In a tiny bookshop in Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, a book club begins…

Newly arrived on the sun-drenched shores of Croatia, Claire Thomson’s life is about to change forever when she starts working at a local bookshop. With her cousin Vedran, employee Luna and Karmela, a professor, they form an unlikely book club.

But when their first book club pick – an engrossing cosy crime – inspires them to embark upon an investigation that is close to the group’s heart, they quickly learn the value of keeping their new-found friends close as lives and stories begin to entwine…

My Review

I only have three experiences of book clubs – one being an online book club called The Pigeonhole, of which I have been a member for six or seven years. In that time I have made ‘friends’ all over the world, shared our love of playing detective, and discussed as we read along – usually over a period of 10 days – a few chapters each day.

Number two was supposed to be Cheltenham’s ‘best book club’. We met in a pub and there were over 20 of us. We didn’t read the same book – we each brought our BYOB and talked about it to encourage others to read it. At least two-thirds were non-fiction which I don’t read. I was bored and never went back, though Covid arrived before the next meeting so I didn’t need to make any excuses.

The third is an online version of The Dubrovnik Book Club – we all read the same book and discuss at the next meeting, then vote for the next book out of a few as suggested by the members. Once we even had the author with us (Janice Hallett no less). And that’s what attracted me to this book. And the fact that I have always fancied visiting Croatia. It sounds beautiful.

But while Dubrovnik is a fabulous setting for the book, it’s the characters that make it special. Having just arrived in Dubrovnik where she will stay with her grandmother Fran, and her second husband Tetak, 23-year-old Claire Thomson starts working in The Welcoming Bookshop. It’s a challenge for her as she was very unwell with Long Covid for fifteen months and is still wary of mixing with people. But together with her cousin Vedran, employee Luna, and Karmela, a professor, they form an unlikely book club. Their first pick is a cosy mystery by a now famous author. But the next picks are more interesting and for some, very emotional.

Claire is always trying to fix everyone else’s problems. Vedran’s girlfriend Didi disappeared a year ago and everyone thinks he killed her. Luna is gay but terrified of ‘coming out’ as her parents are very religious and would never understand. Karmela is a refugee, whose father escaped with his family from Sarajevo during the war in the 1990s, while others stayed to fight, and she still feels guilty. I loved Karmela – I think I would go so far as saying she is my favourite character (apart from Mis the cat of course).

The book was very enjoyable and I could sense the atmosphere and the beauty of Dubrovnik, as well as the emotions of the characters. I felt as though I was there with them much of the time. The writing is beautiful and descriptive (in a good way), and everyone is brought to life with real depth. Even the more minor characters like Fran, Tetak, and especially poor Rafael feel rounded with their back stories. Thank goodness Claire’s fear following Covid is only mentioned a few times as I really don’t want to revisit that awful time, but if a book is set in the last few years, there will always be references. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Many thanks to the author and to NetGalley for a review copy.

About the Author in her own words

“I love to write emotional women’s fiction inspired by beautiful places and the stories they hide. My passion is to travel (when possible, of course), but luckily I find inspiration can strike just as well at home or abroad.

“My last holiday before lockdown was a trip to Croatia, and the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground, driven by my friendship with a tour guide I met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life has proved invaluable. My second and third novels set in the country, An Island of Secrets and The Collaborator’s Daughter are dual timelines looking back to World War 2. My books are published by One More Chapter, a division of Harper Collins.

“I am also inspired by the work of my own favourite authors, who include Victoria Hislop, Rosanna Ley, Angela Petch, Jenny Ashcroft and Elizabeth Buchan.

“Although I am Welsh I am now happily settled in Cornwall, and I’m lucky enough to have been married to the love of my life for more than twenty-five years. I also write as Jane Cable.”