Three Fathers/Three Books

The first father is Arthur Candlewick. He and his family live a privileged life in the Cotswolds. After suffering a near-death experience, Arthur decides to give away all of his worldly goods. The book follows him and his family as they deal with this very unexpected turn of events.

Next, we have Vic Kemp, a famous artist who has just moved to an Italian villa, married a much younger wife and started what was to be his last painting. Then, all of a sudden, Vic dies! His four adult children–Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris–travel to Italy to find out exactly what happened. All four siblings and the young wife exist in one home, and you can imagine the rest. The Guardian calls the book, “sharp, absorbing and emotionally intelligent.” It is part mystery and part family dynamics.

The third father’s name is Serk Kan. He is the son of North Korean parents living in Japan. One night, Serk and his daughter Louisa go for a nightime walk on a Janpaese beach. Unfortunately, Serk disappears into the darkness, never to be found. The rest of the book looks back into Serk’s earlier life and the mystery around his disappearance. Flashlight is a serious novel with complex characters. It also contains mysterious elements, such as Serk’s troubled past. One reviewer described the book as the best novel of 2025, one that will grab the reader and keep him or her enthralled.