Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that they can happen today, in the 21stC? This author asks us to believe in this story of stolen children and the ordinary people who wouldn't give up searching for them.
Theo Constantine is missing. After the initial flurry of activity that comes after such disappearances, the only ones left to grieve are his mother and step-father. Until 2 more children go missing in the same area.
Norman Stokoe is a career civil servant, used to dealing with committees, reports and action plans, but not with real situations. Willy Craig is a reporter on the local rag, but he has ambitions of working on a national daily. Pippa Everbury is Norman's secretary. Slowly they all become involved in the mystery of the children's disappearance and form an unlikely alliance to find them. Theo, the first child to disappear, appears to be the key. A photograph of the boy, taken by a local doctor, seems to show that he has the signs of the stigmata on his body. Everyone says how they felt different, better, when they were with Theo and what a special child he is. Or was. No-one believes he is still alive.
Norman is told to back-off by the police and his own department head. Willie is threatened with the sack if he continues with his investigation. Pippa puts her considerable intellect behind the project and urges them on. Eventually part of the mystery is solved, but who is Theo and why is he different? Why does his influence seem to spread beyond his short life to touch those who looked for him and whom he protected?
Light Shining in the Forest is a mystery within a mystery from the writer of "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen". Paul Torbay spins a story about which he asks us to suspend our disbelief - and succeeds. It's beautifully written, well constructed and with entirely believable characters. I loved it.
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