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book cover for Dark is the Night

Dark is the Night

In Nazi-occupied Holland, a mother and son fight to survive

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Pub Date Nov 28 2025 | Archive Date Nov 27 2025


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Description

When his sister Lotte dies of blood poisoning, Casper Van Doujke leaves his island home of Terschelling for Amsterdam. Blaming himself for Lotte’s death, he studies to be a doctor.

Meanwhile, his mother Elske Van Doujke’s quiet mourning for her daughter is interrupted when the Nazis occupy Terschelling. When a face from her past returns to the island, Elske has a final chance of happiness. But can she take it?

Mother and son join the Dutch Resistance, risking everything for their people as they live through occupation and famine. Elske shelters young Dutchmen and shot-down Allied airmen, while Casper works as a resistance doctor in Amsterdam and falls in love with the fiancée of his resistance cell’s leader.

But when the war threatens those closest to them, Casper and Elske are forced to make impossible choices just to survive.

When his sister Lotte dies of blood poisoning, Casper Van Doujke leaves his island home of Terschelling for Amsterdam. Blaming himself for Lotte’s death, he studies to be a doctor.

Meanwhile, his...


A Note From the Publisher

After completing an MA in Modern Languages Research at Lancaster University, Rachel Evans gained a PG Diploma in Newspaper Journalism. She works as a teaching assistant in Torrisholme Community Primary School alongside writing historical novels in the evenings and weekends. Dark is the Night is inspired by her Dutch ancestry and the experiences of the Dutch Resistance.

After completing an MA in Modern Languages Research at Lancaster University, Rachel Evans gained a PG Diploma in Newspaper Journalism. She works as a teaching assistant in Torrisholme Community...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781806341092
PRICE £4.99 (GBP)
PAGES 456

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Average rating from 4 members


Featured Reviews

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A well researched story of a family in the Dutch Resistance. I was in tears in parts of it. The strength the family shown in the terrible conditions is heartbreaking.

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I enjoyed reading this novel. The characters were well developed and had a natural chemistry. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

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reading more about the dutch resistance once again took me to a world and what people had to do in it that is hard to fathom. the fear surrounding such bravery really had me in the chest. this book felt so well done. once id finished i immediately went to look up more from the book.
our two characters take us on a journey that felt like it could have been taken from reality. and that in itself makes you drawn into this book with your whole heart. it could be us, our relatives, choices people just like us and those we love would have to have made. how? the way this novel truly tells of those who helped others is deeply moving. the sacrifices and choices people had to make just like our characters. just wow.
i felt a little unshed tears at times with this read. a book that flowed so well and gave us characters you cant help but want to follow every step of their way.

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