300 Days of Sun by Deborah Lawrenson was the perfect book to read during my 10 days of sun on Spain’s south coast. I knew from having read The Lantern by Lawrenson that 300 Days of Sun would be a pager turner that wouldn’t lack in intelligence. And set mostly in Faro, Portugal, it wasn’t too far from the Costa del Sol.
Joanne is a journalist taking a break while studying Portuguese at a language school in Faro. Here she meets the enigmatic Nathan, who calls on her to help him delve into his past. Their search brings them into contact with the seedier side of paradise, the tourism boom and the evolving political landscape of Portugal.
It would not be a stretch to say that I learned a fair bit about the recent history of Portugal through reading 300 Days of Sun. Before this I knew virtually nothing about Portugal. The book took me into the world of WWII refugees and Portugal’s subsequent tourism boom. It also held echoes of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann from the family’s holiday apartment in 2007.
Who would like this book? As I said, 300 Days of Sun is a great vacation read that won’t insult your intelligence. A little bit of intrigue, a little bit of history and the potential for romance. In some ways Lawrenson reminds me of a more contemporary Kate Morton.
52 books or bust 
Ohhhh this is ticking a lot of boxes for me. Kate Morton, learning about Portugal, mystery and sunshine. I’m totally adding this to my list.
Yep, it’s a good one.
Oh yes, this sounds right up my alley and I already have a copy from the publisher on my nook. Sounds like I’d better get to it. So pleased that you enjoyed your holiday in Portugal.
Get Reading it. Totally worth it
Glad you enjoyed this book! My favourite historical fiction titles–or any book really–is when I learn something new about a place and/or that prompts me to go look up more info about a place or an event in history. Anyway, I had been hesitant to look up what this book was about as I read another book by her a few years ago, The Lantern, which I thought was okay but a bit disappointing but this book and your review has left me intrigued. I’ll have to keep a lookout for it 🙂
It’s a fast, holiday read. For me it was better than The Lantern because of the setting and it was less sentimental.
I like the title! & book cover. Can’t go wrong there. Hope you enjoyed your break.
Fantastic! I’m glad to hear that this was a good vacation read but still interesting because it’s currently on my pile of books that might be good, light reads for while I’m finishing up my thesis. My brain is not up to anything too heavy right now 🙂
Totally good for finishing your thesis. Good luck.
First of all, very jealous of your Spanish vacation. Secondly, this sounds exactly like the kind of book I’ve been wanting read. Something intelligent, mysterious and set in a exotic location. Is it very long?
It wasn’t too long – 300 pages? But more importantly, it didn’t take long to read.