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The Promise of Wonder
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 26A tragic accident. A misguided accusation. Are some mistakes unforgivable?
England, 1889. In her family’s rambling manor house in Dorset, fifteen-year-old Theodora Hallewell dreams of magic, adventure, and Toby Meriwether. As Toby prepares to leave for university, Theo plans a midnight gathering—one last chance to make Toby notice her. By dawn, a tragic mistake will shatter the world as they know it.
Years later, Toby has built a respectable life in London, scarred by the past but determined to put it behind him. Theo, struggling with the aftermath of what happened, has begun to fear that the life she has built is more fragile—and far more dangerous—than she ever imagined. Both live under the shadow of that fateful night—until a startling discovery casts what happened in a whole new light, and offers a chance to right the wrongs that have haunted them for so long.
Spanning three decades, The Promise of Wonder is a spellbinding story of lost love, atonement, and the long journey towards forgiveness.
England, 1889. In her family’s rambling manor house in Dorset, fifteen-year-old Theodora Hallewell dreams of magic, adventure, and Toby Meriwether. As Toby prepares to leave for university, Theo plans a midnight gathering—one last chance to make Toby notice her. By dawn, a tragic mistake will shatter the world as they know it.
Years later, Toby has built a respectable life in London, scarred by the past but determined to put it behind him. Theo, struggling with the aftermath of what happened, has begun to fear that the life she has built is more fragile—and far more dangerous—than she ever imagined. Both live under the shadow of that fateful night—until a startling discovery casts what happened in a whole new light, and offers a chance to right the wrongs that have haunted them for so long.
Spanning three decades, The Promise of Wonder is a spellbinding story of lost love, atonement, and the long journey towards forgiveness.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 1, 2026
256 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Webb
23 books743 followersI was born in Kent in 1977 and grew up in rural Hampshire before reading History at Durham University. History remains a passion, and I write character-led mystery dramas, often with historical settings. I love to explore the way past events can reverberate in the present, and I'm fascinated by the vast grey areas in human morality and behaviour.
My debut novel 'The Legacy' was voted viewers' choice for Best Summer Read on the Channel 4 TV Book Club in 2010, and was nominated for Best New Writer at the National Book Awards in the same year. Subsequently, 'The Unseen','A Half Forgotten Song' and 'The Misbegotten' were all Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers, and my books have been translated into 24 languages around the world.
My debut novel 'The Legacy' was voted viewers' choice for Best Summer Read on the Channel 4 TV Book Club in 2010, and was nominated for Best New Writer at the National Book Awards in the same year. Subsequently, 'The Unseen','A Half Forgotten Song' and 'The Misbegotten' were all Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers, and my books have been translated into 24 languages around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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May 2, 2026*May 2026 Amazon Prime First Read
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rounded up from 2.5 stars
Rather than ending the story, "The Promise of Wonder" just stops. No resolution, nothing. I get that it's a trilogy, but most books I've read that were part of a trilogy were to some degree self-contained; I walked away at least somewhat satisfied with where things stood as well as intrigued as to what was next. The abruptness of this ending provided no satisfaction and feels more like a cash grab than anything else.
If the book had been more pleasurable to read, maybe I wouldn't feel shortchanged regarding the effort I took to finish it. It's not a bad book, and the setting kept my interest, but protagonist Toby was a damp squib, with Theo somewhat more engaging. Again, I understand depression and passivity often result from trauma and that presenting these in a way that's interesting without being sensationalistic is a challenge. However, when presented in such a monotonous way, as it is here, I don't really want to read about. The book could easily have been tightened, which probably would have heightened the emotional impact—though it then probably couldn't be sold as three books (see "cash grab" above).
Thank you, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rather than ending the story, "The Promise of Wonder" just stops. No resolution, nothing. I get that it's a trilogy, but most books I've read that were part of a trilogy were to some degree self-contained; I walked away at least somewhat satisfied with where things stood as well as intrigued as to what was next. The abruptness of this ending provided no satisfaction and feels more like a cash grab than anything else.
If the book had been more pleasurable to read, maybe I wouldn't feel shortchanged regarding the effort I took to finish it. It's not a bad book, and the setting kept my interest, but protagonist Toby was a damp squib, with Theo somewhat more engaging. Again, I understand depression and passivity often result from trauma and that presenting these in a way that's interesting without being sensationalistic is a challenge. However, when presented in such a monotonous way, as it is here, I don't really want to read about. The book could easily have been tightened, which probably would have heightened the emotional impact—though it then probably couldn't be sold as three books (see "cash grab" above).
Thank you, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews