This is an interesting read about Philly and her stories/life from WW2 at Bletchley Park, and Finn, a young autistic boy who befriends Philly whilst she’s working with his mum who is an author. They make a lovely combo and set out to problem solve together. The dual timeline keeps the momentum of the story ticking over nicely. At times, I felt there was an awful lot of info rather than story telling, but I felt like I learned quite a lot in this one. A tear jerker ending and all-in-all, a lovely heart warming story.

Dark Side of the Moon

The final book of this ‘Three Musketeers’ trilogy and I was really grateful to get an ARC from Net Galley and jump the queue! Thank you. It’s another lovely read from Fiona Valpy which can also be read as a stand alone. Philly takes centre stage this time and we follow her quest to find her husband, Ben, missing since 1944 whilst serving his country. We also go back into her past and her amazing career as a pilot for the Air Transport Auxilliary and code breaker at Bletchley Park.

In the present day sections Philly is staying with late friend’s Ella’s granddaughter, Kendra, her husband Dan and their autistic son, Finn. I really enjoyed seeing life through Finn’s eyes and following his logical procedures to help Philly track down her long lost husband was fascinating. The friendship the pair develop is very special. I also loved returning to the Ile de Re, French coast setting where Sea of Memories is based.

It took me longer to get into this one than the first two books in the series - I think I got bogged down in some of the detail- but once in, I really enjoyed it. The last third was particularly lovely and beautifully written & it all wrapped up very satisfactorily.

All in all a feel-good read and a perfect holiday one.

Having read a lot of historical fiction, set during WWII, this one got my attention from the start. Following the story of one of the woman code breakers, I learned more about the strength and courage it took to take such risks. I have read other books by Valpy and find her books to be well researched. Switching back and forth from her point of view, and those of a young autistic man, added another layer to the story. Her portrayal of his family's challenges revolving around him and his needs, were well done. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC. I recommend!

As a Fiona Valpy fan, reading this was a joy! Have to confess initial third of the book wasn't quite as captivating as some of her other titles, but I was gripped throughout the second half of the book. Fiona always manages to capture the mood of the story so well through her vivid descriptions and characters. It really captivates you and immerses you in the story with the main characters- this book didn't disappoint. I was with Philly, from the airfields in England, the hazy cabins at Bletchley Park and the coastline in France. I loved watching the relationship bloom between Philly and Finn as the story progressed, and took delight in the sensitive and positive way Fiona was able to capture Finn's autism and the daily struggles he faced- as well as using his attention to detail to help Philly as the story progressed. Thank you for the opportunity to preview the book- Fiona it certainly didn't disappoint!

Where to start with a review of this beautiful story? First of all, I’ve read all of Fiona Valpy’s books and they are all wonderful however this one excels all of them. I’ve never ‘ugly’ cried at the end of a book like I did this one, it was a not unexpected ending, however it was so, so gloriously written with such heart and truth of how life has been for many of the generations who lost love ones in the wars. It struck such a cord, fabulous writing to evoke such a response in a reader.
There are some truly lovely moments with the autistic boy in the story, once again written with such understanding of the thought process of a neurodivergent mind. It was also good to learn more about life at Bletchley Park during the war years. This book has so much to offer, learning, suspense, love, heartache, humour and most of all how the human spirit can withstand great endurance with dignity surrounded by the love of family. I really cannot recommend enough

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an arc in return for an unbiased review

A wonderful book rich in historical detail, atmosphere and drama. Fiona Valpy is a born storyteller.
The story is told from the perspectives of Philly Delaney, an elderly woman with an extraordinary life story, and Finn, a young neuro diverse boy. Philly instinctively understands Finn and the brilliance of his mind. While Finn has meltdowns, and can't cope with surprises, his autism is covered in a matter of fact way. Similarly, Philly gets tired easily (she must be in her 90s) but isn't treated in a patronising way. She has wisdom which helps Finn's parents to see their son's gifts.
Philly has been on a lifte long quest to find the grave of her pilot husband Ben, in France, and to discover what happened to the Polish cryptographers in Vichy France that she met secretly on two missions in World War II.
You'll need a hanky for the final chapters. Those Spitfires finished me off!

The Dark of The Moon by Fiona Valpy

Philly Delaney risked everything during the war. From flying planes for the Air Transport Auxiliary corps, aka the ‘Attagirls’, to working with the Bletchley Park codebreakers, and life-or-death missions as an SOE agent in France, she and her colleagues pushed their courage—and their luck—to the limits.

We also are introduced to Kendra and her son Finn in the hunt for Ben and his disappearance after being shot down .

As with her other books the author manages to really draw you into the story and the characters are believable and you keep reading to see if they will get their happy ending.
A really enjoyable read.

Another fabulous book by Fiona Valpy, the kind you stay up reading well past midnight.

Told from the viewpoints of Finn, an autistic boy, and Philly, an ex-pilot of World War 2, this book is set in current-day France. Philly is trying to tie up loose ends by finding out what happened to people she loved and worked with during the war, and Finn--who is not normally a people person--becomes attached to Philly and decides to help her find out what happened to her husband. Valpy has clearly done a lot of solid research on autism and codebreaking.

This book also has a dual timeline that skillfully ties Philly's past to the present day. It's an easy one to follow back and forth and I unequivocally recommend The Dark of the Moon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read The Dark of the Moon by Fiona Valpy, one of the most moving books I've ever read.

Just finished The Dark of the Moon by Fiona Valpy and I’m still thinking about it days later. I absolutely love dual timelines and strong female leads, and I was completely drawn in by Philly’s incredible bravery during WWII, from flying with the Attagirls to her covert missions in France. The present day part with Kendra and her son Finn just felt really genuine. I loved how their journey to uncover the past felt full of warmth and healing. It’s an emotional and deeply moving story about love, resilience, and never giving up. The whole book has this kind of haunting beauty to it that really stuck with me. If you’re into dual timelines, badass women in history, and slow burn emotional stories, this one’s you!