This story takes place in the Algarve area of Portugal where there are 300 days of sun, hence the title. The story is divided between a mystery in 2014 and excerpts from a novel written in the 50s about WWII in this same area. The stories are intertwined and that's the crux of the novel.

I loved the concept but felt let down overall mostly because the ending was not satisfying to me but I can't quite understand why. I think because the crimes hinted at early in the book don't exactly tie out with the resolution of the story. I did enjoy the writing. I connected more with the WWII characters than the modern ones also and that may be part of my overall disconnect.

Despite my misgivings it was a worthwhile few days of reading.

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Spoilers below.


Really enjoyed this book right up to the last 2 pages. Why do authors feel they have to end books sad? Do they think it's more legit that way? Every book I read doesn't have to end happy but there should be some realistic reason that it doesn't. This book the sad ending was contrived. Like she decided at the last minute to make it sad when the whole book was leaning towards happy and I was left feeling " well f*ck me ." ( )

When I think of World War II, I have never considered what the war was like for Portugal or Spain. Portugal was officially neutral during World War II so thinking of it now, it seems obvious that people would have fled to Spain then on to it's neighbour Portugal from France. 300 Days of Sun is set in Portugal, which reputedly has 300 days of sun per year (as opposed to the 3 days of sun we get in the North East of England). Such a beautiful location but with a dark and dangerous history.

Past and present flow beautifully in 300 Days of Sun as they are so cleverly linked. In present day we read about Joanna who is fleeing a stagnating relationship and embracing Portuguese life. Joanna meets Nathan in her language class and the pair form a friendship. Joanna, with her journalistic skills, helps Nathan to uncover his past whilst reading of Portugal's past through a book called 'The Alliance'. 'The Alliance' is set in World War II and describes the plight of an American couple, Alva and Michael Barton, as they wait in Lisbon's 'Waiting Room' for a passage home.

Through the 'past' chapters, which are excerpts from 'The Alliance', we learn about Portugal's war. It was a bit like a John le Carré novel with spies and underhand dealings where you don't know who is on which side. I loved how the past became the present through Joanna's reading of the book. It really helped the novel to flow effortlessly. There were equally some strange goings on in the present, with the mysterious Ian Rylands who gives Joanna a copy of the book. He seems to have some link to Nathan and a missing child...could they be one and the same?

300 Days of Sun is so very atmospheric; I felt like I could hear the waves lapping the shore. I can no longer say that I've never been to Portugal, as Deborah Lawrenson took me there!

I received this e-book from the publisher, Lawsome Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Journalist Joanna Millard goes to Faro, Portugal to escape a relationship and a career that are both going nowhere. She meets Nathan Emberlin in a language class and is charmed by the younger man and his easy manner. But Nathan confides that he is really interested in a decades old child kidnapping, and Joanna gets caught up in helping him. Soon they are in danger of coming afoul of the criminal element and powerful political influences.

This started out slowly but picked up steam as small revelations led to bigger discoveries. A significant clue is a 1954 novel written by Esta Hartford, that purportedly described true events during World War II, though the names of the main characters were changed. Lawrenson interrupts Joanna and Nathan’s story arc to give the reader Hartford’s novel. I found this technique of parallel story lines interesting but sometimes jarring. Still, this technique kept this reader in some suspense and turning pages, as slowly pieces fell into place. I virtually flew the last 100 pages.

Others have commented on Lawrenson’s ability to bring the landscape and culture of Portugal alive, and I have to agree with those reviewers. I’ve been to Portugal and found Lawrenson’s descriptions vivid and true to my own memories ( )

I love finding a novel that focuses on an aspect of World War II that I am not familiar with. In the present timeline, Nathan enlists the help of a reporter to delve into the mystery surrounding his adoption as a child. The World War II timeline centers on Portugal as the last refuge for Jews and citizens of neutral countries fleeing in advance of the German Army. Do you remember that Lisbon was the desired destination of all the characters in the movie Casablanca? Yes, there is mystery, there is romance, there is history, and of course, there are also spies! The story drew me in from the beginning, and I'm eager to read another book by Lawrenson. ( )