A mysterious woman washes up on a remote island off the coast of Antarctica. She’s looking for something, and the father with his three children, who are hired as maintenance for a research lab, are hesitant about what it is she tells them.
This books starts off as a literary fiction, but dives into a thriller with so many twists and turns at every chapter. The audiobook narration brings life into this all but abandoned world. All the characters give so much to this book that the multiple POV’s make it a fast paced nail biter.
Absolutely would recommend!

I have loved everything that I have read by Charlotte McConaghy and Wild Dark Shore was another five-star read! In this story we follow Dominic Salt and his three children, who are the last caretakers of a remote island near Antarctica that they are preparing to leave due to rising sea levels. The plot thickens when a mysterious woman named Rowan washes ashore. We have themes of family, isolation and environmental change. The characters' internal struggles and evolving relationships are beautifully portrayed, making you deeply invested in their fate. The story's atmospheric setting and eloquent prose create a haunting and immersive reading experience. This is a poignant exploration of human resilience and the bonds that hold us together. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys atmospheric and character-driven stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own.

Personally bounced of a bit of the narration, but this is definitely going to be popular. A recommended purchase for most collections and an easy recommendation to fans of How High We Go In the Dark.

On a tiny island between Australia and Antartica, where researchers are trying to save all seeds from every known type of vegetation as the sea waters are rising (presumed to be from global warming although this book isn't about that), one family is left on the island for the next 6 weeks until the island will be deserted, or under water.

Father Dominic Salt, his children Raff (18), Fen (17) and Orly (9) are left to care for the island and the lighthouse and the research facility. Their mother has died and this has changed each of them in different ways. One day, a woman, nealy dead, washes up on the shore and they take her in and nurse her back to health. But is she a danger to their family? Why would she be all the way down to their island when there is nothing around this area?

I enjoyed the narration and the accents of the characters. The story was compulsive to listen to - I finsihed in a day because I could not stop listening. Each of the characters were so well-written and I was very involved with each of them, not finding where the author was going to take the story.

My thanks to Net Galley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book.

Macmillan Audio ALC
I am so glad I gave this book a go because I have been wanting to try this author for a while, and there's no better way to do it than with a full cast audiobook. The narrations here were stellar. I loved how each captured their character and it kept me engaged because of how all their performances captured the characters. I'd definitely listen to all these narrators again. Now with the story, I knew I was getting a slow moving character driven story - which are not always for me. I did find a lot of the middle to be boring. I actually considered not finishing. However, the author did have way of slowly unraveling the plot enough to keep me wanting to know how it would all play out. I did come to care for Rowan, Dominic, Raff, Fen, and Orly. This was a fascinating way to look at climate change and the detrimental effects its having on the earth. And the last 30% really pulled it all together for me and I appreciated the character's reflections and growth. It gave me lots to think, about and I'm glad I gave it a shot.

This book was beautifully rendered, and the climax wrecked me. It is a story of love, loss, grief, and survival. The island itself takes on a life of its own as it is deeply atmospheric. The ensemble cast of narrators did an excellent job. 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

I love a remote location thriller and this one delivered with it's atmospheric and haunting location of a remote island near Antarctica. This island is inhabited by Dominic Salt and his children - and no one else. Until they discovery and take in a mysterious woman, Rowan, who washes ashore during a brutal storm. But as Rowan recovers, both she and the Salts begin to suspect that no one is telling the whole truth. As the waters start to rise, radios are sabotaged, and and a freshly dug grave is discovered, it feels like danger is closing in.

This one really makes you think about the lengths we go to in order to protect what we love, even as the world crumbles around us. There is so much psychological tension and twists, it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The narrators did an amazing job of creating an eerie atmosphere.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC.

A lyrically written, atmospheric thriller, set on a bleak island at the end of the world. Dom and his three children are carving a life on Shearwater Island, grieving the death of their mother, studying the effects of climate change and monitoring a crumbling seed vault. Then one dark stormy day, a woman washes up on shore.

This novel has the feel of a near-future apocalyptic thriller, with the tone of enemies to lovers miscommunication love story. Secrets, lies, suppressed desires, missed opportunities to be truthful, grief, misplaced loyalties and a dramatic timeline amps up the tension.

The characters were finely drawn with each struggling with their own guilt and anger. The story unfolds with emotional precision, well-paced with startling twists. I loved reading about the kindness, the loyalty, the closeness of the siblings and Rowan’s empathy as she slowly falls in love with the whole family.

I just struggle with why a precious seed vault that contains all that can save humanity would be placed on a barren, storm-swept, ocean-beaten island that is nearly impossible to reach.

4.5 out of 5

The Salt family are the caretakers of Shearwater, a small island near Antarctica. They live in the lighthouse on the island. One stormy day, a woman washes ashore and they save her. But she is not as she seems, and the Salt family carry many secrets.

I was gifted a copy of the audiobook, which had a full cast performance. It took a little while for me to get into it, but once I got invested in the story and characters, I was enjoying it. Well, maybe not enjoying as it was kind of terrifying in terms of climate change and the realities we will be facing. This was a full on, all-emotions-on-deck-type book. I cried so hard. But it was a good cry. There was a lot of food for thought. Despite the slow to grab me start, I was really engaged the further I got. This book is hard to classify, it covered a lot of themes and elements of several genres. There was a lot of action and suspense, and a really atmospheric sense of place. This book was dark and stormy, and I loved it.

Unfortunately the narrators here kindof ruined the book for me. I found them unclear, with a lack of enunciation or characterization. I may give the book a go when it comes out though.

This book was beautifully written with a powerful and impactful message, however, it just wasn’t for me. I can appreciate that this is well written book and there is probably an audience out there that will love this, but it just did not do it for me. It was a mix of a couple of things. 1: the plot really dragged out. I feel like I waited a long time for anything to happen, and when it did, I wasn’t really even interested anymore and it didn’t wow me. 2: The audio was hard to listen to at times. The voice of Dom was so hard to listen to and understand. Half the time I felt like he was whispering and I found myself trying to go back to hear what he was saying and still didn’t understand. 3: Although the facts about the environment and plants were interesting, sometimes the facts would go on for so long that I felt like I was back in science class. All in all, I appreciate the message. The book was very powerful and impactful, I just really had a hard time getting through it. This may have been because I listened on audio and some parts of that were hard to listen to, but there’s no way to tell at this point.
2.5 stars (I’ll round to 3)
Because this review is below 4 stars, I am not going to post on my socials out of respect for the author, and I will wait for the release date to submit my review on Goodreads.

This novel is a beautifully atmospheric, character-driven story that kept me engaged from start to finish. The multiple POVs worked seamlessly, offering a deep, intimate look into each perspective. While the focus is more on the characters than the plot, there’s still plenty of mystery, and the slow unraveling of secrets kept me turning the pages.

The writing is lyrical and immersive, perfectly capturing the isolation and tension of the remote island setting. While the ending wasn’t what I had hoped for, it was fitting and left a lasting impression. A compelling, thought-provoking read.

Thank you, NetGalley & Macmillan Audio, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was given the opportunity to listen to the audio version of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. This audio book included the use of several narrators to lend their voices to multiple characters and the points of view they all share in this novel.
Set on a remote island, this novel explores situations that could possibly occur, at least regarding the potential loss of important data. These elements are quite educational yet the author does a wonderful job balancing this substantial material with the more general elements of suspense and complicated relationships.
I felt empathy for most of the characters and found myself rooting for their success.
At it's base the storyline is unique. At the superficial level the main adult characters struggle with their attraction to one another in their enemies to lovers trope.
Overall, I loved the narration and the story kept my attention by providing tension and suspense from start to finish.

This book is absolutely phenomenal. After I finished listening to the audiobook, I immediately ordered the physical copy to re-read and keep in my library, something I have never done before. So there you go, need I even say more??

From the very first sentence I knew this book was going to be special. Every once in a while the author will hit you with a sentence so full of emotion yet so direct and unexpected it just punches you right in the gut. Set on a remote island, a sinking island, where the seeds for the world's supply of plant life is being preserved against climate change, the descriptions of the natural surroundings, the wildlife, and the connectedness of the ecosystem are beautiful and haunting and make you think.

Then we have the characters and the plot. The author somehow managed to write a character-driven story that is packed with plot. It's both emotional and suspenseful. It's a slow burn and it's action-packed. When a boat crashes in a storm, stranding a woman on the island, the family charged with closing up operations finds their quiet world and their comfortable routines upended. How did she end up on this remote island? Can they trust her? She, in turn, finds the arrangements on the island suspicious, and keeps her true motives close. As the family and the woman get to know each other and secrets are revealed, the pace of the story picks up rapidly, escalating to a tense and heartbreaking conclusion.

You will absolutely fall in love with the characters. Narrators Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West brought the personalities to life so beautifully, with a depth of emotion that helped me really connect to each story individually. Their narration also helped to build the suspense that complemented the emotional storyline and the beautiful writing.

This book publishes on March 4th and trust me, it's going to be one that everyone is talking about.

“𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮.”

A massive thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listeners copy through Netgalley - this was one of if not my top anticipated release of 2025 and it did not disappoint! Unlike her previous books, there’s a few POVs and each are done by their own narrator (Saskia Maarleveld did fantastic with her portion as I knew she would; she also does Once There Were Wolves).

McConaghy has such a beautiful way of writing descriptive and atmospheric literary fiction that pulls you in with the depth of the characters and weaving of the story. Incorporating environmental crises with mystery, suspense, drama, passion, grief, secrets, forgiveness, and loyalty makes for a stunning story that you’ll be left thinking about again and again. The title alludes to more than just the weather and nature slowly taking claim of the island; it reflects the turmoil within each character and the tension of secrets, of the consequences of choices and their ripple effects. And goodness, that ending!

Content includes minor profanity, references to severe bodily injuries and dead bodies, various losses of loved ones, and some brief sexual content.

I give this 4.5 (rounded up to 5). McConaghy is one of those rare authors whom every work she creates is top tier; you know what to expect and yet it still surpasses. I loved it but Migrations remains my top favorite (though not by much!) The audiobook is fantastic and I eagerly await for a physical copy that I can go back through to really savor, but since I’m a paperback girlie I guess I’ll have to wait.

Publication day is March 4th!

A widowed father and his three children find a woman washed up on their remote island during a violent storm. Dominic Salt and his family appear to be the only inhabitants living in the Lighthouse and tending a vacant research facility and seed bank located between Tasmania and the Antarctic. This is a fascinating mystery set on a bleak island teaming with wildlife and threatened by the ever- rising ocean. Everyone has a secret in Wild Dark Shore and readers will race to finish.
Unputdownable.

*Wild Dark Shore* by Charlotte McConaghy is a hauntingly beautiful tale that skillfully blends suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. Set on the remote Shearwater Island, the story captures the isolation and fragile beauty of a world on the brink of collapse. McConaghy’s prose is evocative, pulling readers into a cold, storm-battered world where secrets and survival intertwine. The characters, especially the enigmatic Rowan and the resilient Salt family, are deeply compelling, each grappling with loss, hope, and the need for connection. This is a captivating novel about trust, redemption, and the power of new beginnings in the face of relentless adversity. A gripping, atmospheric read that lingers long after the final page.

Wild Dark Shore is an absolute triumph—a dazzling blend of lyrical prose, unraveling mystery, and profound environmental urgency. Charlotte McConaghy has done it again! As an early reader and listener of Migrations and Once There Were Wolves, I was already captivated by her storytelling, and this latest novel has only deepened my admiration.

Set on the remote Shearwater—a tiny island near Antarctica—McConaghy crafts a world where isolation and nature’s relentless fury collide. The Salts, led by Dominic and his three resilient children, maintain the world’s largest seed bank, a poignant symbol of hope amid rising sea levels. Their lives are irrevocably changed when, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a mysterious woman washes ashore. Her arrival not only disrupts the fragile balance of their isolated existence but also unravels hidden secrets: sabotaged radios, a freshly dug grave, and truths that challenge the very bonds of trust.

What I adore most about Wild Dark Shore is how it seamlessly marries the introspection of literary fiction with the suspense of a mystery. McConaghy’s writing is atmospheric and immersive, pulling you into every storm-lashed moment and intimate revelation. Each character is vividly drawn, making their triumphs and tragedies feel deeply personal. I found myself sorrowful when the journey ended, yet profoundly grateful for the emotional ride.

In a world where climate change is an ever-looming threat, Wild Dark Shore serves as both a beautiful narrative and a timely warning. It reminds us of the impossible choices we make to protect the people and the precious fragments of nature we hold dear—even as the world around us shifts and disappears.

I can confidently say that I will read anything McConaghy writes. Wild Dark Shore earns a resounding five stars from me—a must-read masterpiece that enchants, provokes, and lingers in your heart long after the final page.

I always love an audiobook with multiple narrators and this one was exceptional with Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, Steve West. Theu all four perfectly embody their characters.

I have to applaud an author who can create such a unique story with really complicated characters in a setting that is so unusual that I go down a rabbit hole to try and find out more. This book definitely fits this bill. I did discover that Shearwater island does not exist but is based on an island that does exist between Antarctica and Australia. The book involves Rowan, a woman who mysteriously washes ashore on the island inhabited only by a man and his three children, the youngest being about 8 years old and the other two being older teens. All of the characters, including Orly, the eight year old are extremely complex and we slowly discover all their layers and backstories as the book progresses. The purpose of the island is to store seeds for future use as Earth is destroying itself with climate change so there is almost a dystopian futuristic aspect to the story but this is mostly secondary to the slow (but not boring) revelations around what has happened with the characters who remain on the island and the ones who are no longer there. And to add more suspense, the island is not so slowly sinking so the inhabitants are faced with trying to save the seeds while wondering when they will be rescued and negotiating their own complex relationships. The story is told from several different POVs, including the five main characters but also some who only make rare appearances. If you enjoy complex situations, characters and storylines that really keep you thinking and can tolerate endings that aren’t neatly wrapped up, I would highly recommend this book.
I listened to the audio version which featured several narrators (or at least one male and one female) and were all excellent. They made the story immersive and real.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica, and they live in the lighthouse on the island. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. During a violent storm a woman washes up on shore and the Salts nurse her back to health.

This is quite different from most of the books I read and I was quite involved in the story. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cooper Mortlock; Katherine Littrell; Saskia Maarleveld; and Steve West. I have no idea which parts were narrated by which narrator but they all did a great job. Whoever narrated Dominic had a very deep gruff voice and sometimes delivered his lines in a husky whisper which I had trouble with but I think that's more my hearing than anything and it got easier as time went on. I loved the realistic-sounding voice of the youngest child - Orly (even though I thought his name was Ollie until more than half-way through).

There's a lot going on in this book and descriptions of the island, the buildings and the weather are very detailed and atmospheric. The story is a little bit to do with climate change and a little bit speculative and a lot to do with family dynamics, with a mystery thrown in. The cover perfectly depicts the tone of this book. If it hadn't been for the romance scenes I probably would've given it 5 stars. The romance seemed totally out of place to me even though I see how it fits into the story. I had been hoping for a different ending and yet it seemed appopriate. I confess I shed a few tears throughout the book.

TW (could be spoilerish): Sexual activity between an adult and a minor, animal cruelty (historical), mental health issues.

My thanks to McMillan Audio, via Netgalley, for approving my request to listen to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: March 4, 2025