Reviewed by Jan Speedie, and Frances Colville
Jan says: Donna Douglas’s latest story in her Nightingale series is set during the Second World War. Bethnal Green has suffered in the blitz with air raids destroying houses and communities but not the spirit of the East End residents. By 1944 everyone is longing for war to end.
Life for Dora Riley is a struggle, her husband is away fighting and she is left to keep the family together and work long hours as a staff nurse at the Nightingale Hospital. Her life is made harder when she is put in charge of a ward caring for German POW’s. Many of the hospital staff cannot accept or overcome their prejudices against the German POW’s and the arrogant Officer. Dora, Kitty and VAD Miss Sloan must put their feelings aside and care for these wounded young men. Struggling to cope at times Dora’s life is made harder when on Christmas day a telegram arrives with news of her husband Nick. Can life get any more complicated for the nursing staff? Well yes, perhaps, as it seems Kitty is getting too fond of one POW.
Donna has carefully researched her latest novel about the care of POW’s during the war. and woven a story about people who understand they must do their duty to help others and those who are not prepared to help.
Frances Colville, has added her thoughts on the novel: Donna Douglas writes with a lightness of touch which makes this book a quick and enjoyable read, but at the same time deals with some big issues with an empathy and understanding which gives the reader pause for thought.
This is the first Nightingale Nurses book I have read and I did feel I would have benefitted from reading the earlier books and knowing more of the background of the main characters. But that is something which can be easily and enjoyably remedied. And at the same time it does also work as a stand-alone book. A must for fans of Call the Midwife or for anyone who enjoys stories set on the home-front in WW2.
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Donna Douglas became a Sunday Times bestselling author in 2014 with her Nightingale series. Donna lives in York with her husband and grown up daughter. As well as writing novels she is a freelance journalist writing features for the Daily Mail.
Published by Arrow in paperback: £5.99
Also available as an eBook