In the midst of WWII and after surviving a bomb raid that puts her beloved aunt in a coma, Maggie is sent away from London and ends up at a remote, religious school in Wales. Maggie soon discovers that no part of the country is untouched by the evil and danger that war brings in its wake.Shelter Me has a lot going for it: A clever, twisty, and unpredictable plot that held my interest throughout, a foreboding atmosphere and a cast of memorably bizarre characters.
Normally it would bother me more that Maggie does not actively shape her destiny - the entire novel is basically Maggie getting caught up in a series of events beyond her control and relying on miracles to save her. But since this does reflect the experience of wartime pretty authentically, I can forgive it here.
The pacing sometimes seemed a bit rushed to me. For example, I wouldn’t have minded lingering a bit longer in the incredibly creepy school and seeing more of what the crazy nuns were up to.
If you like fast paced thrillers filled with twists and characters who are not what they seem, then pick up Shelter Me. It’s now available in paperback.
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