The new novel by the author of An Honest Living, 2022, and The Stolen Coast, 2023, is extremely well-crafted—it’s not just the superb writing but also the structure of the story, which grabs the reader from the opening paragraphs and keeps them constantly on their toes, trying to figure out what’s going on, and becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of these beautifully constructed characters. Murphy outdoes himself here, spectacularly.
Murphy establishes a palpable sense of foreboding as these unexplainable mysteries begin to accrue. He is less successful, or less interested, in resolving them, however, and the book’s final impact is dulled as a result.
Masterful ... Murphy takes time to flesh out each of his main characters before executing a series of dizzying rug pulls. It’s a devilish twist on the traditional locked-room mystery.
Another top-notch effort by Murphy, one of the most distinctive of young crime-oriented novelists ... Though the climax seems forced, the sly, subversive way Murphy undercuts Agatha Christie and Big Chill tropes keeps the reader on edge. As with his previous novel, The Stolen Coast (2023), he makes the most of the coastal setting, advancing the belief of Jim’s forebearers that it has 'a special wavelength or disposition' conducive to ghosts.
