Lars Mytting, the author of The Sixteen Trees of the Somme, is better known in the UK for his best-selling non-fiction book ‘Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way’, and wood plays an enormous part in this atmospheric family saga spanning the twentieth century.

Edvard is brought up by his grandfather on a remote farm in Norway. Following his grandfather’s death in 1991 Edvard decides to delve into the mystery of the death of his parents in France where, as a small boy, Edvard went missing for four days. Intertwined with this is the story of Einar, Edvard’s great uncle, a skilled cabinet maker who was estranged from his family.

The story moves to Shetland where Edvard meets Gwen Winterfinch, a young aristocratic Scottish girl, whose own family story is entangled with Edvard’s. Together, they travel to France hoping to find the truth about a missing inheritance.

The chapters set in France are poignant and deeply moving. It is appropriate that the paperback edition has been released as we remember the end of hostilities in 1918.

Through the descriptive passages on wood we discover the link between the main characters. Trees have deep roots. The idea of a family tree is deeply symbolic.

To begin with the book moves slowly but take heed – every little piece of information fits into the jigsaw puzzle (rather like stacking wood) and you will find that as the momentum gathers you will not be able to put this book down.