Coming To Find You Summary, Characters and Themes

Coming To Find You by Jane Corry is a dual-timeline psychological thriller that bridges together the lives of two women bound by trauma, secrets, and survival. 

Set against the backdrop of a quiet coastal town in Devon, the novel explores the haunting aftermath of violence, the echoes of war, and the complexities of family loyalty. Jane Corry masterfully contrasts the present-day story of Nancy—a woman escaping her troubled past and a murderous stepbrother—with the wartime experiences of Elizabeth, a woman managing difficult choices amid WWII’s harsh realities. Themes of resilience, hidden truths, and the cost of survival pulse throughout this intense, emotionally charged narrative.

Summary

Nancy’s story begins in the shadow of a brutal family tragedy. After her stepbrother Martin is convicted of murdering their parents, Nancy finds herself overwhelmed by media attention and public curiosity.

To escape the constant harassment and flashbacks, she retreats to Tall Chimneys, her grandmother’s old house nestled in Sidmouth, Devon. This house, steeped in family history, is meant to be a sanctuary where she can begin to heal from the scars left by years of abuse and trauma.

However, the refuge is anything but peaceful. Nancy grapples with the emotional weight of her past, especially the complicated, toxic relationship she had with Martin—marked by fear, manipulation, and a twisted form of attachment.

While at Tall Chimneys, Nancy tries to keep a low profile, altering her appearance and avoiding the outside world. Yet, her presence soon attracts attention from local residents and the press.

Two women from the community, Vera and Jasmine, become her unexpected allies. Jasmine even offers her a guard dog, Sheba, as a protective companion.

Despite these new connections, Nancy is haunted by threatening letters from Martin, written before his imprisonment, that hint at an unbreakable bond and a sinister future.

Parallel to Nancy’s present-day ordeal, the narrative transports readers back to World War II Britain, focusing on Elizabeth, a woman managing a boarding house while enduring the turmoil of war.

Elizabeth’s life is defined by rationing, air raids, and the constant uncertainty that comes with having a son, Robert, serving overseas. She shares a close friendship with Adeline—Nancy’s grandmother—which ties the timelines together in subtle ways.

Throughout Elizabeth’s chapters, secrets begin to surface, hinting at events that shaped not only her life but also the legacy passed down to Nancy.

Elizabeth’s world grows more complex as she becomes involved in a dangerous moral quandary. A German pilot, Karl, is hidden in her care, forcing Elizabeth to navigate the blurred lines between enemy and victim.

Complicating matters further, a man named Mr. Smith is revealed to be Stefan Schmidt, a German spy operating covertly. Elizabeth’s decisions carry heavy risks, not just for herself but for those around her, including her husband Henry, whose return adds tension to their household.

The emotional stakes rise when Robert, believed to have died in combat, reappears, physically and psychologically damaged. His return is fraught with pain and anger, leading to a violent confrontation with Elizabeth.

The clash exposes the deep wounds left by war and secrecy, illustrating the cost of survival on both personal and familial levels.

Back in the present, Nancy begins to rebuild her fractured life. She takes in Summer, a troubled young girl, forging a new, makeshift family and finding a semblance of hope and purpose.

Her tentative relationship with Alex offers glimpses of healing, even as the shadow of her stepbrother looms. The tension escalates with Martin’s escape from custody, which thrusts Nancy into renewed danger.

Throughout these developments, the house at Tall Chimneys remains a silent witness to buried truths, and strange events—like unlocked doors and mysterious notes—suggest that the past is far from buried.

The dual timelines of Nancy and Elizabeth are intricately connected, with the echoes of wartime secrets influencing the present-day drama. Nancy’s exploration of the house reveals clues and artifacts that hint at hidden histories, including the discovery of a skeleton in a well and references to a mysterious figure named Polly Bright (P.B.), whose story intertwines with Elizabeth’s.

Throughout the novel, Coming To Find You examines themes of trauma, resilience, and the consequences of difficult choices across generations. The lives of Nancy and Elizabeth, though separated by decades, mirror each other in their struggles with identity, safety, and survival.

As secrets unravel and tensions mount, the novel builds toward an intense confrontation that challenges the characters’ strength and morality—without giving away how their intertwined stories ultimately conclude.

Characters

Nancy

Nancy is the emotional core of the novel, a young woman deeply scarred by the traumatic murder of her mother and stepfather, committed by her own stepbrother Martin. Her journey is one of survival and gradual healing.

She initially tries to escape the chaos and public scrutiny in London by retreating to her grandmother’s house, Tall Chimneys, in Devon. Throughout the story, Nancy wrestles with complex emotions toward Martin—both fear and a twisted form of attachment—which reflects the trauma and abuse she endured.

Her character development is poignant as she moves from being a victim to someone who takes control of her life, exemplified in her final confrontation with Martin where she makes a morally fraught decision to let him die. Nancy’s interactions with the local community, particularly her friendships with Vera, Jasmine, and later fostering Summer, reveal her growing capacity for trust, connection, and nurturing others despite her own wounds.

Her relationship with Alex also symbolizes her tentative steps toward rebuilding love and normalcy. Underneath her resilience is an ongoing struggle with guilt, secrecy, and the desire for peace, which colors her internal conflict even in the epilogue.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth’s story runs parallel in a WWII timeline and is steeped in the harsh realities of war, sacrifice, and secrecy. She is portrayed as a strong yet conflicted woman, juggling her roles as a wife, mother, and boarding house owner in a time of rationing, air raids, and social suspicion.

Elizabeth’s character embodies the burdens carried by women during war—not only the loss and anxiety but also the moral compromises they make. Her decision to shelter Karl, a downed German pilot, reveals her complex humanity—sympathy for an enemy’s vulnerability mixed with the risk of betraying her country.

The tension with her husband Henry and the return of her son Robert, who is traumatized and aggressive, add layers to her character, showing her as a woman wrestling with guilt, loss, and fractured family bonds. Elizabeth’s actions and secrets have a lasting impact, tying her story closely to the mystery Nancy uncovers decades later.

She represents the generational trauma and hidden histories that ripple through families and time.

Martin

Martin is the dark force in Nancy’s life and the novel’s antagonist. He is manipulative, abusive, and obsessed, responsible for the horrific murders that upend Nancy’s family and life.

His presence haunts Nancy both physically and psychologically, symbolizing the inescapable grip of past trauma. Martin’s letters, threats, and eventual escape from custody underscore his relentless pursuit of control and destruction.

Despite his villainy, Martin’s complexity lies in his twisted connection with Nancy, which blurs the lines between victim and perpetrator in their shared history. His final confrontation with Nancy at sea is a terrifying culmination of his obsession and her fight for survival, where moral ambiguity takes center stage.

Martin’s character drives much of the suspense and emotional tension, embodying the darkest aspects of familial betrayal and abuse.

Summer

Summer is a younger, vulnerable character whom Nancy chooses to foster. She represents hope, renewal, and the possibility of breaking cycles of trauma.

Like Nancy, Summer carries her own damage, but through their relationship, both characters find a form of healing. Summer’s presence expands Nancy’s world beyond survival, illustrating the theme of chosen family and nurturing care.

She also brings to the surface Nancy’s protective instincts and her efforts to create stability and love where there was once fear and isolation.

Alex

Alex is Nancy’s love interest in the present-day timeline, providing a contrast to the darkness surrounding her past. His role is subtle but important—he represents normalcy, trust, and the possibility of a future that isn’t defined by trauma.

Nancy’s growing relationship with Alex highlights her gradual opening up to connection and intimacy, signaling emotional progress and hope.

Vera and Jasmine

These two local women act as crucial support systems for Nancy when she arrives at Tall Chimneys. Vera is a kind, grounded presence in the Devon community, while Jasmine offers tangible help, like giving Nancy a guard dog for protection.

Both women symbolize the importance of community and solidarity for survivors of trauma, demonstrating how healing often involves relying on others. Their presence reinforces the theme of women supporting women, contrasting the isolation Nancy initially experiences.

Robert

Robert is Elizabeth’s son, whose wartime experience leaves him physically and emotionally damaged. His character explores the devastating impact of war on the individual and family.

His violent confrontation with his mother after his return shows how trauma fractures familial bonds and how unresolved grief can erupt into anger and despair. Robert’s story deepens the novel’s exploration of post-war scars and the cost of silence around painful truths.

Henry

Henry, Elizabeth’s husband, is a somewhat peripheral but significant character, representing the strained and complex dynamics within wartime families. His return creates tension and highlights the challenges of reintegration after war.

His relationship with Elizabeth is fraught, reflecting broader themes of loyalty, duty, and emotional distance.

Themes

Persistence of Trauma and the Burden of Unspoken Histories

A theme coursing through the narrative is how trauma reverberates across generations, manifesting in both overt and subtle ways. Nancy’s contemporary ordeal with her abusive stepbrother Martin and the horrific murder of their parents is not an isolated trauma; it echoes the hidden, unresolved wounds of Elizabeth’s wartime past.

Elizabeth’s wartime secrets—particularly her moral compromises and the weight of decisions made under duress—cast long shadows that shape Nancy’s present environment and emotional landscape. This theme underscores how trauma is not simply individual but is woven into the fabric of family legacy, perpetuating cycles of pain, secrecy, and survival.

The house, Tall Chimneys, serves as a physical and symbolic vessel for these buried histories, encapsulating the past’s persistent grip on the present, and the way unspoken truths can quietly poison lives until they are confronted.

Women’s Resilience Amidst the Intersection of Personal and Societal Violence

The narrative explores how women endure and navigate multifaceted trauma—both intimate and societal—drawing attention to the resilience required to survive in such intersecting contexts. Nancy, grappling with the aftermath of domestic violence and public vilification, attempts to reclaim autonomy in a hostile world where even sanctuary feels precarious.

Her isolation and guardedness reflect a fraught negotiation with safety and trust, emphasizing the psychological scars left by male violence. Simultaneously, Elizabeth’s experiences during WWII portray a different but equally harrowing kind of endurance: managing the relentless pressures of war, rationing, fear of betrayal, and impossible moral choices.

Both women embody survival strategies shaped by the times and their circumstances, highlighting how female resilience is not a simplistic triumph but an ongoing, often ambivalent, struggle marked by sacrifice, compromise, and quiet defiance.

Moral Ambiguity and the Ethical Complexity of Survival in Extremis

A central, more intellectually challenging theme is the exploration of morality in situations where survival demands ethically ambiguous choices. Elizabeth’s decision to harbor a German pilot and conceal dark secrets about neighbors reflects the excruciating dilemmas faced during wartime—where loyalty, compassion, fear, and suspicion collide.

These morally gray areas challenge simplistic narratives of right and wrong, revealing how survival can necessitate actions that haunt the conscience long afterward. 

Similarly, Nancy’s ultimate decision to let Martin drown—effectively a choice between self-preservation and the life of her abuser—raises unsettling questions about justice, culpability, and the psychological toll of violence.

These moments invite readers to wrestle with the uncomfortable reality that human beings often operate in shades of gray rather than black and white, especially when confronted with threats that imperil their very existence.

The Fragility of Identity and the Quest for Reclamation Amidst Displacement and Trauma

Throughout the novel, identity is depicted as fluid, fragile, and deeply impacted by trauma and displacement. Nancy’s physical and psychological transformation—cutting her hair, changing her appearance, and retreating from public life—symbolizes her attempt to shed a past marred by violence and public scandal.

Yet it also exposes the fragility of selfhood under duress. The tension between erasure and assertion of identity permeates her journey as she tries to piece together a life that feels coherent and safe.

Elizabeth’s wartime identity, shaped by roles as wife, mother, and protector, is similarly fractured by loss and betrayal, complicating her sense of self and place in the world. The novel suggests that reclaiming identity after trauma is neither linear nor wholly restorative but a fragile, ongoing process marked by memory, silence, and sometimes painful confrontation with the past.

The House as a Liminal Space Between Past and Present, Safety and Threat, Truth and Concealment

Tall Chimneys operates as more than just a setting; it is a complex, liminal space where time periods collide and the boundaries between safety and danger blur. The house embodies the tension between refuge and imprisonment, serving both as a sanctuary for Nancy’s healing and a crypt for Elizabeth’s buried secrets.

The physical structure—with its wartime shelters, hidden notes, and concealed histories—mirrors the psychological states of the characters, where the past is never fully locked away but seeps into the present through memories, discoveries, and spectral echoes.

This theme explores how places can hold trauma and memory, becoming active participants in the narrative of survival and revelation rather than mere backdrops.