Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book is out now.

Once There Were Wolves was such a hit for me when I read it a few years ago. And just like with that one, this one started off a bit slow but then the last half really revved up and then it was over.

McConaghy has such a way with words and puts you right in the setting. This book is told from the point of views of those that are on the island - Dominic, Rafa, Fen and Orly as well as Rowan - the random body washes to shore. I have been reading a lot of books (by pure chance) where people are isolated in their environment. The island they are living is off the coast of Antarctica and the only people who visit are researchers.

I was fascinated by the life that this family led on this island. The children especially was so isolated for so long. I would love to have seen what life was like for them when they left the island. They experienced a lot while on the island and saw & done things that they were too young to witness.

There was one part about 80% in where I GASPED. I was not expecting the reveal at all. It changed the whole last bit of the book and as I mentioned bam it was over.

"Shearwater is a place of ghosts, after all, and it has found mine and delivered him back to me."

I had planned to do a tandem read but I started via audio and just kept with it. I was very happy to hear that we did get four narrators for each characters - Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West. The two most distinct of the four were the male voices. I believe it was Steve West who did the voice of Dominic; it was deep and rough sounding and weathered for all that he went through on the island. I am also assuming that Cooper Mortlock provided the voice for young Orly. He brought such youthness, full of wonder in his delivery.

I do like that McConaghy doesn't stretch it but I felt like I just need a bit more of the ending. I wanted to know more of what would happen in the after.

I recommend this if you are looking for atmospheric, slow burn suspense set on an island!