It was agreed that, whilst everybody found this a very easy book to read, it was felt that the first half was far more interesting than the second.  The vivid depiction of life in a Cretan leper colony seemed well researched and highlighted the lack of understanding at that time about the disease and the social exclusion it caused, bringing heartbreak to families and testing the strength of their familial bonds. However, the storyline that continued after the Island did not show the same depth of writing. The novel did make us think about the fact that, even today, ignorance and fear can cause intolerance in the general population.

This historical novel is set in Crete and the nearby former leper colony of Spinalonga. It follows Alexis Fielding, who discovers her family's hidden history of leprosy, passion and tragedy across four generations, uncovering deep secrets about her mother's past in the village of Plaka.