of Hazel’s guilt swell to a fury, Jean discovers new clues that suggest there were other, more sinister factors at play. When Hazel learns of Jean’s own ruinous secret, the women form an unexpected bond that sets them apart from the rest of Jean’s family and the frenzied demands for retribution. But in the end, Jean’s need to know the truth about her father may consume everything she once believed about her home, her family and herself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525809835
Publisher:	Graydon House Books
Publication date:	07/02/2024
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.15(w) x 9.24(h) x 1.01(d)

About the Author

Jenny Lecoat was born in the Channel Islands where, only sixteen years earlier, Nazis had deported members of her family to concentration camps for resistance activities. Following an early career in stand-up comedy and writing features for magazines and newspapers, she became a screenwriter. Her feature film Another Mother's Son, about her family's experiences during the Occupation, was released in the UK in 2017. The Girl from the Channel Islands is her first novel.

Editorial Reviews

"Beyond Summerland is a beautifully written testament to both the resilience and duplicity of human nature in the most challenging and complex times. The sense of place and time is masterfully captured as we follow an island community struggling to find their way in the aftermath of war. The cast of characters – heroes, villains and so many in between – are brilliantly portrayed and immediately draw the reader into their lives. I absolutely loved it!"—Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things


"From the explosive opening to the profound ending, Beyond Summerland is a wonder of storytelling. With a rich setting and secrets shimmering at the core of the narrative, Jenny Lecoat offers up everything we seek in historical fiction. In the Channel Islands, occupation is over after WWII and normal life is returning to the idyllic island, but rumors begin to tear the community apart. What becomes of us when we hide the truth from those who matter most? Lecoat answers this question with a spellbinding story of love, friendship, and courage as the antidote to fear and blame.”—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea.


"A masterpiece! Utterly gripping and spellbinding, Jenny's pen is a time machine, transporting you back to the isle of Jersey and a community recovering from war. Beyond Summerland is packed full of drama, tension, secrets and surprises. Add in a cast of richly drawn characters and a meticulously researched storyline and you have a book that lingers long after the last page."—Kate Thompson, author of The Little Wartime Library


"An unforgettable tale of friendship, love, courage and survival. I loved every word of this fantastically engrossing novel. Jenny Lecoat is an author to watch!" —New York Times bestselling author Kelly Rimmer on The Girl from the Channel Islands

“A riveting story, told by a masterful storyteller who also happens to be a fresh new voice in the genre. I absolutely loved The Girl from the Channel Islands and recommend it highly, not just to fans of historical fiction, but to lovers of good books everywhere.” —Karen Robards, New York Times bestselling author, on The Girl from the Channel Islands

"The Girl from the Channel Islands springs to life with cinematic clarity. With the story's every dramatic turn, Lecoat raises profound questions about our understanding of trust, friend, and foe." —Ellen Keith, author of The Dutch Wife

"A captivating story of trust and betrayal, courage, survival and forbidden love." —Glynis Peters, author of The Secret Orphan

“Lecoat capably combines historical fact with the fictional narrative, and offers a cast rich with multidimensional characters. Readers will be riveted.” —Publishers Weekly on The Girl from the Channel Islands

"An important contribution to historical fiction." —New York Journal of Books on The Girl from the Channel Islands

"A harrowing tale of a young woman using her wits, courage, and an unlikely relationship to stay alive on a Nazi occupied island. Lecoat weaves a story of strength and bravery from the first exciting scene to its satisfying conclusion." —Bestselling author Noelle Salazar on The Girl from the Channel Islands

"A story of love, betrayal and atonement…. Beyond Summerland is a compelling novel in which you learn, not only about the complex history of an island during occupation, but also about the frailty of human nature."—Sue Lawrence, author of The Green Lady

From the Publisher