The Forgotten Shore is a dual timeline page-turner, full of atmosphere (I loved the settings of rural Scotland and Newfoundland), mystery, and great characters.
Here’s the official book description:
A sweeping and atmospheric story of family ties, interwoven mysteries, love and redemption, set between Scotland and Newfoundland
1940: Wounded in action, Archie Maxwell returns to his Scottish family estate of Rosslie. But between the uneasy company of his father's new wife, and the nightmares that haunt him, he finds the house more of a battleground than a refuge.
1980: Journalist Eva Bayne arrives at Rosslie looking for a story. Since Archie's disappearance forty years ago, the Maxwells have lived in the shadows - and Eva is drawn to their mystery. Especially when a glimpse of a photograph stirs up long-buried memories of her childhood in Newfoundland . . .
Could uncovering the truth heal the wounds of Eva's past? And what will it cost for Rosslie to give up its secrets?
I really enjoyed this book and was in awe of how expertly the author created such compelling characters—especially Archie—while weaving together the different timelines and building a mystery that keeps you turning the pages.
The shifts between timelines (Scotland in 1940 and 1980, and Newfoundland in 1966 and 1980) were seamless. The transitions never felt jarring or disruptive and the story flowed naturally as the mystery unfolded without feeling forced or overly plotted.
The settings were beautifully and precisely described—you didn’t just feel like you were there, you wanted to be there.
If you're looking for a romance at the heart of the story, this might not be the book for you. But the writing is so strong, and the exploration of relationships and socio-economic changes in both countries so interesting, that I didn’t miss it. It’s the best book I’ve read in a while. Thoroughly recommended.
You can find out more about the book and the author on Sarah Maine's website: https://sarahmainebooks.com/
- Publisher : Hodder Paperbacks
- Publication date : 28 May 2024
- Edition : 1st
- Language : English
- Print length : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1399717650
- ISBN-13 : 978-1399717656