Where The Truth Was Buried: A story of espionage, betrayal, and the long shadow of WW2

Dan Mulvagh

Oct 2025 · Xlibris Corporation

About this ebook

Thirty years after James Hamilton was forcibly migrated to New Zealand as an orphan child, an unexpected inheritance draws him back to Cornwall, where he stumbles on a long-dormant WW2 secret concealed in the shared memory of the small fishing village he once considered home. The mystery deepens when James begins clearing out the cottage he has inherited and uncovers a bundle of letters that suggest the cottage's owner, a retired lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy, participated in a clandestine operation that has remained suppressed in the village's core and has direct links to James’s true identity. Determined to uncover the truth about his past, James digs into the background and context of the letters he has found, and the results are more disturbing than he could have imagined. His attempts to unravel the past reveal a shadowy world of British Intelligence, the French Maquis, and Nazi sympathisers within Allied ranks. Against the backdrop of WWII exploits spanning North Africa and France, Where the Truth Was Buried is a story of divided loyalties and extreme courage. A tale of love, deceit, and sacrifice.

Ratings and reviews

From the first page, I was confronted with the horrors of war. The mystery of the old biscuit tin immediately draws you in — I just wanted to dig into that tin myself. The story felt incredibly real, capturing the sacrifice and harsh reality of soldiers up against extreme odds. A fantastic book — even more powerful the second time I read it.

I enjoyed the storyline set around the wartime and the reminder of how war changes lives – even the innocent. I highly recommend reading it.