Secrets of the Sea: A Novel

By: Nicholas Shakespeare

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Synopsis: &“A story as brooding and insular as the Tasmanian town in which it is set. . . . Expertly crafted, the novel illuminates love&’s craggy depths.&” —Publishers Weekly Shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers&’ Prize Torn by tragedy from his early life on a remote farm in Tasmania, Alex Dove has returned to the rugged island off Australia&’s southern coast years later to start over. A chance encounter with quiet, alluring Merridy Bowman—a young woman caring for her ailing father and similarly haunted by a tangled and catastrophic history—results in marriage, as two damaged souls unite to build a home, family, and livelihood far removed from civilization&’s bustle. Soon they are drawn into the unpredictable dynamics of small-town island life—and into the destructive orbit of an unscrupulous real estate agent who maintains a secret hold over both Doves. But when a shipwreck off the shore thrusts a troubled, possibly criminal teenage castaway into their world, Alex and Merridy&’s tenuously forged happiness is suddenly at grave risk, as they are forced to confront deeper questions about the true meaning of fulfillment. &“Gripping . . . exhilarating . . . cathartic.&”—The Times &“Elegant and enjoyable.&” —The Spectator &“A very good novel indeed.&” —The Scotsman