Member Review

A truly haunting tale, beautifully written.

"Saltwater" opens in the Summer of 1896. Tom Torrance works for the Northern Lighthouse Board, and is travelling to the Isle of Stroma off the northern coast of Scotland, to oversee the completion of a new lighthouse which will guide ships through one of the most dangerous stretches of water in Scotland. Accompanied by his brother Jamie, he is returning from Edinburgh following the death of their mother. Construction of the lighthouse has been plagued by difficulties, but Tom is determined to see it finished by Midsummer, an important time on Stroma.

However, no sooner has Tom landed on the isle, and resumed work, than he is plagued by one problem after another. The strange behaviour of the superstitious islanders, combined with the growing anxiety amongst his workers, leave him weary and restless. He has a growing sense of dread, not helped by his feckless brother's lack of interest in the work, his growing infatuation for a local wise-woman, Flora, and his inability to sleep. And as midsummer approaches, the tension rises still more. He is urged to return home, but insists he must complete the job. But when he starts seeing ghosts, he questions his sanity.

As with the author's previous book, "Saltwater" is set against the backdrop of a glorious, wild, beautiful and dangerous part of Scotland. We experience the barren land, the wild winds and the blue skies through Tom's eyes. The waters around Stroma are treacherous, and while at the time, the main trade was fishing, the fishermen had a healthy respect for the sea and in particular the whirlpool known as the Swilkie. The reason for the lighthouse was to make the Pentland Firth a safer passage for ships.

Along the way we meet a colourful cast of characters - surly fishermen, a well-meaning minister, a rough but fair foreman, and Flora's mother, Thrawn Jean, a wise-woman equally respected and feared by the superstitious villagers. Most of the book is narrated by Tom, although now and then we see events from the perspective of Jamie and Flora. As his fears grow, his migraines and sleeplessness pull him down, and he slowly comes to realise that there is more to the islanders superstitions than he allowed for. It's this slow build-up of fear and apprehension that keep the pages turning, as the reader and Tom question what is happening to him. The climax of the story is truly chilling.

Much of the background to Stroma is based on fact, making the story all the more poignant. The lighthouse still exists today, albeit unmanned.

Fans of Susan Hill and Michelle Paver will love this, the second book in a planned 4-book series of ghostly tales. Highly recommended.