The Year After

I enjoyed The Year After by Martin Davies, set in late 1919 - the year after the end of WWI. Returned from the War unscathed, Tom Allen had often been a guest before the War at the Stansbury's home, Hannesford Court whose owners were wealthy and had a number of children. A son, Harry Stansbury, was killed in the War and another son, Reggie, was terribly maimed. Tom Allen is intrigued when another guest mentions the sudden death of a German professor staying at the house shortly before the War began. So there is a mystery to be solved, a possible crime and it may involve the Stansburys. Tom narrates his chapters, so is the main character. The other character, Anne, also narrates her part in the story. There are two different fonts to distinguish the characters. Anne was a "companion" at the house before the War - in the background and she has no desire to return to the same position after her own War experiences. So there is romance and intrigue and a look at that time - what life was like. 4/5