Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Poole of Light, via Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources
Blurb
A coal-mining town. A flicker of light. A boy who dreams of more.
Spennymoor, 1913. When ten-year-old Jem Poole sees a moving picture for the first time, it sparks a fascination that will shape the course of his life. Raised in a northern coal town marked by hardship and loss, Jem begins to dream of more than soot and survival — he dreams of light.
Through war, reinvention and the golden age of British cinema, Jem rises to national success, building a legacy of silver screens and stories that define a generation. But when a figure from his past reappears, long-buried memories resurface, and he must confront the truth of the life he has built – and the memories that never let go.
My Review (4 stars out of 5)
This is book 1 in the Poole Legacy, with book 2 due out in 2026, and Bright Light, an already-published short story prequel also available. Beginning in Spennymoor in the North of England during the first half of the 20th century, we follow Jeremiah Poole from his poverty-stricken boyhood and his first glimpse of the magic and glamour of cinema, to several years later when we find him in Leeds, working in the world he so much admires. The historical detail and the challenges and technicalities of cinema really set the scene and give the book a sense of realism. Having said that, there seemed to be an awful lot of backstory which at times felt a little overdone. I’d have preferred the book to start in Leeds and then use flashback to Jem’s boyhood. Anyway…
For me, the story took a bit too long to get going and while it’s an enjoyable read, it is the historical details and sense of place that makes it stand out, rather than the characters. But that’s probably just me being overly critical.
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Author Bio
RJ Verity grew up in Yorkshire and studied at King’s College London before spending more than twenty years in financial services across Asia. She now lives in Guernsey with her endlessly patient husband and their spirited ten-year-old Labradinger. When she’s not writing or reading, she can often be found exploring the island’s rugged coastline.
She is currently working on The Poole Legacy, her debut trilogy of historical novels. The first book in the series, Poole of Light, is out now.
Colin Garrow 