A  candle flickers to life in the window of an old house, every dusk without fail. Rumours in the village speak of disappearances and murder. The recluse who resides there has shunned the world for years.

Is his ritual a vigil? A form of memorial? An apology? Or something more sinister? What happened beyond those locked iron gates, behind the high walls?

Lotte is a lively young girl drawn to the mystery, unperturbed by the warnings, transfixed by the solitary dark figure who stands in the garden and stares at the river. As her teenage unwinds, she resolves to befriend the sad old man and unearth the truth. Driven by her own sense of loss, she seeks answers and exposes a haunted darkness riddled with misconception.

Genre: Murder Mystery

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Fragile Flame by established author Chris Cloake is a novel of deepening intrigue and twisted loyalties. With his usual insight, he explores the intricacies of relationships and the complex need for love and security felt by all.

Don’t hesitate to buy Fragile Flame and follow Lotte’s quest to bring hope where there is only remorse, and by laying to rest the past, shine a light on the future.

My Review

This is a book I found very disturbing. I wish I could have read it with a book club so I could express my feelings which I can’t do in a review without spoilers.

Lotte is a teenage girl of around fifteen or sixteen who is fascinated by the lonely ‘old’ man, Maurice Harrow, who lives alone at Mordant House (how old he is really – we never actually know but I’m guessing no more than sixty). She has heard the rumours that he killed his wife and maybe even his son, but she is determined to discover the truth. Then there’s the ‘curse’. So one day she and her friends find a break in the wall, clamber over and knock on the door.

Mr Harrow tells them they are trespassing, but still invites them in. He is intrigued, particularly by Lotte, and she decides to visit again. They soon become friends and she helps him start sorting his clutter. She is fascinated by his stories, but tells him little of herself. There are many books and diaries, though she feels the diaries are too private to look at.

I was already worried at this point. She is too naive to be suspicious of him but I was. She wants to prove his innocence, but innocent of what?

I loved the dynamic between Lotte and her friends Poppy, Emily, Tim and Harry. They all warn her but she doesn’t listen.

I can’t really say much more without giving too much away, but it’s certainly an interesting read, though be prepared to be shocked. I gasped frequently.

Many thanks to @ZooloosBT  for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the Author

Chris Cloake was born in 1964 and began telling stories a couple of years later. He grew up in Kent, England. He is motivated to write by a deep interest in life, particularly the cruel, deeply flawed nature of people contrasted with their incredible creativity and inspiration. The power of the natural world is a common theme in his work as a writer and professional photographer. He lives happily with his wife, two children and a large collection of music, books and board games

Where can you find him?
Social Media Handles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_chriscloake/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriscloakeauthor
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChrisCloake
Website: https://www.chriscloake.co.uk/

Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com

Purchase Links:
www.amazon.co.uk