Emma Fraser

'On a remote Scottish island sits Greyfriars House'.

There, you had me with 'remote Scottish island'. Greyfriars House sits on that island called Kerista, near to Oban. In 1984, when Charlotte Friel finds herself there, it's fallen into a bit of disrepair, the grounds are run down and there are no staff helping the two residents, but there's still something special about the house.

This is a dual time frame novel and I love those kinds of stories. But actually, there's more than the two distinct times featured in the story and this really is quite a sweeping read taking in the events of 1939, 1984 and everything in between. There's more than a hint of the Kate Morton about it - all good for me!

This is a book of family secrets, some that rip relationships apart, others that quietly simmer in the background. A loss takes Charlotte to Greyfriars and there she hears of these secrets and so does the reader, in both current day conversations and flashbacks from the characters involved.

I found this was not a book I could rush, nor did I want to. It's around 430 pages, so reasonably chunky, but it's more that it's so full of rich detail, of breadcrumbs dropped that made sense as I read on. I found myself totally immersed in the stories of the women who feature so strongly.

Which also brings me round to the setting as I was also engrossed in all the descriptions of it. If there's a setting that most draws me to a novel it's a remote island, especially if it's a Scottish one. Greyfriars is only accessible by boat which adds a bit of romance and intrigue and I just loved the idea of it sitting there proudly, yet faded, on its little bit of watery paradise.

There are some lovely tales of love and family in this book, juxtaposed by the harsh realities of war, especially in the camps in Singapore. Fraser hits the perfect balance between them and has written a wonderful and absorbing read.… (més)

Omg this book is phenomenally good ❤️

With a dual timeline between past and present this book has it all. War, love, betrayal, mystery, history and haunting.

Everything stems from a night none of them will ever forget for their own reasons, tearing them all apart.

The most memorable and compelling parts of the book for me is the storyline of the two sisters and their lives during the war in Singapore where they detained as prisoners of war and the treatment they received at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Blending fact with fiction it makes for a harrowing read knowing people actually went through that and survived is incredible. It is so well written it was playing out in my head as though watch a film and I know that those images will haunt my dreams tonight.

And then there is the great-niece Charlotte whose story is set in the present with her own battle scars to deal with. Her career as a barrister is just taking her into the big leagues after winning a high-profile case her life goes from high to low rapidly. Her mum is diagnosed with terminal cancer with not much time left so she drops everything to be with her.

From there she is dealt another curve ball as her mother tells her she has relatives she never knew existed and the feud that ripped them all apart. But there are always two sides to a story and not everything is necessarily as it seems.

This is the first book I’ve read of Emma Fraser and I was initially drawn to it as it was recommended for fans of Kate Morton, Kate Riordan and Tracey Rees whose books I love and I can safely say she really does belong in the company of those other authors. And I now have a new favourite author 😃

Greyfriars House is out now in kindle and Hardback and the paperback edition will be published on August 9th 2018.… (més)

In this we follow the story of two women from their childhood, through their medical training and into their struggle to help and survive the First World War. Isabel is the doctor’s daughter who decides she also wishes to become a doctor in a time where it is not believed a fitting ambition for a woman. Jessie is a crofter’s daughter with ambitions to become a nurse. Archie is Jessie’s brother. He falls for Isabel but realises he can never break down the social barriers between them and then one day he disappears.

When the First World War breaks out, both Isabel and Jessie volunteer with the Scottish Women’s Hospital, providing medical treatment close to the front line in Serbia. We follow the horror of living and working in these conditions. The description of the situation the two women find themselves in – especially when you realise this story is based on true events - is incredibly humbling.

This book is excellent. I have found myself desperately trying to fit in more reading time in order to find out what happens next. Whilst dealing with the tough subject of war, I have found this a relatively easy read, and now have a desire to find a non-fiction book on this story to find out more about the brave and courageous women that volunteered and risked their lives in order to save the lives of others. The author has done a wonderful job of intertwining the story of Isabel, Jessie and Archie with the true events of the era.… (més)