2 December 2017

Book Review-The Girl Under The Olive Tree




I’ve read several books by Ms Fleming and have enjoyed them all. The Girl Under The Olive Tree does not disappoint.

Set on the island of Crete during both 1941 and 2001 it is the story of Penelope Georgiou who travels back to the island to face the ghosts that have haunted her since her time there as a nurse during WWII.

With historical facts and descriptions of the island and the events that took place during the war masterfully blended with fictional characters, it is a powerful depiction of life for the Cretans during the German occupation and is a testament to their courage.

The reader will be transported back and forth between the past and the present. The dark days of the war and the hardships of the fictional characters blended seamlessly with the Crete of today with its picturesque villages, craggy mountains and ancient treasures as the questions Penelope has asked herself for the last sixty years are finally answered.