Beyond Summerland by Jenny Lecoat

 This was well-written and atmospheric with a good story, but I found it extremely depressing.I am giving it away!

Set in the febrile atmosphere of the Channel Islands just after the war, it features two main characters Jean and Hazel, sometime enemies. After Jean’s family discovers that her father was killed by the Nazis suspicion arises over who informed on him. Was it the young teacher Hazel? Was she having an affair with him?

Jean has a lot to deal with in this book. There is the mystery about her father, her dreadful uncle who has designs on her and her secret love for her German officer. Her mother and her other uncles and cousins also present problems. Except for Jean, most of the other characters in this book are quite unlikeable! Jean is a sympathetic and courageous young woman though who deals with all of her dilemmas with grace and agility.

I preferred Jenny Lecoat’s other novel.

I read this for Rose City Reader’s TBR 25 for ‘25 Challenge.