Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree

by Val Scully

Two intertwined first-person narratives are set in the village where Annie spent a large part of her childhood. Her curiosity piqued by the strange reactions and outright hostility of some villagers, she becomes intrigued by the family story of a toddler who went missing in 1919 and how his sisters, rivals for the farm and for the heart of a soldier, fought to survive the aftermath of his disappearance: one driven by guilt and ambition, the other by duty and love. Drawn into an emotional minefield, Annie discovers that her own future is inextricably bound up in that of the village. It's about legacy and love, heritage, happiness and belonging.

278 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2013

Reviews

[Sharon]

Best read in ages, it is a complete story with a satisfying ending. I couldn't put it down & read until the early hours but once finished I felt lost wishing I hadn't finished! Loved it & would read it again for pure pleasure