The Shock of the Light
An unforgettable debut about sibling devotion, redemptive love and the devastating impact on those who challenge convention.
Cambridge, 1942
Twins Tessa and Theo had always shared everything – until the summer Tessa spent studying in France. She hasn’t been the same since. But before Theo can find out why, he is recruited by the RAF and disappears into the skies.
Determined to carve her own path, Tessa joins the clandestine Special Operations Executive, slipping into the shadows of occupied France. It will be dangerous work, but France is the home of her greatest love – and her darkest secret. Tessa has many reasons for wanting to return.
Two years later, Theo comes home. Tessa does not.
A dazzling literary achievement that brings to life the shattering emotional impact of World War Two on ordinary people, THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHT is as exhilarating as it is heartbreaking.
The Shock of the Light will be published in Spring 2026 by The Borough Press.
The novel will also be available in the USA (Pamala Dorman Books), Canada (Penguin Random House), Italy (Rizzoli), Spain (Penguin Random House), Netherlands (Amboıanthos Uitgevers), Romania (Grup Media Litera), and Finland (Gummerus Kustannus).
Bio
Lori Inglis Hall was born and raised in Leicestershire, and now lives with her family in East Sussex. Her first novel The Shock of the Light explores the relationship between twins Tessa and Theo, who are torn apart by the trauma of war. She holds an MA in History and previously worked in politics and the arts.
“A powerful story, beautifully told. The writing is masterfully smooth and sure-footed, in complete command of its subject as it shines a light on a largely overlooked aspect of the Second World War. The final chapter is extraordinary in its restraint and fearless simplicity. Such a fascinating and satisfying read.”
—M.L. Stedman, New York Times bestselling author of The Light Between Oceans.”
“An intriguing take on female spies that opens up the clandestine world to generations who feel the Second World War to be distant and perhaps even irrelevant to their lives. The writing is admirably spare, delicately descriptive, and alluring in its twists and turns.”
Sonia Purnell, New York Times, Bestselling author of A Woman of No Importance
“Easily one of the best books I have read. Beautifully written and achingly human, The Shock of the Light is a novel of courage, sacrifice, and devastating secrets that echo across generations. At its heart is the fierce, unbreakable bond between a brother and sister—one that unearths a shameful, buried history of the SOE and reveals the unbearable price it demanded. At once intimate and epic, this unforgettable debut will astonish readers, break their hearts, and open their eyes.”
—Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of The Secret Keeper
“Far-reaching, but also intimate and intensely personal in the loves, secrets, and betrayals it examines… a quietly devastating story about lost time and lost futures that will stay with me.”
—Florence Knapp, New York Times bestselling author of The Names”
