Tom Allen has been invited to spend Christmas 1919 with the Stansbury family, at Hannesford Court in Devon. It has been more than 5 years, and the war has changed Tom, but he has survived, unlike Harry Stansbury – how will it have affected the rest of the family? One of Harry’s friends has concerns which he shares with Tom about what happened to Tom about past secrets, and perhaps horrible crimes.

The Year After is a very well written, evocative historical novel about a big house, a family and their friends. Through Tom, and other characters such as the beautiful young woman, Margot Stansbury, and Anne Gregory, Davies explores some of the uncertainties and confusions facing the English upper and middle classes just after the war.

I enjoyed reading this novel, a mixture of historical mystery, big house story and a bit of romance – it was a great read by a new to me author, whose other novels I hope to read soon.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the Waterstones Cardholder scheme. ( )