Guilt: Book One of the Nancy Flanagan Chronicles

In the aftermath of World War II, Irish Catholic nurse Nancy Flanagan seeks a fresh start in England. A heartbreaking past, visions of demons and spirits haunt her, and she will do anything to leave that past behind, but when she meets a mysterious patient with dark secrets, she decides to work together for a new start. Imagine her life with a war veteran with a dark secret, a German with ties to the Nazi regime, and a demon-infested entity that threatens her sanity, and it’s a mess. To face their past, Nancy and his patient travel to Argentina to confront the dark forces stalking their lives. Facing twists and turns at every corner, Nancy fights to save her loved ones—and perhaps herself—from Satan’s henchmen. This fast-paced, historical supernatural thriller explores the question of whether darkness is truly supernatural or rooted in human evil, and it keeps you guessing until the very last page.

Guilt is the first entry of the Nancy Flanagan Chronicles, and it is not only an emotionally charged narrative but one that grips you from the start and keeps you racing through the pages. The historical setting feels like a character in its own right, and Maisie Moon's exploration of the toll of World War II on the characters is stunning and exceptional. This aspect of the narrative lends it a strong psychological underpinning, making the characters not only complex but also flawed and lovable. The book deftly examines themes of guilt, faith, and the nature of evil against the gritty backdrop of 1940s Britain and Ireland. Moon’s characters are fully developed, from Nancy’s feisty and determined personality to her complex relationships with her family and colleagues. The settings are detailed—from the worn, war-beaten streets of Birmingham to the sacred, ancient landscapes of Ireland and Germany. I particularly enjoyed how this book examines the nature of war, the lasting scars it leaves behind, and the eventual quest for peace. Moon’s narrative is both a gripping thriller and a profound meditation on the darkness that resides within us all, one of those books that is really hard to put down.