The first book I ever read about lighthouses was The Light Between Oceans. It was such a heartbreaking story and though I have not gotten around to watching the movie yet, I think back about that story fondly. The Lamplighters piqued by interest because of the setting and it just came out yesterday. That’s why I bring you my thoughts on this book today. Take a look at the synopsis and then we will dive in.
Inspired by a haunting true story, a gorgeous and atmospheric novel about the mysterious disappearance of three lighthouse keepers from a remote tower miles from the Cornish coast–and about the wives who were left behind
What strange fate befell these doomed men? The heavy sea whispers their names. Black rocks roll beneath the surface, drowning ghosts. And out of the swell like a finger of light, the salt-scratched tower stands lonely and magnificent.
It’s New Year’s Eve, 1972, when a boat pulls up to the Maiden Rock lighthouse with relief for the keepers. But no one greets them. When the entrance door, locked from the inside, is battered down, rescuers find an empty tower. A table is laid for a meal not eaten. The Principal Keeper’s weather log describes a storm raging round the tower, but the skies have been clear all week. And the clocks have all stopped at 8:45.
Two decades later, the wives who were left behind are visited by a writer who is determined to find the truth about the men’s disappearance. Moving between the women’s stories and the men’s last weeks together in the lighthouse, long-held secrets surface and truths twist into lies as we piece together what happened, why, and who to believe.
In her riveting and suspenseful novel, Emma Stonex writes a story of isolation and obsession, of reality and illusion, and of what it takes to keep the light burning when all else is swallowed by dark.
Content Notes: Depictions of death of a child, drowning, murder.
Thoughts on The Lamplighters
The Lamplighters started off with a premise that hooked me right in and it had an amazing beginning and ending, but I do not think that the middle of the book was as well done. The book is inspired by the true events of three lamplighters missing from their lighthouse, without a trace. Through the course of the book, we go back and forth in time, learning about what truly happened back in 1972 and how the remaining family members are doing in 1992.
The first quarter of the book does a phenomenal job of setting up the stage and introducing the past and present. The writing was immersive and sometimes it felt to me like I was watching a movie. A variety of formats were used for storytelling – newspaper clippings, interviews, monologues, and third person narrative. That kept me engaged with the book. I liked the multiple different perspectives that were integrated into the narrative and the multi-dimensional view they provided of the characters. I loved how intentionally the writer doing the interviews for the book was a shadowy presence, his influence and connection to the main characters unknown.
On Lamplighters
As I read this book and learned about the life of the lamplighters, I was reminded about how hard certain professions have it. They have to stay away from family, with minimum contact. With the pandemic and the restrictions to see a minimum number of people, we have only experienced a little bit of what lamplighters used to go through. Now, most lighthouses are no longer manned by people with automatic lights.
Not being there for family has a huge toll on people and this was obvious through a number of the characters. Arthur’s grief and sadness ate him up and destroyed his relationship with Helen. At the same time, Bill and Jenny also had communication barriers. It is a hard life to be away from family and as the book portrays, the effect on the disappearance was different on everyone who was left behind.
Critiques
My biggest problem with the book is that there are just too many possible side plots. In order to create mystery and suspense, the reader is led astray to imagine all these different people, organizations and situations that could have led to the disappearance of the lamplighters. The book could have been more focused. The characters were mainly grey in nature. Most of them felt obsessive and fixated on themselves or something.
Inspite of all this, I still liked the book and read it quickly. It came full circle at the end, explaining the relevance of the people at the beginning of the book. It was a satisfying read for me and any book that gets me taking notes is close to my heart and this is one of them!
If you are craving some mystery in a unique setting, I would recommend giving The Lamplighters a try.
** The Lamplighters is now available in stores. Be sure to check your local library and support them. **
Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle
Many thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cover image: Cover Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash
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