{"product_id":"the-shock-of-the-light-isbn-9780593834251","title":"The Shock of the Light","description":"\u003cb\u003e“A wonderfully conceived and remarkably assured first novel, rich in emotion and with a truly compelling narrative drive. A brilliant success.”\u003cbr\u003e —William Boyd, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eAny Human Heart\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFor readers of \u003ci\u003eThe Nightingale\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eIn Memoriam\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Postcard, \u003c\/i\u003ea sweeping novel of siblings, steeped in love, heart-rending loss, and sacrifice, the story of twins who meet shockingly different fates, but whose bond will last forever\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwins Tessa and Theo are roots of the same tree, in tune with one another’s every thought and desire. As World War II takes hold across Europe, both are eager to do their part. Theo is recruited by the RAF and disappears into the skies, while Tessa jumps at the chance to join the Special Operations Executive, devoted to spying and sabotage behind enemy lines. It will be dangerous, highly classified work, but Tessa, despite all she shares with Theo, is no stranger to secret-keeping. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo years later, Theo comes home. Tessa does not.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheo, wounded, broken by the loss of his fellows and disappearance of his sister, is indefatigable, angry, and driven.  He has secrets of his own that could jeopardize his future, and—he will pay a price for pursuing answers about Tessa’s fate. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDecades later, PhD candidate Edie is deep into her research on the Special Operations Executive during the war. When she finds Theo in London, they form an unlikely partnership, and together they will try to uncover the truth about Theo’s beloved sister—and the one secret she never told him…\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStunningly and propulsively written, \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e is a novel of bravery, the brutal human cost of war, a brother and sister bond that outlasts even death, and the redemptive love that grows in unexpected places.Praise for \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A wonderfully conceived and remarkably assured first novel, rich in emotion and with a truly compelling narrative drive. A brilliant success.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—William Boyd, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eAny Human Heart\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An intriguing take on female spies that opens up the clandestine world to generations who feel the Second World War to be distant and perhaps even irrelevant to their lives. The writing is admirably spare, delicately descriptive, and alluring in its twists and turns.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Sonia Purnell, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eA Woman of No Importance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A powerful story, beautifully told. The writing is masterfully smooth and sure-footed, in complete command of its subject as it shines a light on a largely overlooked aspect of the Second World War. The final chapter is extraordinary in its restraint and fearless simplicity. Such a fascinating and satisfying read.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—M.L. Stedman, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Light Between Oceans\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Lori Inglis Hall bursts onto the scene with A debut of astounding power and delicacy…. English twins Tessa and Theo find themselves separated by both war and secrets, Theo taking to the skies as an RAF pilot and Tessa parachuting behind enemy lines as a spy in France. When Tessa fails to return in peacetime, an embittered Theo dedicates his life to finding out what happened to her—a search leading him from Paris to Nuremburg and beyond. \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e is a story that sings with every word and lingers long in the memory—an absolute stunner!” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Kate Quinn, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Briar Club\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Masterfully weaves together sibling bonds and dark secrets while bringing lesser-known history to life. . . Fans of \u003ci\u003eAll the Light We Cannot See\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Nightingale\u003c\/i\u003e would be well-served to reach for \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Pam Jenoff, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eLast Twilight in Paris\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hall brings a fine literary touch and acute psychological sensitivity to a story starring an unforgettable pair of British twins separated by war, each carrying weighty secrets. Spine-chilling and beautifully rendered, \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e drew me in from the start” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Georgia Hunter, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWe Were the Lucky Ones\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Far-reaching, but also intimate and intensely personal in the loves, secrets, and betrayals it examines... a quietly devastating story about lost time and lost futures that will stay with me.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Florence Knapp, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Names\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Lori Inglis Hall is an exceptional storyteller, with the moral precision of Pat Barker and the skillful restraint of Irène Némirovsky. With \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e, she draws from history a story for our own troubled times: a reminder of how love endures when conflict divides us. Exquisitely written and deeply human, this stunning novel affirms the courage and compassion that survive even in terrible darkness.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Chris Cleave, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eIncendiary\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A beautifully constructed and profoundly moving portrait of a brother and sister separated by the secrets of war, \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e is an astonishing achievement.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Lauren Grodstein, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWe Must Not Think of Ourselves\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hall writes about World War II, so we can live it, intimately, with our young heroes, Tess and Theo, as we follow them through their joined and separate paths, in this startling, elegant and revelatory novel about lies, loss, and enduring love.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Amy Bloom, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eIn Love\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fans of Kristin Hannah’s \u003ci\u003eThe Nightingale\u003c\/i\u003e will enjoy this sweeping debut novel by Lori Inglis Hall.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eWoman's World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Left me in pieces. . . so beautifully written. . . already a firm favorite for one of my books of the year.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eGood Housekeeping \u003c\/i\u003e(UK)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The careful crafting of the story in \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e, its insistently rising tension, and its portrayal of the deep effects of war on families, place it on par with top novels of World War II such as Kristin Hannah’s \u003ci\u003eThe Nightingale\u003c\/i\u003e and Kate Quinn’s \u003ci\u003eThe Huntress\u003c\/i\u003e.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Historical Novel Society\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Far more realistic than many spy novels. . . takes in betrayal, duplicity, cover-ups and the effects of grief.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An enticing saga of wartime love and loss centered on a pair of twins from Cambridge, England . . . Hall evokes the strong bond between siblings, showing how Tessa is not to be outdone by the heroic Theo, and the thrilling narrative highlights the perilous work of female SOE agents. Fans of WWII fiction won’t want to put it down.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Evocative . . . the great strength of the novel comes from its description of the deep and unique bond between the siblings and from [Hall]’s insightful exploration of the question of how well we really know even the closest people in our lives.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With complex characters and vivid descriptions, this debut is a stark reminder of the confusion and horror of war and its aftermath while also exploring how hard it is to let go of someone you never got to say goodbye to.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A beautiful, clever debut, heart wrenching and totally immersive. A special twist on an era we think we know so well\u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003ehighlighting some lesser-known and devastating moments. Impeccably researched, the very best example of historical fiction. Quietly devastating and so moving\u003cb\u003e—\u003c\/b\u003eI was completely absorbed.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Cesca Major, author of \u003ci\u003eMaybe Next Time\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A beautiful and devastating story of love and loss and broken bonds. Through twins Tessa and Theo, Lori Inglis Hall brilliantly conjures the ambience of wartime, capturing the quiet and prolonged agony of not knowing the fate of those we love.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Joanna Glen, author of \u003ci\u003eAll My Mothers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This novel floored me. It is a rare thing and close to perfect. It really does have it all: a profound and enthralling story that will grip even the most reluctant of readers, characters that feel as real as my friends or even myself, and the sort of beautiful, careful prose that you’ll want to read and reread. I finished this book in a state of awe and grief. Grief that it was over, and awe that Lori Inglis Hall had pulled off an astonishing sleight of hand, and made me rage and grieve and love these characters as though they were real. That is to say: in the space of four hundred pages, she made me care, utterly and completely. I urge you to pick up this book and read it!” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Elizabeth Macneal, international bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Doll Factory\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Easily one of the best books I have read. Beautifully written and achingly human, \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e is a novel of courage, sacrifice, and devastating secrets that echo across generations. At its heart is the fierce, unbreakable bond between a brother and sister—one that unearths a shameful, buried history of the SOE and reveals the unbearable price it demanded. At once intimate and epic, this unforgettable debut will astonish readers, break their hearts, and open their eyes.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Secret Keeper\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A poignant, compulsive story of the forces which bind us together and wrench us apart. Sweeping yet intimate, \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light \u003c\/i\u003epaints a vivid picture using a miniaturist's brush on a wide canvas. Full of surprise, intrigue, and delight.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Lucy Steeds, international bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Artist and the Feast\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eLori Inglis Hall \u003c\/b\u003ehas an MA (research) in history from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and works as a researcher and rights manager for the estate of the photographer Lee Miller. Previously, she spent a decade working in politics at the House of Commons. She lives rurally in Sussex with her family and an inordinate number of books. \u003ci\u003eThe Shock of the Light\u003c\/i\u003e is Hall’s first novel.","brand":"Pamela Dorman Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233743024357,"sku":"NP9780593834251","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593834251.jpg?v=1767741511","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-shock-of-the-light-isbn-9780593834251","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}