Hearts of Stone
1938. It is an idyllic summer on the Greek island of Lefkas. Three young people – Peter, who is German, and Andreas and Eleni, both Greek – have formed a close friendship during an archaeological dig supervised by Peter’s father. Unfortunately, the dig is called off when the German members are recalled to Germany. In 1943 war comes to paradise. Andreas and Eleni join the resistance to rebel against the German invasion. Peter returns as an Intelligence Officer, ostensibly to use his knowledge of the island to suppress the resistance; however, he has a deeper, darker role to play. A friendship formed in peace will turn into a battle between bitter enemies with tragic consequences.
As you would expect from a writer of Scarrow’s quality, this is well-written and researched. The plot is taut, and the characters are well defined. He evokes the drama and horror of 20th-century warfare, while connecting through to today and the ongoing reverberations, in a compelling and exciting read. This is a real treat for fans of Scarrow, a fast-paced page turner. Recommended.