Escape with Fiona Curnow
Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, and Sal by Mik Kitson, with its celebration of the natural world, its misunderstood central characters living on the outside of society's norms, their survival in the wilderness, and the ultimate fight for justice.
Before the Swallows Come Back is a story of love, found family, and redemption that will break your heart and have it soaring time and time again as you sit on the edge of your seat desperately hoping.
Tommy struggles with people, with communicating, preferring solitude, drifting off with nature. He is protected by his Tinker family who keep to the old ways. A life of quiet seclusion under canvas is all he knows.
Charlotte cares for her sickly father. She meets Tommy by the riverside and an unexpected friendship develops. Over the years it becomes something more, something crucial to both of them. But when tragedy strikes each family they are torn apart.
Charlotte is sent far away.
Tommy might have done something very bad
REVIEWS
This is total immersion in the natural world. A truly lovely book, full of heart. It's a gripping and moving plot about two young people separately affected by devastating life-changes which uproot them and force them to learn self-reliance. All this against a backdrop of the most beautiful, lyrical description of the natural world of woodlands and streams, and good people. An absolutely heart-filling and lyrical novel. Fiona Curnow has crafted an immense story, and an incredibly rich one. Carol McKay
The perfect read for lovers of Where the Crawdads Sing. It is impossible to avoid falling under the spell of Before the Swallows Come Back. I found myself longing to sit by the river bank with them, dive into the fresh water, lie under the blanket of stars, listen to the campfire stories, music and songs of Tommy's family camp. A dream read. K Bookish Life
An engaging and a powerful story. Echoes in an Empty Room
I absolutely LOVED this book. I was mesmerised by all the beautiful and vivid descriptions. I was rooting for the two main characters: they were quite innocent (and slightly naive) young people who lived on the outskirts of society, a bit different from the others. Being different can pose a risk itself as some view this as a threat, as Tommy found out for himself. A beautifully written book with lyrical and poetic passages. Monika Reads
I absolutely loved it. The writing was beautiful, vivid and the descriptions of the Scottish Highlands was magical. I have never rooted for characters as much as I was rooting for these two!! Glasgow Book Addict
It's very rare that I would reread a book but this is one I can imagine doing so. I adored this book! It was lyrically beautiful with its lush descriptions of nature but it was the characters that make it stand out. This is a special book. Just stunning. Books By Bindu
If you loved Where The Crawdads Sing you will most definitely enjoy this one! It is so beautifully written and full of description you felt like you were in the book yourself. Leah Mae Reads
This book is gorgeous. It is poignant, emotional. It definitely gave me major Where the Crawdads Sing vibes… only this one was based in Scotland! ʙᴏɴᴜs. Sambooka23
This story of love and found family and redemption is one I won’t soon forget. The writing is lyrical and beautifully written and I was rooting for them the whole way. Loopy Knot
This is a very readable story about some lovely characters who are forced to cope with various life and societal challenges. Set mainly in the Scottish Highlands, Fiona’s lyrical writing showcases the beauty and demands of the natural world. Liz Humphreys
Fiona really develops both characters as the story unfolds, leaving me rooting for both and hoping they get to reunite once more. As an animal lover, I found the relationship Tommy had with his animal family beautiful. This element really enhanced the reading experience and provided yet another level to the story. Andrew Lees
This was a story that really moved me. From the get-go I was so devoted to the main characters (Tommy and Charlotte) and their journey through hell and back and the hardships they had to endure!!…I absolutely loved it. It’s so beautifully written and I was completely invested in it! It felt like I was there in Scotland amongst the countryside and surrounded by nature!! Perfect escapism!! Jade Nomura