Review - Her Forgotten Promise by Corin Burnside

Her Forgotten Promise by Corin Burnside
Publisher: HQ
Release date: 28 September 2023

Back cover blurb: A wartime secret. A journey to uncover the truth. Claire has always had a special bond with her aunt Margaret, but she’s astonished when Margaret suddenly begins talking about a friend called Agnes, who Margaret met working as a WAAF in World War 2 – a past Claire had no idea about. Margaret and Agnes were best friends until Agnes started acting strangely, becoming secretive and distant. Then one morning, Agnes vanished and never returned home, leaving Margaret distraught. Claire promises to delve back into the past and help discover what happened to Agnes. But Margaret’s memory is rapidly deteriorating, and apart from an old photograph of the two women, Agnes seems to have disappeared into thin air. Can Claire uncover Agnes’ story before it’s too late? An utterly heart-wrenching and unputdownable novel about love, loss and sacrifice, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lorna Cook and Kathryn Hughes.

When Claire is called from work to 'rescue' Aunt M who has left her residential home in a state of confusion. Claire finds Margaret on an island in the middle of a busy road, and struggles to get her to safety. 

Claire is ashamed that she has barely seen her Aunt since she moved in to the home, and is shocked at how much her mental health has deteriorated. 

Margaret and Agnes meet in the WAAF. They hit it off as friends straightaway, before their relationship develops in to something more.

Margaret is left distraught when she comes home from work one day to find Agnes gone, without a trace. She assumes that she has changed her mind about their relationship and has left the area so she doesn't have to deal with the fallout.

In reality, Agnes a talented decoder has been recruited by the secret intelligence service to work in France. She must tell no one of her departure, so she leaves Margaret a note where she is sure that she will find it.

Claire knows almost nothing about her Aunt's war work, and she has never before spoken about Agnes. She is shocked to discover their relationship, but happy that her Aunt once had love, and determined to help her find out what happened to her wartime lover.

It's also a journey of discovery for Claire, as she tries to move with her life following the separation from her ex-husband. A journey to a small French village brings a mysterious stranger in to her life, that can help with her Aunt's quest for the truth, but can also help her with her own struggles.

Her Forgotten Promise is a beautifully written historical fiction novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Her Forgotten Promise is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.