The Lighthouse
By Fran Dorricott
Blurb
No one expected them to go there. The question is: will any of them leave?
Six friends travel to a remote island north of the Scottish Highlands for an old school reunion. They’ve rented The Lighthouse – a stunning, now abandoned building that was once notorious for deaths at sea.
On the first evening, someone goes missing. The group search all through the night to no avail. But when the five remaining friends return to the lighthouse early the next morning, they are shocked to find James inside. He’s looks terrified – but won’t say a word about where he’s been.
The party vow to put the strange night behind them and enjoy the rest of their stay, but when more unexplained things begin to occur, tensions escalate. It’s clear James knows something, but nothing will persuade him to give up the secrets of the island. Is he protecting his friends from a terrible truth, or leading them into more danger?
A chilling, gripping and powerfully atmospheric suspense novel with a gothic edge.
Our Review
The Lighthouse by Fran Dorricott is an eerie and atmospheric read packed full of creepy moments. It was addictive from the outset and took me no time at all to read because I didn't want to be doing anything else.
Kira and her friends have drifted apart somewhat since their days at university so when a ten-year reunion trip seems like the perfect way to reconnect. Kira has been given free accomadation in exchange for photographing Ora lighthouse for a magazine. Joining her are Moira and her wife Jess, her ex boyfriend Lucas and his new girlfriend Genevieve and their friend James. It doesn't take long for old tensions to rise within the group.
That first evening James goes missing. The others spend a sleepless night searching for him and are shocked to discover him back at the lighthouse looking very shaken. Did he just get lost in a drunken stupor or is there more to his disappearance? James is scared but reluctant to describe what happened to him.
Over the week more stange occurances take place and fractures appear in the group. What does James know and is he protecting them or putting them in incredible danger?
The island is remote and the perfect backdrop for the unfolding story. Isolated and rugged and dangeorus. It really helps to set the scene. The boat that brought them there comes once a day except for Sundays, other than that they are alone on the island.
"The Lighthouse looks exactly how I expected, tall and blindingly white on it's grassy outcrop. The island is growing larger by the second, isolated and wild. The mainland has long vanished into the mist behind us and there's a feeling of being stopped in time."
I loved the dynamic of the friendship group and felt each charcter plays of one another to escalate the tension. Genevieve creeps everyone out telling stories of haunted lighthouses, drowned children and just general myths and legends. Jess, is already anxious about the weekend and the stories set her even more on edge. Moira just wants to spend time reconnecting with Jess, Kira can't bring herself to be nice to Genevieve and keeps sniping at Lucas.
"This wasn't what the weekend was meant to be about. It was meant to be fun, relaxing, a chance to catch up; but instead, all of those old feelings and complexities have boiled over."
Strange occurrences divide the group further and they and the reader are left wondering if there is any truth to the rumours of ghosts and if they are really alone on the island.
"I can't shake the feeling that's been brewing since we arrived; this island isn't ready for visitors."
I cannot recommend The Lighthouse enough, it is epic!
Our Final Rating...
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