Kimberly's Staff Pick
Published Date: Mar 4, 2025
Number of pages: 298 pages
Format: Physical book
Genre: Mystery/Literary Fiction
Tags: Intense, Cerebral, Nature, Strong Female Character
Cardigan rating: 5 out of 5
Thoughts
It comes up in conversation sometimes, whether one believes in ghosts or not. Most of the time I simply say no. Sometimes I try to explain, though, that I don’t believe in white sheets and apparitions, or Hollywood movie depictions of ghosts, but I do believe in energies. I believe that a room can feel eerie or creepy, that land can hold on to its history, and that if we stand still in certain places we can feel things that are not currently there. When I say that there are ghosts in Wild Dark Shore, this is how I mean it. I didn’t have to suspend reality to believe in the ghosts of this story, they are woven into the narrative in a way that is believable.
The Salt family, father Dominic and his three children, live on a remote island that houses a research facility, and the world’s largest seed vault. The head scientist sends an email to his wife, Rowan, pleading for help, and she sets off to the island to find him. Her boat succumbs to the dangerous waters, and instead of landing safely, she washes up on shore to be rescued by Dominic’s teenage daughter, Fen. Rowan finds that all the scientists are gone, including her husband, with only the Salt family left, waiting for a rescue boat. She can feel that something bad has happened on the island, and all of them have trouble trusting one another.
The book took on a lot of heavy subjects- climate change, family trauma, mental illness, the ending and the beginning of romantic relationships. It was cerebral without being preachy, but if you’re looking for lighthearted fluff, this isn’t for you. I enjoy the outdoors and am just getting into gardening, so I valued the descriptions of the island wind, the seed research, the native animals, and the sweeping, powerful ocean. The island was as much a character as the humans and animals in the book.
I was taken aback by Rowan saying that she refused to have children because it was the single biggest thing she could do to help reduce her carbon footprint. It seemed too extreme, too radical, even for someone mindful of the environment and climate change. Eventually, we learned why she felt that way and I think that statement was a shield she wielded to not get hurt again. I also think she may have changed her mind in the end. Her character’s progression was not only satisfying, but also made me think. I wish the book had ended differently, but all the questions were answered and I appreciated everything that happened. I cared about most of the characters and am happy to have discovered this book.