Present-day mystery and World War II historical fiction overlap in Jane Johnson's The Sea Gate.

In Jane Johnson's novel, The Sea Gate, set in England, readers are introduced to Becky, a young woman facing multiple crises in her life. Her mother, Genevieve, has just died from cancer. Becky herself has already had a double mastectomy and has just been told her latest scan is abnormal and she needs to come in for a follow-up. Her fiancé of 10 years is being less than supportive. In going through her mom's unopened mail, Becky discovers a letter from Olivia, an elderly cousin who is about to be forced into a nursing facility and is imploring Genevieve to help her stay in her home, not realizing the woman she is attempting to contact has died. Becky decides to travel to Olivia's clifftop mansion in the county of Cornwall and do what she can for her. She arrives to find that Olivia has been hospitalized, the house is a much-neglected wreck, and the people supposedly looking after the elderly woman are, at best, unreliable. Oh, and there's a foul-mouthed parrot who's been allowed free rein in the parlor. As Becky proceeds to do what she can to make the place habitable, she uncovers mysterious artifacts that raise questions about Olivia's past.

The book bounces back and forth between Becky's story in the present day and that of the teenage Olivia, set in Cornwall during the last months of World War II. Although this dual-timeline format is common in historical fiction, Johnson's use of the technique is especially effective. Becky's first-person account is a tale of transformation, as she turns from an unhappy, rudderless young woman into someone who is confident and knows what she wants out of life. It also sets up the mysteries that propel the plot forward. Olivia's narrative makes for excellent WWII historical fiction, covering rural England's experience of the war. This second storyline also answers the questions Becky has about Olivia's past. (For example, Becky is puzzled as to why Olivia is so insistent on blocking up a specific door in the house, while readers are informed of its significance through Olivia's tale). I often find when reading books written in this format that I'll prefer one timeline over the other, but in this case I thought they were equally compelling.

The author handles the narrative voices superbly; both Becky and Olivia come across as unique and interesting characters, fully-formed and multi-faceted. Johnson enables her readers to create a deep bond with each of the women; they're people I came to love and understand over the course of the novel, and each is captivating in her own right.

Johnson's ability to create a sense of place is also a highlight of the novel; she vividly captures the stark beauty of the rugged coast as well as the decrepitude of Olivia's home. She is equally adept at conveying a distinct sense of time, including details about cars, clothing and lifestyles from the 1940s that transport readers to that era without bogging down the story, which flies along, start to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Sea Gate, but it's not without its flaws. My biggest complaint is that the story's villains aren't nearly as well-drawn as the main characters, and come across as poorly crafted caricatures. One of these in particular absolutely cries out for a more detailed treatment, as the depth of the character's perfidy is revealed to the reader without much foreshadowing or subtlety. Also, the story is often predictable and occasionally veers into melodrama, and a large number of loose ends are wrapped up far too neatly in the book's final chapter. I was having too much fun to mind these last faults much, though, and the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses.

The Sea Gate isn't a terribly deep novel, but it is a highly enjoyable one that kept me up late into the night. It's recommended for those looking for a fast, captivating read that mixes a bit of mystery, some history and a dash of romance into an entertaining story — a perfect bit of escapism for a long winter's night or a day at the beach.