‘Poole of Light’ by RJ Verity

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.

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Social Media Links

Facebook

Instagram

X/Twitter

Bluesky

Pinterest

Goodreads

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.

NB This post first appeared on the Blog Tour for Poole of Light, via Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources

Back to the Blog