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An extraordinarily multilayered and complex historical novel exploring the nature of memory, and a coming of age story set primarily in post war London in 1945. Nathaniel, 14, and his older sister, Rachel are ostensibly abandoned to the care of what they perceive as oddball, suspect and criminal characters. They are chiefly The Moth, their lodger, ex- boxer The Pimlico Darter and others that enter their lives, some fleetingly, but never to be forgotten such as Olive Lawrence, the independent woman and ethnographer, who takes them on enlightening night walks. Their father has gone to Singapore and their mother, Rose, follows him. At their tender age, Nathaniel and Rachel are concerned by their safety and whether they can trust their offbeat and mysterious carers. However, it transpires school life is insipid in comparison to what they learn informally from the motley crew that gather in their home. Key moments in their lives, such as Rachel's epileptic fits are nonchalantly but expertly dealt with, thereby building an underlying sense that there are hidden depths, safety and protection that they can count on from The Moth and his cohorts.

Nathaniel experiences the shadows of London and wartime activities, gaining insights into the corruption of greyhound racing and night river trips, entering empty homes, having sex with Agnes Street, not her real name, and so much more, Nathaniel is to learn that there is much he is unaware of. His mother's life is a closed book, whilst bringing the dangers of espionage slamming into their lives. The older Nathaniel begins to piece together the past and throw light on the clandestine characters, most notably his mother as a spy, and events, existing below the radar, perceived only in the dim warlight where much is unseen and redacted in a pivotal period of his and Rachel's life that is to mark them indelibly. This journey to find out who his mother was, and learn more about the bunch of individuals who looked after him, who opened his eyes to hidden and surprising worlds, leads him to shine a light on himself and the effects of his actions and decisions on others. This is a beautiful exploration of memories, of the nature of war and espionage, of being a parent and the needs of children, of trust, of physical and metaphorical scars, and a historical period where secrecy was paramount, individually and nationally. Highly recommended.