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The guest children : a novel  Cover Image Book Book

The guest children : a novel / Patrick Tarr.

Summary:

"Not all hauntings are confined to houses. With the mounting terror of the German Blitz on London in 1940, thousands of British "Guest Children" are evacuated abroad to escape the bombing. Michael and Frances Hawksby are among them, shipped off to stay with relatives in Canada. Years later, as WW2 finally comes to an end, their surviving family members realize that no one has heard from them again. Randall Sturgess wanted to do his part in the war but was forced to stay home and look after his troubled and unstable younger brother, Edward. Impoverished, shamed as a coward, and running out of work options as veterans come home, Randall takes a job investigating the disappearance of the Hawksby children. Reluctantly leaving Edward behind, Randall follows the children's trail to the wilds of northern Ontario, where he finds an isolated and ramshackle resort called Glass Point Lodge. There, he discovers the secretive aunt and uncle who took in the young Hawksbys, along with their odd collection of seemingly permanent guests - none of whom seem willing to tell him the truth about the missing children. Plagued with vivid nightmares about the war, troubled by dark visions and a persistent feeling that he's being watched, Randall searches the imposing woods and lake for any trace of Michael and Frances. Certain something terrible has happened to them, Randall delves ever deeper into the mysteries of the lodge, its inhabitants, and the long-buried memories of his childhood - not realizing that the darkest secrets he unearths may be his own."-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781443473958 (trade paperback)
  • Physical Description: 259 pages ; 23 cm
  • Edition: First edition.
  • Publisher: Toronto, ON : HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, [2025]
Subject: Ghosts > Fiction.
Investigations > Fiction.
Memory > Fiction.
Missing children > Fiction.
Resorts > Fiction.
Siblings > Fiction.
Secrecy > Fiction.
Ontario, Northern > Fiction.
Genre: Historical fiction.
Ghost stories.
Psychological fiction.
Novels.

Available copies

  • 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium. (Show)
  • 0 of 1 copy available at Innisfil Public Library System. (Show)
  • 0 of 1 copy available at Lakeshore Branch.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Lakeshore Branch FIC Tarr 31681010430700 FICTIONPBK Checked out 11/25/2025

  • HARPERCOLL

    NATIONAL BESTSELLER

    Not all hauntings are confined to houses

    With the mounting terror of the German Blitz on London in 1940, thousands of British “guest children” are sent abroad to escape the bombing. Among them are Michael and Frances Hawksby, who are shipped off to Canada to stay with relatives. Years later, as WW II finally comes to an end, their surviving family members realize that no one has heard from them since.

    Randall Sturgess wanted to do his part in the war but was forced to stay home to look after his troubled and unstable younger brother, Edward. Impoverished, shamed as a coward, and running out of work options as veterans return home, Randall takes a job investigating the disappearance of the Hawksby children. Reluctantly leaving Edward behind, Randall follows the children’s trail to the wilds of northern Ontario, where he finds an isolated and ramshackle resort called Glass Point Lodge. Here he discovers the secretive aunt and uncle who took in the young Hawksbys, along with an odd collection of seemingly permanent guests, none of whom are willing to tell Randall the truth about the missing children. 

    Plagued with vivid nightmares about the war, and troubled by dark visions and a persistent feeling that he’s being watched, Randall searches the imposing woods and lake for any trace of Michael and Frances. Convinced that something terrible has happened to them, Randall delves ever deeper into the mysteries of the lodge, its inhabitants, and the long-buried memories of his childhood, not realizing that the darkest secrets he unearths may be his own.


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