Holy cow, it has been a long time since a book has ripped my heart out and put it back together like this one. Her books are always scary because it genuinely can happen, but also make you see the world in such a different way.

The location of this book is perfect. This little family is flawed but perfect. There are so many things you can learn from it!

This would be a perfect book club book.

Charlotte McConaghy sure knows how to break your heart in the most beautiful way. Wild Dark Shore is a gorgeous literary fiction novel set on the remote island of Shearwater, not far from Antartica. Dominic Salt and his three children- Raff, Fen and Orly- are living on the island by themselves. They have stayed behind after all of the other researchers have left to pack up and protect the seeds they've been housing at the world's largest seed bank. During a particularly bad storm a woman washes up on the shores of their island. Rowan is saved by Dominic and his children and soon becomes immeshed in their life on the island. Everyone is hiding something from each other, and as their secrets come to light will they be able to work together and save the seeds and put their pasts behind them. McConaghy truly is one of the most beautiful story tellers, the nature, the emotions, the characters are all perfection!

After seeing nothing but rave reviews, and many “best book of the year” comments I was so excited to get this audiobook from @macmillan.audio!

Set on a remote island, this is a mysterious drama of an isolated family and the woman that washes up on the shore.

The best part of this novel was the setting, I did feel like I was right there in the wind and rain and watching the ocean. The audio was incredibly atmospheric and the full cast of narrators really brought it to life.

Although I did like this one, I’m not quite as obsessed as others. There was a good chunk in the middle of the book that I grew a bit tired of it, and wondered where exactly this story was going. I wish it concentrated more on the drama of the characters and less on the mystery, as a lot of what was being forecasted as plot twists ended up falling flat. But the characters, and the setting were so well done that I was still wowed by the writing and I’d like to finally read her other books.

Wild Dark Shore is an exceptional, emotionally intense read that captivated me from start to finish. While I thought it would be hard for Charlotte McConaghy to top Once There Were Wolves, this book came incredibly close. Set on a remote island between Australia and Antarctica, the story follows a father, his three children, and a mysterious woman who washes ashore, all struggling with grief and trauma. The plot is action-packed and full of suspense, with constant twists that will keep you hooked. McConaghy’s beautiful writing and vivid descriptions of nature, paired with a genre-bending narrative, make this book a unique and unforgettable experience.

The characters in Wild Dark Shore are unforgettable, and I felt deeply connected to each one. Their emotional struggles, their bond with the natural world, and their personal growth throughout the story had me invested from the very first page. The exploration of grief, love, and the environmental crisis felt raw and real without being preachy, making the book both moving and thought-provoking. The pacing is perfect, with every chapter driving the story forward, and the ending left me in tears.

Dominic Salt and his three children live on a remote island off the coast of Antarctica, called Shearwater. The island is home to the world's largest seed bank. The waters are rising and soon the island will be uninhabitable. All of the other researchers have already left and the Salt family will only be there a few more weeks finishing up saving and sorting the seeds. After a huge storm, a mysterious woman washes up on the shore, barely alive. They take her in and help nurse her back to health. As we go on, we learn that all is not what it seems and that both Dominic and the woman, Rowan have secrets to hide. As Rowan keeps growing closer to the family she slowly starts to uncover some things. They must decide whether to put aside their differences to work together to save the seeds and themselves. There are lots of twists and turns in this atmospheric story. The island is so well described and definitely becomes a character itself. As the tension continues to mount, you feel like you are trapped on the island with them. The writing is really beautiful and keeps you right in it until the end.

The multicast narration was excellent and really added to the atmosphere of the story. I thought it was maybe a bit long, but overall a great read! Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for this gifted, advanced listeners copy. If you love climate fiction with a bit of mystery and suspense, give this one a try!

I was expecting Wild Dark Shore to have mysterious and chilling scenery, and a bleak but interesting story of natural disaster. What I got was a truly compelling novel with dark beauty, enigmatic secrets, broken trust, and multi-layered characters that kept me reading late into the night. I wasn't ready to care as deeply as I would for the seed bank caretaker family on Shearwater Island. Nor for Rowan, the woman who washes ashore mere weeks before they must abandon the island and bank due to rising seas and terrible storms resulting from climate change.

I'm not usually a "slow burn" novel kind of reader, but I found myself fully engrossed in the harshness of the situation on Shearwater. I was breathless as each character's onion was slowly peeled back, exposing the raw grief, pain and (surprising) hope inside. The captivating experience of Wild Dark Shore kept reminding me that THIS is why I read. THIS is why I love books.

I had not heard of Charlotte McConaghy before this novel, but I will certainly go to find other works of hers, as she is such a talented story teller.

I have never read one of Charlotte McConaghy's books, but they have always sounded beautiful, and her connection with nature has almost seemed something of a spirital thing, so I have been telling my self ...pick up Migration...pick up something she has written. I finally picked up Wild Dark Shore. Now. I can't compare this book with her others, because I have said, I haven't read them, but I will say this, I hit it right the nail on the head on how I felt her writing would be.

As I listened to Wild Dark Shore I was so pleased at how well crafted each of her characters were. Instantly I felt connected, and invested in them . I did not have to wait for the story to develop deep into the book to finally like them. I hate that, I am a very character driven reader.

Ummm, I don't know about you, but I would LOVE to live on an island and be a light house keeper. I know. In no book or movie has that ever turned out well....But...there is a first for everything? Right? I thought the island was a perfect setting for this book and McConaghy's descriptions are colorful and beautiful.. Great for a mystery. Isolated location, wild rough ocean that surrounds you. You can just see the rough seas pounding against the rocks, and maybe even depositing a body there for you to discover and nurse back to health. Yes, the mystery is a bit of a slow burn , but there is a lot taking place within the family as you wait. I never felt the story dragged.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance listen from MacMillan Audio, and it was excellent, with a full cast of narrators that brought this entire story to life.

If you, like me, have heard the constant praise of McConaghy's previous works, and wonder if you should believe the hype...you can. This one did not disappoint

Wild Dark Shores is absolutely amazing! This marks my third Charlotte McConaghy novel. I loved both Migrations and Once There Were Wolves, but this one takes the cake! Set in a not too distant future, on an isolated island off the coast of Antarctica, single dad Dominic and his three kids, caretake and keep watch over the Earth’s largest seed bank. Things get wild when a storm hits and Dominic's daughter saves a drowning woman from the sea. But who is she, and what brought her to such a remote spot?

McConaghy continues to give us deeply relatable characters, and I love how she makes them beautifully flawed. Plus, as an eco-horror fan, I’m all in for the terrifying climate change themes throughout the story.

This story is a mix of bleakness, tenderness, and mystery, but it also shines with hope for the future. The characters are all brave and show deep respect for the land and sea.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by a full cast, and I highly recommend that format—it truly brings the story to

4.5 stars for McConaghy's latest climate fiction, this time set on Shearwater, a small (fictional) island between Australia and Antarctica. As fierce storms and rising waves imperil the island where the Salt family lives are caretakers, a woman washes ashore. When she regains consciousness, she tells the Salts she has come to the island to find her husband, who was the leader of a research group that had been working on the island. She learns that the researchers have departed, and that another ship is expected soon to take the Salt family and the remaining research specimens off the island.

Even as Rowan grows closer to the family members, she remains suspicious: why would her husband leave without contacting her, after he had specifically requested that she come to the island? What is the secret that they seem to be hiding?

The characters in this novel are well developed and complex, and the plot is spooled out at a good pace, revealing backstories and new mysteries. The audiobook was well narrated and very engaging.

I am not generally a fan of climate fiction, but this novel was incredibly compelling. The setting is described so thoroughly that I formed a vivid picture of what this tiny island looked like. The small cast of characters (a welcome change from too many recent reads with so many characters I couldn’t keep them straight) allows the reader to get to know each one intimately, as individuals and in relation to one another. The premise of the story: the body of a woman washes up on the shore of this island near Antarctica, inhabited only by a caretaker and his three children. Incredibly, the woman is alive, and as she recovers, the wary relationships that are formed are captivating. There are so many questions—and pondering those and the possible answers keeps this novel going. I am grateful for the opportunity to have listened to the audiobook, narrated by a cast that really brought these five characters to life. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review. I highly recommend this book!

Anyone who has ever read a Charlotte McConaghy book knows how powerfully she writes, weaving science into a story with gorgeous, fully-fleshed out characters and exciting twists. Wild Dark Shore is another beautiful story from an immensely talented author.

In Wild Dark Shore, the Salt family are the caretakers of Shearwater Island amidst catastrophic climate change. When Rowan washes ashore, the family aren't quite sure what to make of her. The writing is atmospheric and the story is sweeping. McConaghy's Shearwater Island is a bleak, remote place and she perfectly deposits the reader right onto it.

I tandem read the audio with the print version and I can safely say both are excellent. The multi-cast narration really adds an extra layer to the book's feel and the production quality was excellent. I would highly recommend the audio version.

THIS WILL BE MY FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR! Wow, this exceeded my expectations and I cannot stop thinking about the characters. The setting was so detailed, unique, and mysterious. The characters were SO well-developed. I haven't read a book cover to cover as fast as I did in a long time!

This was definitely a book that made for a fantastic audiobook. The full cast was impeccible and I had a rather easy time following each of the story threads.

This is a family story- a story about hope,loss, overcoming grief, sacrfice, and the fragility of life.

The story takes place on a remote outpost in Antarctica where a research station with a seed preserve is being abandoned due to rising sea levels and drastic storms. Dom and his three kids live there taking care of the lighthouse when a mysterious woman washes up ashore threatening to disturb what they have all carefully tried to bury in the past. No one is telling the truth and little things are revealed bit by bit which really worked for me as a reader/listener.

I absolutely thought the writing was beautiful- McConaghy did no disappoint with her character writing either. The contrast between Dom as a single father and Rowan (I THINK that is her name guys audiobooks trash me on the names when I can't see them written out haha) as a "never having children ever" was so well beautifully done.

There is a lot about ecological disaster- with bush fires and rising tides. I think it was less dystopian as some reviews may lead you to believe and set in the present time. There are seed banks throughout the world (at present) and today we are already experiencing a loss of biodiversity and with changing climates. I do love that this story was almost a reclaim back to nature- that no matter what we have a fragile existence here on planet earth and that nature will one day claim us as her own.

Easy 5 stars from me. I teared up at the end and felt it all came back full circle.

A special thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for my audiobook ARC! Published 3.4.2025

Content: some open door scenes and f-words, death and violence

This novel is unique, compelling, and unputdownable. It's the story of a tiny island near Antarctica that holds one of the world's seed vaults, a place that holds the last parts of life should the world be destroyed. Due to climate change, the island is being swallowed by the sea, and the caretakers and scientists need to pack up the seeds to prepare to move them to a new location.

But the isolated island holds lots of secrets - including that none of the scientists remain, the communications lines to the outside world no longer work, and now a mysterious woman has washed ashore with secrets of her own.

Trigger Warnings

Destruction by fire, death

Why Jackie Loves it

This is a unique story that is scary in how relevant this story is with its references to fires and climate change. The story immediately captivated me, but I was even more invested with every chapter. This is a dystopian mystery thriller with family drama all rolled into one powerful book. The end had me gasping. #gifted

I loved this book ! I did not think when I applied to read this that it would interest me but I am so glad I did. This would be one of my favorite books in the last year and a story that will stay with me. I finished and felt I missed the characters.

The seclusion of this far north Island and the family living there that must truly depend on each other, are the real heart of the story. A woman is recused from the ocean and must become accustomed to their world . We slowly discover her reasons for being there and the story becomes intense. The characters of adults, teens and a child are all very realistic. The only issue I had was the audio book had an adult for the child’s voice. It did not detract from the story.
Thank you for the opportunity to listen and provide my honest review.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💃🏼 Vibes: Environmental thriller (I said what I said)
📕 If you like ______, you’ll like this: How High We Go in the Dark
📖/🎧 Read Type: ARC (thank you to @netgalley, Charlotte McConaghy, and Macmillan Audio!)

The remote island of Shearwater was a once-bustling research hub and housed the world’s largest seed bank. It is now home only to the Salt family—Dominic and his three children. The Salts serve as caretakers to the island but are being forced to evacuate because of the rising sea levels and intensifying storms. The final weeks of their departure are complicated by the arrival of a mysterious woman, Rowan, who washes ashore during a ferocious storm. Mutual suspicion and hidden agendas plague the Salt family and Rowan, forcing them to navigate their intertwined secrets.

I wasn't looking for a new favorite author, but Charlotte McConaghy found me with Migrations and it feels like she is showing off at this point. She has cornered the market on “intellectual suspense,” which, let's be honest, is a pretty specific market. This was my most anticipated book of 2025 and it did NOT disappoint. The plot was unexpectedly twisty—I was either gasping, crying, or yearning pretty much the whole time. (The twists hit so much harder when you know nothing, so I do recommend going in blind.) The atmosphere was completely immersive with Shearwater becoming a character. The Salts and Rowan are multilayered and their emotional struggles mirror the fragility of their island home. I don’t normally get into slow burns, but I grew to appreciate the simmer. Watching these characters navigate suspicion and then desperately reach for connection resonated with me. This was more than just a thriller; it was also a poignant exploration of loss, hope, and the definition of home. If you like suspense with a healthy dose of existential dread and introspection, this is for you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Charlotte McConaghy for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for Wild Dark Shore coming out March 4, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed mysteries and thrillers! I love a good psychological drama. I love isolation stories with the backdrop of surviving in the wild elements. This story definitely started off with a bang. I loved remote island. The characters were really interesting. I really loved that the audiobook had a full cast of characters. I love hearing the Australian accents. I thought I added a lot to the story. The only drawback for me was that I would still sometimes get the characters confused. There seemed to be a lot of POVs. There were some things at the end that I was a little confused about. I would definitely check out other books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers!

WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 If you have read a Charlotte McConaghy novel, you know how beautifully she writes about wildlife and the landscape. Let me be the first to tell you, she’s done it again! I listed to this book on audio, and between the full cast and lovely accents, it was amazing! The characters were complex and interesting… but Orly stole my heart in every way. If you want a book with a little thrill, a pinch of romance, atmosphere and wildlife that will suck you in, look no further!

The Salt Family are caretakers to the world’s largest seed bank on a remote island. As sea levels rise, they are the only people left on the island and undertaking the task of packing up the seeds to relocate. When a storm hits, a woman washes onto shore, and the Salts nurse her back to health. During this time, secrets start to emerge from all sides.

Perfect if you like:
•Atmospheric novel.
•Beautiful writing.
•Full cast audio.
•Character driven.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Mood: 🍜🫗

🚪: 45
⚠️: explicit language.

“Where men go, there is harm.”

Similar to her previous two novels, Wild Dark Shore is a propulsive and eerily mysterious story set in a world inescapably impacted by climate change.

Charlotte McConaghy knows how to write compelling climate fiction with an entertaining mix of mystery, romance, and introspection. The audiobook captured my attention and the four narrators did a great job bringing the main characters to life. However, I had a tough time believing in some of the character’s feelings and motivations, particularly between the two adult protagonists, and this weakened the emotional impact of the ending. While I enjoyed Migrations and Once There Were Wolves more, this was still entertaining and thought provoking.

🎉 Happy publication day and thanks to @macmillan.audio for the ALC ♡

*ೃ༄*ੈ‧₊˚ Stranded at the edge of the world, one family’s will to survive the call of the wild.

3.5⭐️ I have been conflicted over this one. The audiobook experience: I did appreciate that we got a full cast narration, which helped as there are no less than 6 different POVs!

I also love an Australian accent and we get many... loved the voice of Dom! Where I struggled was the sluggish first 50% — pacing was very slow for a thriller and I was just waiting for something to happen while trying to track who was who.

Then it ramped into high gear for the last 25% and I started loving the book! There was one major twist that I did not predict that was so good, but then 😭 devastation with the ending, all I can say is truly I felt depressed and sad. 😭

⛈️🌪️⚡The simultaneous raw beauty and destruction of nature was the most compellingly beautiful part of this book. You feel small when you go hike to the top of a mountain, swim in the ocean, look up in the middle of a lightning storm, witness animals in their natural habitat. All these feelings and emotions are captured in Charlotte McConaghy’s atmospheric writing.

🌊 It might have helped me going in to have thought of this more as climate literature combined with a family/drama mystery. Shearwater Island is a fictional place but based off of an real island located between Australia and Antarctica, home to much scientific research.

🐋 Ultimately I would recommend this to nature lovers, environmentalists, and those that don’t mind a sad, heart-breaking book.

TW: Attempted Murder, Death, Death of Parent