Laura Iven had just returned home to Halifax from the front of the medical corps in December of 1917 after sustaining an injury to her leg. Soon after her return, the war is brought to her front door in the form of an explosion in the harbor. The explosion kills both of Laura's parents and then Laura receives word that her brother is missing, presumed dead from the Belgium front. Laura wastes no time in returning to the front, this time with a friend, Mary Burton who runs a private hospital on the front and Pim Shaw, who has lost her son to the war. Meanwhile, Freddie has found himself trapped in an overturned pillbox after an explosion. Afraid and injured, he turns to the other man trapped with him, German soldier, Hans Winter. Together, Hans and Freddie find their way out of the pillbox and onto the front, now bonded; they are unwilling to let the other be taken prisoner. With Hans' injury progressing, Freddie decides they need to get to his sister's hospital. When Freddie believes that Hans is safe, he begins to wander the front, eventually being taken in by a mysterious man called Faland, the fiddler. Freddie is safe with the fiddler, but feels that he is slipping away. Laura finds out more of her brother's story and soon tracks down the fiddler to fight for her brother.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a slow burn historical thriller with equal parts tragedy and hope. Richly atmospheric writing and complex characters pulled me into the story from the beginning. Laura's deep determination and will to continue in the face of tragedy after tragedy made me invested in her story as she trudged through Canada and Belgium on the hunt for her brother. Freddie is more delicate, having been mentally scarred by the war. His resilience while trapped in pillbox with Hans and the camaraderie they formed while striving for survival was amazing to watch. I enjoyed their bond and willingness to sacrifice themselves for the other. Faland added an element of otherworldly calmness to the battlefield while simultaneously creating a safe haven in his hotel and being a villain that steals memories. Faland's presence highlights the mental strain of the war and what would happen if you could forget the events that shaped you. I would have loved more from Faland's point of view and his purpose, but his mystery helped to create suspense. Pim's character was another enigma as her grief showed the other side of the mental tolls of war. Overall, a haunting story of intertwined hope and trauma.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a slow burn historical thriller with equal parts tragedy and hope. Richly atmospheric writing and complex characters pulled me into the story from the beginning. Laura's deep determination and will to continue in the face of tragedy after tragedy made me invested in her story as she trudged through Canada and Belgium on the hunt for her brother. Freddie is more delicate, having been mentally scarred by the war. His resilience while trapped in pillbox with Hans and the camaraderie they formed while striving for survival was amazing to watch. I enjoyed their bond and willingness to sacrifice themselves for the other. Faland added an element of otherworldly calmness to the battlefield while simultaneously creating a safe haven in his hotel and being a villain that steals memories. Faland's presence highlights the mental strain of the war and what would happen if you could forget the events that shaped you. I would have loved more from Faland's point of view and his purpose, but his mystery helped to create suspense. Pim's character was another enigma as her grief showed the other side of the mental tolls of war. Overall, a haunting story of intertwined hope and trauma.
