London, 2005. Frankie had it tough as she grew up. But at last her career’s on track and she feels she’s where she ought to be. She’s sad about the estrangement from her once-beloved grandmother, but that door is firmly closed. However, unbeknownst to her, the old woman has a secret which could devastate many lives – and Frankie is about to be drawn into that story.

Kent, 1940. Fleeing London when the Blitz rips apart her young life, Violet is braced for the challenges of being a land girl – though she’s never worked a day in her life. The friendships she makes will last decades. But the young women face not only the terror of enemy air raids but also a more immediate danger: one even the fearless Violet cannot easily avert. When the inevitable confrontation comes, tragedy follows – and the truth of that night must be kept secret for ever . . .

Praise

‘Nikola has so expertly plotted this duel timeline novel that the reader is swept smoothly and seamlessly from 1940’s London and Somerset to present day London and back again. Full of intrigue, fascinating historical detail and brilliant characterisation, I had no idea what was coming next. I loved Violet and Frankie and the exploration of their complicated relationship, routing for both of them all the way to the unexpected and gratifying end. A truly fabulous novel!’
Louise Fein, author of People Like Us and The Hidden Child

‘Nikola Scott is the queen of dual narrative fiction. The Orchard Girls takes us on a beautifully twisty journey between a modern newsroom in London and a Somerset orchard during WW2. The writing is immaculate and I love the way the characters’ lives gently unravel. It’s like unwrapping a pass-the-parcel with a wonderful gift at its heart.’
Lizzie Page, author of When I Was Yours

‘The Orchard Girls is such a clever, wonderful, expertly woven story. I enjoyed every second of it!’
Lorna Cook, author of The Forbidden Promise