The book also explores the history and culture of St Kilda, a fascinating place that was evacuated in 1930 due to harsh living conditions and dwindling population. The author vividly describes the island’s beauty and challenges, as well as the customs and traditions of its inhabitants. Although I have read a fair few Karen Swan novels I missed the first of the Wild Isle trilogy. This wasn't a problem as "The Stolen Hours" can be read as a standalone novel. I so enjoyed The Last Summer by Karen Swan, which provides fascinating details about life on St Kilda prior to the evacuation of its inhabitants from the island. Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you'll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can't wait for the next in the series! -- Jill Mansell, author of Should I Tell You? I loved seeing Effie from a different point of view and since this book's focus is on Mhairi I was feeling a compulsion to reread The Last Summer to see what hints I had missed about Mhairi's life.

The Stolen Hours is from Effie's good friend Mhairi's point of view. Mhairi takes a trip to the island of Harris to meet a farmer in need of a wife. Whilst away from her family Mhairi falls in love; but not with the man she is now obligated to marry. Christianity and God's wrath weigh in heavily in this novel and Mhairi's concerns for her virtue are real. She feels like a fallen woman, through no fault of her own, and these feelings go on to manufacture the course of her last few months on St Kilda. A dramatic start to a gripping new series set on the Scottish island of St Kilda. The Last Summer is meticulously researched and beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers. It contains all the ingredients of a wonderfully satisfying read: love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with - and some you hate! Happily, this is the start of a series so your longing for more will be fulfilled. -- Santa Montefiore, author of Flappy Investigates on The Last SummerSt Kilda will always be in my heart, no matter where I go. It is my home, my heritage, my identity. It is where I met you, where I loved you, where I lost you. It is the wild isle of my dreams." The Last Summer told the story of islander Effie, her relationship with her family, the Islanders and two men who desire her, only one of which she reciprocates. The Stolen Hours covering the same time period tells the story of Effie's friend and fellow islander Mhairi who similarly has two men who lust after her. The Last Summer is meticulously researched and beautifully told . . . a wonderfully satisfying read' – Santa Montefiore

A dramatic start to a gripping new series . . . meticulously researched and beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers' - Santa Montefiore, author of Flappy Investigates on The Last Summer Their story unfolds in secret, to avoid scandal and being cast out of the community. Donald shows his love for Mhairi, but she is afraid of the fallout, so she does everything to “keep the peace”.Since the island is small and there are scarce prospects, a man is suggested from one of the neighbouring isles. Terug naar Schotland. Wat een feestje! Terug naar het eiland: oogverblindend, majestueus en sereen. Afgelopen maanden telde ik de weken, dagen, uren en minuten af. Ik telde af tot ik dit tweede deel van 'Het wilde eiland' in handen had. En wat was het weer een avontuur om op St Kilda te verblijven!