About the Book

Book: Shetland Sunset Author: Linda Shenton Matchett Genre: Christian Suspense Release Date: January 18, 2026

Bonded by a cause but an ocean apart, will their love survive a world war? After months in Norway helping his cousins with their fishing business, American Askel Westgard seems trapped when the Germans invade until he has a chance to get back at the Occupiers as part of the Shetlandsgjengen, or Shetland gang, a group of fishermen who transport weapons and equipment from Shetland to Norway under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s just met refuses to join him in safety. Will he ever see her again? Distraught when the Germans overrun her beloved Norway, Tonje Bondevik refuses to take the occupation sitting down. She joins the fledgling resistance movement, deriving great satisfaction distributing the underground newspaper and performing acts of sabotage…until the day the Nazis come looking for her, and she must flee for her life. Perhaps she should have listened to the handsome Norwegian American when he offered to take her to Shetland.

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About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state, immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors, and drinks copious amounts of tea.

More from Linda

Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands, is an archipelago of about one hundred islands, with fewer than twenty being inhabited. Originally a base for Norwegian Vikings, Shetland came under Scottish rule when King Christian I pledged the island as part of his daughter’s dowry when she was betrothed to James III of Scotland. The island continues to feature an intriguing mix of Norwegian and Scottish heritage in customs, language, and celebrations. Interestingly, Shetland is geographically closer to Norway than Scotland. The Shetland Bus is the nickname for a World War II clandestine operation during which fishermen smuggled supplies, weapons, radio operators, and agents into occupied Norway and ferried refugees out of Norway to Shetland and England. From 1941-1945, two hundred missions were carried in winter because of the nearly twenty-four hours of darkness that occurred during those months, but that meant crossing in rough, unforgiving seas. Additionally, the risk of being caught by German aircraft or patrol boats was high, and forty-four members lost their lives. Authors get their ideas and inspiration from many sources, and I learned about the Shetland Bus from an episode of Shetland, a modern-day BBC mystery show that featured a fictional cold case associated with the “bus.” I was able to read multiple memoirs and autobiographies and watch oral history interviews with Shetland Bus participants. It is my hope that Shetland Sunset honors the brave ordinary men who did extraordinary things.

Interview with the Author

Did you use a functional outline, or was it just chaos that somehow worked?

I’m a planner in all aspects of my life, so I heavily prepare before beginning a manuscript. My outlines are extensive and include a full description of each scene, the aim of the scene, which characters point of view, day/date/time, texture (such as weather and sensory element), end of chapter hook, and any historical information I want to include. Having said that, sometimes the characters have a mind of their own, and a scene proceeds differently than planned.

What’s one writing rule you believe in and one you think is made to be broken?

There are several “mechanical” rules to writing and “Show don’t tell” is the most important for me. Readers want to use their imagination, and evocative description and effective dialogue allow that to happen. I probably drive my editor to distraction with the grammatical rules I love to break such as using sentence fragments. A lot. To me story is more important than structure and shaking up so-called grammatical structure can add tension or other elements.

How has writing this book changed you?

Over the years of writing World War II fiction, I’ve turned up countless stories of bravery, but learning about the fishermen involved in the Shetland Bus was life changing. Firstly, these men came up with the idea on their own. Britain’s Special Operations Executive got involved later. Secondly, they used fishing boats that are only fifty to seventy feet in length to cross the North Sea between Shetland and occupied Norway at night during the winter months. From what I understand the North Sea is difficult to navigate on a good day, let alone in the dark. The sailors transported weapons and supplies to Norway and ferried refugees and downed airmen to Shetland. The distance is about 200 nautical miles, and the trip can take 36-48 hours one way! I find the whole idea terrifying, and yet these men made hundreds of trips during the war.

What are you working on next?

I’m about halfway through writing a mail order bride Christmas story that will be published this December. After writing five books about the resistance during World War II, I needed something “lighter.” I’m also researching a new series called Hometown Heroines that will take place in Laurel, Maryland during WWII. Lots of romance and happily ever after.

Is there a genre or format you haven’t tried yet but would like to?

I would love to try my hand at fantasy/science fiction. I enjoy Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series and Keely Brooke Keith’s Uncharted series, and I think it would be fun to create an imaginary world in which to set stories.