The Shock of the Light

Praise for The Shock of the Light:

“A wonderfully conceived and remarkably assured first novel, rich in emotion and with a truly compelling narrative drive. A brilliant success.”
—William Boyd, bestselling author of Any Human Heart

“Twins Tessa and Theo share everything. But when World War II sets them on two dangerous paths, their bond may rupture for good. An intriguing debut.”
—People

“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.”
—Sonia Purnell, New York Times bestselling author of A Woman of No Importance

“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.”
—M.L. Stedman, New York Times bestselling author of The Light Between Oceans

“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. The Shock of the Light is a story that sings with every word and lingers long in the memory—an absolute stunner!”
—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club

“Masterfully weaves together sibling bonds and dark secrets while bringing lesser-known history to life. . . Fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale would be well-served to reach for The Shock of the Light.”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of Last Twilight in Paris

“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, The Shock of the Light drew me in from the start”
—Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones

“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.”
—Florence Knapp, New York Times bestselling author of The Names

“Lori Inglis Hall is an exceptional storyteller, with the moral precision of Pat Barker and the skillful restraint of Irène Némirovsky. With The Shock of the Light, 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.”
—Chris Cleave, New York Times bestselling author of Incendiary

“A beautifully constructed and profoundly moving portrait of a brother and sister separated by the secrets of war, The Shock of the Light is an astonishing achievement.”
—Lauren Grodstein, New York Times bestselling author of We Must Not Think of Ourselves

“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.”
—Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of In Love

“Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale will enjoy this sweeping debut novel by Lori Inglis Hall.”
—Woman’s World

“This World War II novel centers on close-knit British twins, Tessa and Theo. Recruited by the Royal Air Force, Theo returns home after the war realizing his sister, one of 39 Special Operations Executive women spies, is still missing. Theo devotes himself to finding her. Lori Inglis Hall’s thoroughly researched, well-plotted book channels the heartbreak and humanity of wartime, its aftermath, and love’s redeeming power.”
—Christian Science Monitor

“Left me in pieces. . . so beautifully written. . . already a firm favorite for one of my books of the year.”
—Good Housekeeping (UK)

“The careful crafting of the story in The Shock of the Light, 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 The Nightingale and Kate Quinn’s The Huntress.”
—The Historical Novel Society

“Far more realistic than many spy novels. . . takes in betrayal, duplicity, cover-ups and the effects of grief.”
—Spectator

“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.”
—Publishers Weekly

“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.”
—Kirkus

“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.”
—Booklist

“A beautiful, clever debut, heart wrenching and totally immersive. A special twist on an era we think we know so well—highlighting some lesser-known and devastating moments. Impeccably researched, the very best example of historical fiction. Quietly devastating and so moving—I was completely absorbed.”
—Cesca Major, author of Maybe Next Time

“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.”
—Joanna Glen, author of All My Mothers

“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!”
—Elizabeth Macneal, international bestselling author of The Doll Factory

“Easily one of the best books I have read. Beautifully written and achingly human, The Shock of the Light 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.”
—Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of The Secret Keeper

“A poignant, compulsive story of the forces which bind us together and wrench us apart. Sweeping yet intimate, The Shock of the Light paints a vivid picture using a miniaturist’s brush on a wide canvas. Full of surprise, intrigue, and delight.”
—Lucy Steeds, international bestselling author of The Artist and the Feast