That Day By The Pool- Blog Tour

 

Author: Giles Fraser

Publisher: Troubador 

Publishing Date: 28th February 2026 

Many thanks to the publishing team and Random Things Tours for my physical copy of the book and a spot on the tour

Blurb 

If something has been covered up for eighty years, someone, somewhere, knows why….

One cold January weekend in 2019, Nicole Weymouth and her fiancé, Dan, visit a boutique hotel in The Lake District. During the Second World War it was a boarding school for young boys evacuated from London.

When a letter falls out of a book Nicole finds in the library, she discovers it was written in 1940 by an eight-year-old boy, Peter Slaithwaite, and he is asking his parents to bring him home because of the horrors he has experienced.

The letter was never sent.

Still traumatised by the memory of her younger brother’s death when she was a child, Nicole resolves to find out what led Peter to write the letter. The search she embarks upon takes her on a journey full of surprises and terrible consequences for her, her loved ones and all those involved in her investigations.

My Thoughts 

The cover and blurb immediately draw you in, setting high expectations from the start.

The story opens at the heart of a mystery in 1940, establishing a strong, intriguing tone that carries throughout the novel. From there, the narrative unfolds steadily, revealing layers of both past and present.

Nicole’s character initially feels weighed down by misfortune, but her journey is one of growth and resilience. Over time, she becomes stronger, showing meaningful emotional development. The family dynamics are particularly compelling—some characters quickly become unlikeable, while others surprise you with their actions toward the end.

As the mystery deepens, the focus shifts to how the past continues to affect the characters in the present. The lasting impact of earlier events shapes their decisions and outcomes in powerful ways. This is very much a character-driven story, which I appreciated, as it explores how tragedy and past mistakes influence who people become—and their efforts to avoid repeating them.

The author does an excellent job of weaving the dual timelines together seamlessly. The pacing is a slow burn, but in a satisfying way, gradually building intensity and atmosphere.

If you enjoy contemporary mysteries with a strong focus on character development, this is definitely a book I would recommend.