Letting in the Light (The Spindrift Trilogy) by Charlotte Betts

Synopsis1914 Spindrift House, Cornwall

Edith Fairchild’s good-for-nothing husband, Benedict, deserted her when their children were babies. Now the children are almost adult, Edith and Pascal, her faithful lover of two decades, are planning to leave their beloved Spindrift artists’ community and finally be together.

But an explosive encounter between Benedict and Pascal forces old secrets into the light, causing rifts in the happiness and security of the community. Then an assassin’s bullet fired in faraway Sarajevo sets in motion a chain of events that changes everything.

Under the shadow of war, the community struggles to eke out a living. The younger generation enlist or volunteer to support the war effort, facing dangers that seemed unimaginable in the golden summer of 1914.

When it’s all over, will the Spindrift community survive an unexpected threat? And will Edith and Pascal ever be able to fulfil their dream?

Review
Letting in the Light is the eagerly anticipated final book in Charlotte Betts’ brilliant Spindrift Trilogy. This book opens in 1914, just before the Second World War, which has a huge impact on the community that Edith has built on the beautiful Cornish coast. As the War progresses, the men are conscripted to fight and the women volunteer in different ways to do their bit. Edith, Pascal, and the rest of the community must do their part, but are also living under the threat of Edith’s husband, Benedict, who wants to destroy the community and Edith and Pascal.

It was such a joy to back on the Cornish Coast with Edith, her children, Pascal and the rest of the community. Edith is still having to put up with her estranged husband Benedict turning up and causing trouble for her and Pascal, but in true Edith style she handles this with calmness and decorum, trying not to make matters any worse, knowing he could destroy her life and therefore the life of her friends. I think Edith has been my favourite character though this trilogy, from a young woman whose husband and his infidelities leave her bringing up her four childen alone, to the woman she has become, bringing the artists of the Spindrift community together, giving them a home and making money from it. Pascal is still by her side, unable to marry but both find support and solace in each other. From the other characters, Cassandra has to tell Lily a secret that sends her running of to London to be a nurse, Urusula having a German surname is targated in prejudiced attacks, and Edith’s sons both go off to War whilst her daughter Pearl signs up to drive ambulances in London. As well as the old characters there are also some wonderful new ones to get to know.

Charlotte Betts drew me back into 1914, and the lives of the characters from the very first page, it felt like I had never been away. I love that her writing captures the atmosphere of place, whether it be the tranquility of Cornwall or war torn London, and also the time period her books are set in. Obviously World War I is a huge part of this book and Charlotte Betts brilliantly captures the british spirit to come together and help, the horrors of those fighting in France and the atrocities faced by refugees. The stories of Anneliese and her daughter Blanche were heartbreaking to read, the daughter so traumitised she can’t speak. Whilst these are some of the darkest parts of the book, Charlotte also balances it out with plenty of hope, a touch of humour and an apropriate ending for one of the most awful characters.

Letting in the Light is a fitting and wonderful end to this fabulous trilogy. I loved seeing the final development of the characters, who have come so far since the first book, especially as in this book the children are now adults. This book really has it all, romance, betrayal, secrets and most importantly friendship and love. I have to admit I would love this series to continue as I have enjoyed this series so much, but Charlotte Betts has written a heartwarming and uplifiting ending that I thought was perfect. I can’t recommend this series highly enough, these books are captivating, immersive and breathtaking; a teriffic trilogy.

These are the links to my reviews of the first two books in the trilogy
The Light Within Us by Charlotte Betts

I would like to thank Piatkus books for my copy of this book in return for my honest review.

The Fading of the Light (The Spindrift Trilogy 2) by Charlotte Betts