Armistice

by Nick Stafford

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Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML: Philomena Bligh's fiancé, Dan, has been shot. The First World War claimed many lives and so his death is not, in its own way, surprising. But Dan was shot in the minutes after the Armistice. The war was over. She cannot understand how this could have happened, or why they were still fighting that morning anyway. So, in March 1919, over Dan's birthday, Philomena travels to London to meet the men who were with him when he died. What she discovers is more shocking than she'd ever imagined. Dan's best friend, Jonathan, tells her that Dan was shot by a British officer over a gambling debt. There is no proof and all records of Jonathan's accusation have been destroyed. Refusing to accept anything less than justice for the man she loved, Philomena decides to take on the Establishment. Worried that she may cause his own downfall and feeling guilty for his mysterious part in Dan's death, Jonathan decides to accompany her on her mission. Set against a backdrop of London in the aftermath of the Great War, a time of upheaval, grief and wanton escapism, this is not just an inspirational book about what it means to be a hero, but also a breathtaking love story.… (more)

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Philomena Bligh's fiance died one minute after the Armistice in 1918. She initially sets out to London to meet some of his friends and comrades, but finds herself on a quest to find out the truth about Dan's death.

This is quite an unusual sort of read. It's very much related to the war, but is set totally in peacetime. I liked the way the story unfolded, and the reader found out what had happened to Dan, and read along as Philomena contacts Jonathan, the man who was with Dan when he died, and finds out exactly what happened.

I read the book really quickly, and I think it is the sort of book that pulls you along with the intrigue in the story. My one reservation would be that I don't think many women would have behaved as Philomena did in 1918, but perhaps some did - who knows?

A very good read, and an excellent choice for a November themed read. (

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nicx27 | Nov 8, 2010 |

A story of a real tragedy of war. Philomena's fiance Dan is killed moments after the amnesty on November 11th 1918. Months later Philomena travels to London to meet the people who were with Dan at the time of his death and it is then that she is told by one of his friends Jonathon that he believes that Dan was murdered, but he has no proof and no one will take him seriously. The person he is accusing comes from a very powerful family and his lawyers have threatened Jonathon with ruin should he try to proceed with his claims. Philomena decides to pursue the investigation and meet the suspect herself. Jonathon joins her in her investigation but he too has things that he is keeping from her. What was his part in Dan's death? All is not as it seems at first.. (

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kiwifortyniner | May 10, 2010 |

Slow moving, intensely observed and dense with detail, this novel is a salutary reminder that those who die in the heat of battle are not the only casualties of war.

Philomena Bligh’s fiancé Dan was killed at the moment of armistice, 11am, on 11th November, 1918: an ironic tragedy – or something more sinister?

Set in postwar London, the story follows Philomena as she investigates what she has come to believe is a murder, and one which was tacitly condoned by the military establishment. The characters are drenched in tragedy but there are intimations of future happiness: an evocative and morally reflective read. (

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adpaton | Mar 23, 2010 |

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Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:

Philomena Bligh's fiancé, Dan, has been shot. The First World War claimed many lives and so his death is not, in its own way, surprising. But Dan was shot in the minutes after the Armistice. The war was over.

She cannot understand how this could have happened, or why they were still fighting that morning anyway. So, in March 1919, over Dan's birthday, Philomena travels to London to meet the men who were with him when he died. What she discovers is more shocking than she'd ever imagined. Dan's best friend, Jonathan, tells her that Dan was shot by a British officer over a gambling debt. There is no proof and all records of Jonathan's accusation have been destroyed.

Refusing to accept anything less than justice for the man she loved, Philomena decides to take on the Establishment. Worried that she may cause his own downfall and feeling guilty for his mysterious part in Dan's death, Jonathan decides to accompany her on her mission.

Set against a backdrop of London in the aftermath of the Great War, a time of upheaval, grief and wanton escapism, this is not just an inspirational book about what it means to be a hero, but also a breathtaking love story.

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