Deep character development, a failed cross-cultural teen romance, the horrors of war, deep sea misadventures, the geography of the upper west coast of the U.S. mainland, an apparent murder mystery at sea and subsequent trial, and deeply entrenched racism are all part of this very well written novel.
The setting is the fictional Mystic Harbour on an island somewhere in Puget Sound, and most of the main action takes place as a consequence of the murder/accident at sea in 1954, with flashbacks to WWII. There are many plot twists to this and the outcome of the trial is not predictable until three pages from the end, but there are no loose ends except for the continuing bachelorhood status of the newspaper reporter/owner.
As an example of the intricate physical and emotional character development:
« The veins on his cheeks were broken and smashed flat and appeared as a sort of blue paste below his skin; his Adam’s apple bulged lie a toad’s. He looked to Ishmael, vaguely like an alcoholic scarecrow. »
« The heart of every other, because it had a will would forever remain mysterious. …..he understood this too; that accident ruled every corner of the universe except the human heart. « .
4.8/5
Thanks, Vera.
The Passionate Reader 