The Stranger's Companion

(Paperback)

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Description

October 1933

'Welcome, Stranger, to Sark, the wildest and most neglected of the Channel Islands, and once you see it you'll understand why.'

With a population of 500 souls, isolated Sark has a reputation for being 'the island where nothing ever happens'. Until, one day, the neatly folded clothes of an unknown man and woman are discovered abandoned at a coastal beauty spot. As the search for the missing couple catches the attention of first the local and then national newspapers, Sark finds itself front page news.

When young islander Phyllis Carey returns to Sark from England she throws herself into solving the mystery. As Phyll digs through swirls of gossip in search of the truth she crosses paths with Everard Hyde, a surprise visitor from her past. As press coverage builds to fever pitch, long suppressed secrets from Phyll and Everard's shared, shadowy history begin to surface.

The Stranger's Companion is a beguiling historical mystery inspired by a real-life crime, which remains unsolved to this day.

Reviews

Praise for THE BOOK OF LIES --
An ingenious debut * Financial Times *
Acutely observed . . . It is a complex and deeply satisfying novel, and I can scarcely believe it is Horlock's first book * Guardian *
Horlock has created an authentic adolescent voice and, in the process, not only illuminated the history of a small island but also thrown light on the subjectivity of history, truth and memory * Independent *
The ending is brilliantly double-edged, bearing witness . . .to human nature's perverse complexity -its wounded, willing goodness, its streaks of darkness * Scotsman *
A sizzling debut . . . the end is extraordinary. Guernsey, where the author spent her childhood, is beautifully evoked * The Times *
Strange and inviting . . . [Catherine's] razor-sharp humor gives the book a pleasing, offbeat charm * Publishers Weekly *
Remarkable . . . [Cat] is unique and captivating * Library Journal *
The misplaced loyalties that often drive the adolescent mind are expertly depicted in Mary Horlock's debut novel . . . Nails the stifling nature of a small community choked by the dark memories of wartime * National *
An intriguing and well-handled debut * Herald *

Author Bio

Mary Horlock was born in Australia but brought up in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. She was previously a curator in contemporary art at Tate Liverpool and Tate Britain. Her first novel, The Book of Lies, was longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. She lives with her family in London.