Available Formats
A Thread of Light
By (Author) Neema Shah
Pan Macmillan
Picador
14th October 2025
International edition
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
Second World War fiction
Narrative theme: identity / belonging
Narrative theme: love / relationships
Narrative theme: death, grief, loss
Narrative theme: displacement, exile, migration
Narrative theme: politics / economics
823.92
Paperback
336
Width 153mm, Height 234mm, Spine 26mm
414g
When the world is burning, how much is there to lose London, 1941. As the city thrums with Blitz bombers, lonely air raid warden Ruby is drawn into the unfamiliar world of the India Forum, where a group of Londoners are working tirelessly to free India from British rule. Ruby has her own secret motives for joining the fight, but when she meets Satyajit, charming, aloof, and potentially dangerous, she finds herself torn between head and heart. Lawyer Kitty is helping Indian men in Britain challenge conscription. Having left her family behind in Bombay to marry the man she loves, now she risks losing him as well. As Kitty and Ruby's lives collide, the threat of violence closes in. Just how far are they willing to go for the people they love A story of sacrifice and betrayal, belonging and loss, A Thread of Light is the stunning second novel by Neema Shah, author of Kololo Hill. Readers are already loving A Thread of Light: 'A Thread of Light by Neema Shah is an extraordinary novel that captured my heart and mind from the very first page ' (Five star review) 'A passionately told story featuring prejudices, love, suspicion, trust, and the questioning of loyalties' 'This is a fascinating and compelling read' (Five star review)
Neema Shah lives in London where she works in marketing. Her debut novel Kololo Hill was a Foyles, Daily Mail, Irish Times, Cosmopolitan and Eastern Eye pick in 2021. Her writing has won and listed for various awards including the Bath Novel Award, First Novel Prize, The Literary Consultancy Pen Factor and Eastern Eye Fiction award. She is also a writing mentor and teaches fellow writers about marketing. A Thread of Light is her second novel.