'A powerful story, beautifully told' M.L. STEDMAN
'Truly compelling' WILLIAM BOYD
‘Exquisitely written and deeply human’ CHRIS CLEAVE
'Far-reaching, but also intimate and intensely personal' FLORENCE KNAPP
‘Alluring in its twists and turns’ SONIA PURNELL
A dazzling literary achievement that brings to life the shattering emotional impact of World War Two on ordinary peopleCambridge, 1942
Twins Tessa and Theo had always shared everything – until the summer Tessa spent studying in France. She hasn’t been the same since. But before Theo can find out why, he is recruited by the RAF and disappears into the skies.
Determined to carve her own path, Tessa joins the clandestine Special Operations Executive, slipping into the shadows of occupied France. It will be dangerous work, but France is the home of her greatest love – and her darkest secret. Tessa has many reasons for wanting to return.
Two years later, only one of them comes home.
A dazzling literary achievement that brings to life the shattering emotional impact of World War Two on ordinary people, THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHT is as exhilarating as it is heartbreaking.
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'This novel floored me. It is a rare thing and close to perfect… I urge you to pick up this book and read it!' ELIZABETH MACNEAL
'An astonishing page-turner that left me breathless… An essential addition to the wartime literature canon' HOLLY DAWSON
'A beautiful, clever debut, heart-wrenching and totally immersive… the very best example of historical fiction' CESCA MAJOR
'Spine-chilling and beautifully rendered… drew me in from the start' GEORGIA HUNTER
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"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
"A wonderfully conceived and remarkably assured first novel, rich in emotion and with a truly compelling narrative drive. A brilliant success." - William Boyd
"Lori Inglis Hall is an exceptional storyteller, with the moral precision of Pat Barker and the skillful restraint of Irene Nemirovsky. 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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"A wonderfully conceived and remarkably assured first novel, rich in emotion and with a truly compelling narrative drive. A brilliant success." - William Boyd
"Lori Inglis Hall is an exceptional storyteller, with the moral precision of Pat Barker and the skillful restraint of Irene Nemirovsky. 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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
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