Light Shining in the Forest - Tapa dura

Paul Torday switches water for woodlands in Light Shining in the Forest, a tale of missing minors set in the author's Northumberland home (VOGUE)

A great story, and very dark in places. (ESSENTIALS MAGAZINE)

A well-crafted novel...there is momentum, and there is excitement. (THE SPECTATOR)

(Torday) has blended some excellent social satire and even a dollop of the supernatural...this is an excellent mash-up, well-written, well-crafted and constantly gripping (Harry Ritchie DAILY MAIL)

Tautly written, the tone acid and angry (EVENING STANDARD)

We move from comedy, through pain, to a greater mystery than the mystery with which, on the ordinary level of crime and detection, the author has gripped us. (Allan Massie THE SCOTSMAN)

Torday has a vivid flair for describing... (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY)

(A) disquieting and atmospheric psychological novel. (DAILY EXPRESS)

An unsettling, haunting story...Torday has created some strong characters in this memorable, atmospheric and tense novel...His prose is controlled, elegant and measured and his totally unexpected conclusion is very powerful. (THE LADY)

Torday's exploration of human anguish and pain, interspersed with the dark, haunting rural environment, provides the template, while his biting social comment showcases a writer at the very top of his game. (PRESS ASSOCIATION)