London, 2004. Frankie didn’t always have it easy. Growing up motherless, she was raised by her grandmother, who loved her – and betrayed her. For years, the rift between them seemed irreparable. But when their paths suddenly cross again, Frankie is shocked to realise that her grandmother is slowly losing control of her memory. There is a darkness in her past that won’t stay buried – secrets going back to wartime that may have a devastating effect on Frankie’s own life.
Somerset, 1940. When seventeen-year-old Violet’s life is ripped apart by the London Blitz, she runs away to join the Women’s Land Army. She wants nothing more than to leave her grief behind. But as well as the terror of enemy air raids, the land girls at Winterbourne Orchards face a powerful enemy closer to home. One terrible night, their courage will be put to the test – and the truth of what happened must be kept hidden, for ever . . .
PRAISE FOR NIKOLA SCOTT:
‘Intriguing, twisting… I loved it’ Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tuscan Contessa
‘An atmospheric and gripping read.’ My Weekly
‘A well-written, intriguing read full of family secrets… Brilliant‘ Fabulous
‘Characters you won’t forget’ Sunday Express
(P) 2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
Somerset, 1940. When seventeen-year-old Violet’s life is ripped apart by the London Blitz, she runs away to join the Women’s Land Army. She wants nothing more than to leave her grief behind. But as well as the terror of enemy air raids, the land girls at Winterbourne Orchards face a powerful enemy closer to home. One terrible night, their courage will be put to the test – and the truth of what happened must be kept hidden, for ever . . .
PRAISE FOR NIKOLA SCOTT:
‘Intriguing, twisting… I loved it’ Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tuscan Contessa
‘An atmospheric and gripping read.’ My Weekly
‘A well-written, intriguing read full of family secrets… Brilliant‘ Fabulous
‘Characters you won’t forget’ Sunday Express
(P) 2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
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Reviews
'A well-written, intriguing read full of family secrets... Brilliant
A compelling family story... beautifully written... evokes vivid pictures of an English summer in the 1950s
An emotional and involving story
A satisfying tale with characters you wont forget
A delightful debut about family and secrets
'A gripping family mystery told in lush, evocative prose'
'Wonderful characters and a very moving storyline.'
'Thoughtful and beautifully written'
Praise for THE ORCHARD GIRLS:
Praise for Nikola Scott:
Full of intrigue, fascinating historical detail and brilliant characterisation . . . A truly fabulous novel!
Nikola Scott is the queen of dual narrative fiction. The Orchard Girls takes us on a beautifully twisty journey between a modern newsroom in London and a Somerset orchard during WW2 . . . It's like unwrapping a pass-the-parcel with a wonderful gift at its heart'
'The Orchard Girls is such a clever, wonderful, expertly woven story. I enjoyed every second of it!'