I really liked the characters within the book and the strong friendships and relationships that were shown. The bond between the men was so fun to read and I especially loved the chapters from Rory's point of view during the war. This gave an insight into the bond they had built during such a hard time and also gave the reader a look at their past and why they are still together. I would really have loved to see more about Hal, as I found him an intriguing and sweet character, especially after the end where we see him use his voice. The Visitors is a poignant and compelling story about surviving great loss, not just the loss of a life partner but also the loss of self which has been brought about by experiencing, and surviving, great psychological trauma. Set some years after the end of the war there is still a noticeable burden of sorrow carried by those who survived what they had seen, and experienced, in Northern France. This eclectic band of brothers, all survivors of the Great War, hide their troubles behind an air of bravado and glorious eccentricities and even as they shield their sadness under cloaks of respectability, their hidden horrors are all too evident.

For me i found the pace of the book slower at the start but that helped set up the story. Yes at times I wanted to shake esme. Rory was by far one of my favourite characters right from the start and he really grew over the book. We meet other greats like Mrs P which is the lady esme is working for, Hal a man scarred by war but such a warm man and the eccentric Gilbert. The setting of Cornwall is so beautifully written so you can really imagine you are there. Oh and I loved the cats. Oh and lastly you have the tales of WW1 in France running alongside the main storyline which is hard hitting but informative. Ms Scott has a way of threading the Ariadne cord of hope and redemption through the most scarring lacerations of both nature and the human soul. The sacred song of a nightingale pierces the raining incessance of bombs and artillery, its cry for love bleeding through the worst of human insanity and immorality. That the song touches the hearts of the two desperately young men who hear it is nothing short of genius storytelling. And this about sums up my feeling when I read a Caroline Scott novel (this is my third). Ms Scott puts her whole heart and soul into the story and her generosity is felt in the intricate web of imagery she creates that takes me into the time, the moment and the emotion of these damaged survivors of an evil beyond comprehension, WAR.Whilst in the library, I spotted this little book by her, comprising of 4 (VERY) short ghost stories, and seeing as ghost stories are also right up my street I decided to indulge. This book is a fictional reimagining of that day in history, but what the author does so beautifully is paint a before and after picture of the immediate effects of colonisation on the country and it’s First People. It was also fascinating to learn about Aboriginal society; marriage and coming-of-age rites, how women were treated and respected and the abiding love and understanding for nature.

Concurrent with the first novel, but set in New York and Washington, D.C., the book begins in space while the fleet approaches the Earth (the ending of the novel briefly goes into the aftermath of The Final Battle). The commander, Roger, and his subordinates, Angela and Jennifer, arrive and after the Visitors are revealed, the resistance group named White Christmas is formed to combat them. They now have to face Roger's devious plan: to surpass the human food storage by emptying one of New York's neighborhoods next to their chemical plants. The novel is an imaginative and thought-provoking exploration of the encounter between the indigenous Eora people and the British colonisers at the time of the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove in 1788. Through the eyes of seven Eora elders (although one elder is considerably younger than the others), the novel delves into the cultural clashes, misunderstandings, and anxieties that arose during this pivotal moment in Australian history. Mrs P decides she would like to visit her brother in Cornwall. and sends Esme on ahead. Gilbert Stanedge, funded by his sister, presides over a community of damaged young men he once commanded during the war. They live in a rambling old house they have renamed Espérance. Each man has been scarred – physically and mentally – by the horrors they faced in the trenches. Sebastian, Hal, Clarence and Rory contribute as best they can – paintings, pottery, husbandry – to the upkeep of the house.The Visitors Book' is a deliciously creepy collection of short stories that readers will devour in a matter of hours. I normally don't read short stories because it never feels like enough time to really develop deep characters or intricate plot lines - especially since some of my favorite genres are thrillers and mysteries. There never seems to be the right amount of space to give these kinds of stories the scope they deserve, in my opinion. I decided to give this collection a try simply because I've read some of the author's other books and loved them. I'm so glad that I did - they were well worth it! The novel contains the most beautiful descriptions of the Cornish coast and countryside. You feel as though you right there, so vividly are things described: you can hear the sea, see the drifts of cow parsley along the lanes, feel the sultry heat of the Cornish summer. The Visitors is set in Cornwall in 1923, and tells the story of war widow Esme Nicholl’s life-changing holiday there. Her late husband Alec, who died fighting in the war, grew up in Penzance, and she's hoping to learn more about the man she loved and lost. I’ve read The Photographer of the Lost and so knew Caroline Scott’s passion for bringing to light untold perspectives and stories from the Great War. What I wasn’t expecting was how easy it was to empathise with Esme and become tangled up in all the emotions. The Last Boy to Leave – with a thorough edit, this tale of an exhausting children’s party might have earned its spooky twist.

And then, one night, everything changes. Everything she thought she was is turned upside down, and she has to decide how she will live her life going forward. Justified True Belief - person realises she has seen a ghost, tries to convince husband but he doesn't believe her. She eventually speaks to a 'ghost' and it turns out he has a brain aneurysm and is about to die. She then goes to the doctor convinced she has one too. This is never confirmed! Didn't like this ending! In "All the Dead Mothers of My Daughter's Friends" Mel has an unusual encounter with Lisa outside their daughters' school. Do you know the difference between a daytime ghost and a nighttime ghost? You'll find out here. Hosted by queer Goorie writer and community worker Brooke Scobie and joined by guest artists, the Yarning Circle is an informal space for audiences to reflect and connect with each other on the themes of colonisation, multigenerational trauma, language revitalisation, and the debate over our Country’s identity that The Visitors raises. If you’ve reached the grand old age of 50 and been educated in Australia, like me, chances are you had very little insight into Aboriginal history and culture during your school years. And if you did, it was likely from a European perspective. I might be generalising, I’m sure there are some amongst you who will have a different story to tell. But while I don’t wish to get too political in a book review, geez this is an important story, particularly for non-indigenous readers, to hear the events of January 26, 1788 told from a different perspective.

HarperCollins Reader

This is one of my authors as literary agent - and I love, love, love this book with my whole damn heart. Audacious, electric, kismet, clever and downright spectacular. But everything is not as idyllic as it seems - a mysterious new arrival later in the summer will turn Esme's world upside down, and make her question everything she thought she knew about her life, and the people in it. On Monday evenings throughout the season, Moogahlin Performing Arts will host a post-show Yarning Circle in the Centre for Creativity from 7.45 - 9pm. Free and no bookings required.