Seal Island

Cecilia (Cecil) Hargrave arrives at the house bequeathed to her by her aunt, on the coast of Maine, ready to begin a new phase of her life. She is not settled into her new life before she meets three men – each unique in his own way. As Richard the newspaper editor, Tom the lobsterman and Ronan the reclusive neighbor begin to entwine themselves into her life, Cecil soon learns that not is all as it appears. What starts out as a gift turns into a mystery of classic gothic proportions as she learns that her aunt did not simply die – she was murdered. As the mystery of her aunt’s murder haunts her, the truth about at least one of her new friends begins to surface.

In her premier book, author Kate Brallier wonderfully weaves Cecil’s story, as she deals with not only the death of her aunt, and inheriting her aunt’s house and business, but also the mystery around her death. The reader is also treated to some wonderful character development as Cecil’s relationships change with Tom, Richard and Ronan. The relationships with each of the men make Cecil’s personality multi-dimensional and she comes completely to life on the pages of the book.

Adding to the allure of this absorbing story is the portrayal of the thunderously beautiful Maine Coast. Even on a sunny day its coastline is darkly evocative and perfect for a mystery. Fans of the original Dark Shadows will feel like they have stepped back into that program as Cecil’s story unfolds.

The one weakness of the story is that the reader may find the answers to the several mysteries before Cecil and wonder why she too is not seeing what is clearly before her. That aside, Seal Island is a book to sink your teeth into.

Reviewed by: Regan