This was my first McConaghy title to read, and it did not disappoint. The intrigue and intensity built earlier as an unknown woman washed up on the shore of a remote island at the far end of the world. It becomes clear there are secrets to be unearthed and truths hidden. I found the first third a bit slow … it took more time than perhaps necessary to get to some real action, but the author does do a great job in the process of creating relationships and trust among the inhabitants of the island, given how little they truly know of each other. I felt all the feelings with this read: grief from the loss of loved ones, wonder at the fierceness of nature, and fear of a coming climate crisis. It will be a solid book for readers who enjoy suspense and complicated family dynamics, with a touch of climate crisis thrown in.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, (List Price: $28.99, Flatiron Books, 9781250827951, March 2025)
Reviewed by Christina Tabereaux, The Snail On the Wall in Huntsville, Alabama