This could be labeled historical fiction, but the plot of the novel is not based on historical facts. Black imagines the two English princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, have been sent to Ireland for the duration of the London blitz. They arrive at the rundown "big house" of a minor Anglo Irish aristocrat. It is an odd choice for their evacuation, but has the advantage of being in the middle of nowhere, and a couple of miles from a small village. However, in Ireland, especially in the 1940's, there were few places that were totally cut off, even in the countryside. Small towns have big eyes and ears, and the British security services who planned this location failed to consider this when sending the princesses here.

The house and its surroundings are bleak, and existence is very boring. Black succeeds in conveying this, but as a result, as a reader, I was bored for the first third or so of the book. I considered DNFing the book, but persevered. The pace and plot picked up, and it became more interesting, with, of course, a climactic ending.

I am rating this three stars which reflects a book that is perfectly fine, but not a compelling read.