Synopses & Reviews
A spellbinding story of love, war, and betrayal.
Peter Sokol, an artist living in San Diego, is haunted by his past. In 1943, Captain Sokol is a surgeon in the U.S. Marines stationed in Auckland, New Zealand, where he and his longtime nemesis have fallen in love with the same beautiful and enigmatic woman, Emily Walters. Dismissive of Emily's suspiciously British mother and violent brother, the two vie for her hand. When Emily's brother is discovered murdered, Sokol is the prime suspect. As he fights to prove his innocence, he finds that the woman he loves is not who she seems, and that the blood of another might be on his hands.
Review
"I absolutely loved [The Widow's Daughter]. Engrossing and with a delicious air of mystery, it's so much more than a war story. The writing is muscular, the characters are fascinating and the central themes of love and obsession are complex and compelling. A terrific read." -Amanda Hodginkinson, New York Times bestselling author of 22 Britann
Review
"A novel of epic proportions: an unforgettable story of doomed passionate love... it will sweep you away and transport you to another time, another place, and in the process perhaps ever so slightly adjust the way you view the world." -Linda Olsson, author of Astrid and Veronika
Review
"[I] put it up there with the best in its genre-a phenomenal feat for a debut novel...Edlin has captured perfectly the interplay between the Auckland populace and the American soldiers...Edlin is able to seamlessly transport the reader to and from the present day...The writing is spare, beautifully crafted and the research impeccable...A pleasure to read." -Taranaki Daily News (New Zealand)
Review
"A narrative full of mysteries. Almost everyone has a couple of murky secrets...Characters live colourful lives, rendered in matching prose. You're quite likely to be swept along by the impetus and enigmas of the plot...A novel with vivid character sketches, muscly dialogue, energetic movement." -Weekend Herald (New Zealand)
Review
"This is a strong debut novel for Nicholas Edlin. It is an unusual story of betrayal and love, set in a colourful time in Auckland. The author's strong characters and gradual release of information keep the reader engaged right to the end." -Timaru Herald (New Zealand)
Review
"[An] accomplished debut novel...Edlin recreates a vivid tableau of an Auckland reeling from the impact of American military presence...it pulses with a realism that is enhanced by the depth of characterization...An amazing story which illuminates an intriguing chapter in New Zealand history...Edlin skillfully underlines the ripple effects of one individuals' destructive experience impacting on other lives...At times stark, delicate, subtle and savage." -Waikato Times (New Zealand)
Review
"The novel creates a sense of war time Auckland, in particular the tension between US forces and the locals...an enjoyable, relaxed, mild mystery thriller." -Southland Times (New Zealand)
About the Author
Nicholas Edlin was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand. He has worked as a solicitor and legal advisor. This is his first novel.