Six friends travel to a remote island north of the Scottish Highlands for an old school reunion. The island is uninhabited apart from the lighthouse and a cluster of old cottages, now renovated into holiday homes - although there is one room the friends are unable to get into, or find a key for. Only one of them, Genevieve, has done any research into the history of the island, but none of them are interested in her tales of deaths, drownings and disappearances - they are here to have a good time!
The pace of The Lighthouse is a little slow but the desolate island and creepy lighthouse are described in a way that brings them brilliantly to life. The tension as Strange Things Happen builds up terrifically. The only reason the story didn't really work for me is that Genevieve is the only one who properly knows the history of the island and she never gets to tell anyone until the end, which means the denouement comes left of field. I'm the kind of reader who likes to work things out from clues scattered throughout the story, rather than have it explained to me, but the story is atmospheric, well-written and deserves a solid four stars.
Note: Fran Dorricott also writes as Francesca May.
Thank you to Fran Dorricott and Avon Books UK for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.
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