"A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon."

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island off the coast of Antarctica. They are still reeling from the loss of Dominic's wife, and the children miss their mother. All of the researchers have left the island. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds for the seed bank before they are transported to safer ground. The wild beauty of nature is all around, but isolation has taken its toll …

One day, a woman is washed ashore, and they rescue her. The family develops a relationship with her, but Rowan and Dominic both feel that the other is keeping secrets from them. It is also discovered that the radios have been destroyed and they have no way to get outside help. And - sea levels are rising.

Charlotte McConaghy's writing is atmospheric and eloquent. You are immersed in the beauty of nature and captivated by its unforgiving nature. This makes the island itself and its wildlife a character, and the isolation creates the tension of a locked room mystery where the inhabitants are at the mercy of nature and each other. The tension is palpable, and that combined with a stranger in their midst creates a compelling plot. This riveting story combines themes of isolation, family, trust, grief, parenthood, nature, and the environment. It also includes a moral dilemma. I loved McConaghy's work and look forward to reading her other novels. This one makes me want to be an explorer!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Charlotte McConaghy for an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Wild Dark Shore was a wow. Intense, complicated, nuanced - so much to unpack and rumination is necessary. Why then not a 5 star? It's deep. It's heavy. It requires thinking. In a normal world timeline, getting wrapped up in a book which requires effort to process would have been great. The 4 star is on me - my brain is already taxed and I'm not sure I was the thinking audience for this one. But that's life inside a 2025 USA Black Mirror episode.

I listened to this on audio and narrators Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West made this feel like a true audio event. It's 1950s sit around the radio to listen to the story level good. Thank you to the producers who put in the money and effort to make the book magnificent on audio.

Set on an isolated island with few inhabitants and some mystery......a family with the awesome responsibility of curating seeds should the world take a darker turn.....a storm....a stranger - all the elements for an interesting tale. Give it a listen.

<I>Wild Dark Shore</I> just joined my shortlist of very favorite books. Both <I>Migrations</I> and <I>Once We Were Wolves</I> were beautiful, but Charlotte really popped off with this one. I was enamored with the audiobook and the last hour had me shook. Will be highly recommending to anyone and everyone.

Dominic Salt and his three children are the caretakers of a
seed collection stored on Shearwater, a small Antarctic island.
Those seeds will one day repopulate the flora of the world when
the floods, fires, and other natural disasters brought on by
climate change destroy the world's plants. But the rising
sea-level has jeopardized the seed collection, and the Salt
family must leave. A few weeks before they will be evacuated, a
woman washes up on shore, and it quickly becomes clear that
her arrival is not just a coincidence. Charlotte McConaghy is
quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. Her stories strike
just the right balance of emotion, suspense, and wonder. The
mutual POVs in this one are done perfectly, and I absolutely
adored the precocious nine year old Orly's perspective. The
narration in this audio was spot on, and enjoyed both narrators
immensely.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Narrated by Cooper Mortlock; Katherine Littrell; Saskia Maarleveld; Steve West

Dominic Salt was never aware of just how much his wife did to raise their first two children until he had to raise their newborn son. If it wasn't for his two older children, still very much children when their baby brother was born, Dom could not have survived that time. Heartbroken, he moved his three children to a remote research island where the four have lived for years now. On one hand, his children have had a very special and enlightening childhood, away from all the distractions of a more normal type of life. But on the other hand, Dom's children had to grow up way before they should have done so and even in this remote place they have had to face perils and heartbreaks that even adults would hope to avoid.

But this time is coming to an end, the island is succumbing to rising sea levels and the family is dealing with the threat to the world's largest seed bank. Time is limited, the ability to save everything is limited, provisions could run out before rescue arrives. Then a woman washes up on shore, here, near Antarctica. The secrets of the Salt family are vast, secrets children shouldn't have to know or keep, and if discovered, this family could be torn apart forever. Dom will do anything for his children and this almost drowned woman has ties to the very worst of the island's secrets.

The story has a constant melancholy feel along with a constant sense of danger and inability to trust. Guilt feelings run rampant among the Salts and this new person, Rowan. So many secrets and actions can hurt others in irreversible ways. I adore the character of nine year old Orly, whose entire short life is wrapped up in this island, the plants, animals, all life. He has such a amazing sense of our connection to everything else and a strong sense of trying to do the right thing. Rowan fits in so well with the Salts, if only the island wasn't being swamped and if only the Salts didn't hide very destructive secrets. The audiobook narration is fantastic, with four narrators that I've enjoyed in the past.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

Oh my god. This book was absolutely fascinating. Why have I not read any of Charlotte McConaghy's other books? I need more. The research that had to have gone into this. Believe me, as soon as this book was over I immediately started googling the island the seed vault that the author used for research. This book was so good and the narration was just incredible. All the different voices just paired so well and they played off of each other and everyone just continued to build the tension. I couldn't stop listening.

This was a bit of a slow burn for me, but I feel like it was warranted and worth it in the end. I enjoyed Orly's botanical factoid interludes, but I'm unclear if he was meant to be talking TO Hank, or if they were supposed to be insights into his thoughts & feelings, OR were subtle nods to what was happening in the main story. I also always wonder why authors choose to write some characters from third person -- in this case, Raff -- when all the other characters are written from first person. I didn't mind; it's just something I noticed. I do, however, wish that there had been a separate narrator for Raff, or at least if one of the male narrators read his chapters. I didn't think the big twist/reveal about Hank was explosive, but it didn't seem like it was supposed to be, and I appreciate that it wasn't. I feel like that portion of the story really added to the nuance of the overall novel and lends itself really well to discussion.

Naturally I'm a bit upset by the ending in regards to Rowan. I understand why McConaghy made that choice, though I wish it didn't have to be that way. I would've liked an epilogue, but that's not a slight against McConaghy; I just love epilogues in general. Overall I enjoyed this book -- the writing, the multiple genres, the knowledge and research that clearly went into it (and sparked my interest enough to do some basic research of my own) -- and I will absolutely be reading more of this author's work.

Charlotte McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore is a thrilling mix of dystopian drama and gothic mystery, set on the harsh, storm-lashed island of Shearwater. This isn’t just a story about climate chaos closing in—it’s about one broken family clinging to survival as their world drowns. The Salts, guardians of humanity’s last seed vault, are barely holding themselves together when a vicious storm spits out Rowan, a stranger with secrets sharper than the ice. Her arrival cracks open old wounds and buried lies, forcing the family to face their ghosts before the rising tides swallow them all.

McConaghy’s writing grabs you by the throat. She paints Shearwater in brutal, cinematic detail that paints the island itself as a character ravaged by climate change. The story moves like the tides: slow, haunting moments of grief give way to heart-stopping tension and shocking plot twists. While the middle sags under its own weight at times, and a key romance feels rushed, the final act delivers a gut-punch ending that’s equal parts devastating and defiant.

Bleak? Absolutely. This is a world where hope feels as fragile as frost. Yet Wild Dark Shore sticks with you—not just for its chilling vision of environmental collapse, but for its raw, messy look at how love fights to survive when everything else is crumbling. McConaghy doesn’t offer easy answers, but she’ll make you *feel* every desperate choice, every flicker of connection in the dark.

(Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook)

If you’re not sure what mood you’re in this book covers them all: suspense, drama, nature/science, relationships. It’s deep; it’s desolate; it will leave a mark on you. I could read it again to pick up on nuances I missed in the first listen.

Absolutely stunning. McConaghy has not once disappointed me and I can confidently say that after finishing this newest work from her, I still have yet to be let down. The writing is beautiful, the atmosphere is beautiful, the story is beautiful. If you have read any of McConaghy's previous books, this is a must read. I am extremely excited for release day and to be able to have a physical copy as there are so many parts that I need to annotate.

The Salts live on a tiny island close to Antarctica. Shearwater is home to the world’s largest seed bank. At one time the island was full of research scientists, but the sea levels are rising, and the researchers all deserted the island. Dominic Salt and his three children are the only inhabitants. The Salts are packing the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Shearwater is a beautiful wild island, but it is also a lonely place. Raff is eighteen years old and after his heart is broken, he is usually found at his punching bag. Fen is seventeen years old; she spends most of her nights on the beach with the seals. Orly is nine years old and obsessed with botany.
A storm sweeps the island, one of the worse storms the Salts have ever seen. A woman is washed ashore. The family nurses, Rowan, the woman back to health. At first they are suspicious of the woman but they soon become attached to her. Rowan finds herself growing close to the Salts. But Rowan has a secret which she doesn’t want to share. But Domonic has secrets too. Can they trust each other and can they protect their precious seeds.
This tale is character driven and yet plot driven. There is a lot of action in this book. The characters are all likable.

There are 586 people on Goodreads who rated this 4 stars or higher and it doesn't come out till next month... and I am one of them. This was such an amazing audiobook! I felt like I was stuck on this remote deserted island right alongside the Salt family. This family ( Dom and his 3 kiddos: Raff, Fen, Orly) are on this island near Antarctica, the only remaining people part of a research team to protect and house the largest seed bank. (What a unique story already). They are the only ones left (we don't know why yet) and then after a horrible storm, a random woman (Rowan) arrives on the island, badly injured, beat up by the sea, and saved by Fen. She's got secrets and the Salts aren't sure if they should trust her, but they have secrets too! The sea level tide continues to rise and connections are made, lost, and secrets start coming to light during their race against time to escape the island. This story was equal parts mystery, family drama and second chances.  There were 4 narrators for this and for the most part I kept it straight, but I wouldn't have minded having a hard copy for reference, especially in the beginning as there are a lot of characters to learn. This amazing story comes out March 4th. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Can't wait to read more of Charlotte McConaghy's work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Cooper Mortlock; Katherine Littrell; Saskia Maarleveld; and Steve West, all of whom do a fantastic job making the story come alive.

On an island in the middle of the ocean, somewhere between Australia and Antarctica, is Shearwater, where Dom and his three children serve as caretakers of the wild island, a few scientists, the world's largest seed collection and many, many animals. As the storms get worse, the scientists are leaving, and Dom is haunted by the death of his wife. Then a strange woman washes ashore.

This is a well written, complex story of family relations and imminent climate downfall, and how it is seen through the eyes of parents and children. The writing transports you to into the story and is very engaging!

This is one that I think I may have enjoyed a tad more if I had read the physical copy instead of the audio book. While I enjoyed this somewhat character driven literary fiction novel, at times it was a bit much for me, This may very well be a me problem as I am feeling emotionally drained, we just watched LA burn to the ground a couple of weeks ago and the rest of the country is burning to he$$ in a hand basket as well. So perhaps I should have put this aside and stuck to rom-coms and pure outrageous thrillers. I did enjoy it and once I truly got going it was easy to continue but for me it lacked something to push it into rave-land. Was it very good? Yes. Was it absolutely great as I keep hearing? I don't think so. Still worth a read.

WILD DARK SHORE is my first venture into Charlotte McConaghy's writing, but after seeing @emilybookedup rave about this book, I knew that I needed to jump in and give it a try. We SOMETIMES agree and I wanted to see what the buzz is about. WILD DARK SHORE dives into a world that is rapidly changing. On a sinking island near Antarctica, Dominic Salt and his kids are packing up the last of the world’s rarest seeds. Then, in the middle of a violent storm, they find Rowan—half-drowned, full of secrets. As they take her in, old wounds start to heal, but trust is fragile. And when Rowan uncovers what Dominic is hiding, survival takes on a whole new meaning.

With an atmospheric island setting, this book weaves a deeply emotional story of grief, survival, and trust. Told from multiple perspectives, the writing is immersive, rich with environmental detail, and narrated wonderfully in the audiobook. The mix of mystery, survival, and romance made it unforgettable. It is a very slow burning mystery, but I never lost interest. It just took me a lot longer to finish than expected. I alternated between the physical and audio of this book and I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook! This was my first Charlotte McConaghy book, but it won’t be my last.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audio ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed Charlotte McConaghy's two previous books, so I was anxiously looking forward to this one. And it did not disappoint! The multiple layers of tension and intrigue, both from internal and external sources, keep the book moving along at a rapid pace toward a climax that does everything but disappoint. The characters are very easy to connect to, and I found myself quickly drawn into their story, and invested in their survival. One of the main characters in this novel is the setting, and what a setting it is. It's hard to imagine a place as remote and isolated as the island described, but the author does a good job of transporting us there and making it real. If you're a fan of wild places, climate extremes, and broken people just trying to carry on, this book will definitely hit the spot.

Wild Dark Shore is another gripping, thought provoking and mysterious novel by Charlotte McConaghy. She captures the isolation and the beauty of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. brilliantly. The island was once full of researchers but now it is home to Dominic Salt and his three children. There are precious seeds on the island that must be protected and transported off the island. The sea levels are rising and during a storm, Rowan, a woman washes up on the shore. Trust is a big issue in this book as many of the characters have secrets. Can Rowan trust the Salts? Cam the Salts trust Rowan?

I was swept away to the island of Shearwater by Charlotte McConaghy's beautiful writing and vivid descriptions. She captured the trapped feeling that I love in books. I have enjoyed two of her previous books, Once There Were Wolves and Migrations. Both involve bleak settings, research, survival, climate change, and people leaving things behind for research and the greater good.

I enjoyed the mystery of this book. I wonder what happened to the sabotaged radios and the graves. I also enjoyed the bonds of the family, the love, the choices and actions we make for those we love, the island, and the descriptions of the wildlife that lives on the island.

This book has many levels which deal with loss, grief, secrets, love, family, climate change, survival, and the future. This book moves at a slower pace and while I struggle immensely with slower paced books, I did not mind the slower pacing in Wild Dark Shore. I found that it fits the plot and descriptions of life on the island perfectly.

I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrators did a fantastic job of bringing Wild Dark Shore to life.

Title: Wild Dark Shore
By: Charlotte McConaghy
Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Suspenseful Thriller, Nature, Mystery

Content Warnings:
Death, Loss of loved one, Graphic Animal Content, Sexual Assault/Abuse,
*Sexual content in chapters 9, and 45*

Summary:
Dominic Salt brought his three children to take care of the lighthouse and research facility on Shearwater Island after the loss of his wife. Located between the coast of Australia and Antarctica, Shearwater Island is saturated with secrets. The island is home to scientists year-round, as they study nature, the waters, tides, and wildlife. After a fierce storm sweeps through the island, a woman mysteriously washes ashore. But how did she arrive in such a remote place? Her appearance seems impossible, and the question lingers: what could have drawn her to Shearwater Island?

Review:
Deep, Dark, and Startling…
Charlotte McConaghy is uniquely skilled, unlike anyone else. In Wild Dark Shore she weaves a dark, thought-provoking narrative that grips the reader, drawing them into an enthralling world they can't tear themselves away until the last page. Upon finishing, the reader is left in quiet contemplation, absorbed in the reflective narrative of the impact of the overall novel. If you admire her writing, you’re sure to Wild Dark Shore!!

*I listened to the audio version of Wild Dark Shore. I loved the narrators Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West! I love listening when the audio has multiple narrators, and this group engaged me from the first page until the last!

Thank you to Charlotte McConaghy, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#MacmillanAudio
#CharlotteMcConaghy
#WildDarkShore
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Since I’ve read McConaghy’s previous two books, I knew I was going to be in for a beautiful, atmospheric adventure. The way that she can set a scene and just make you feel like you are right there witnessing everything unfold is unparalleled.

I think that ‘Wild Dark Shore’ is my favorite of the three I’ve read so far of her work. I will say that I didn’t love the romantic angle in this one, it kind of gave me the ick in parts, so that’s why I knocked it down to a 4 star rating. However, I found the plot of this novel fascinating and it really made me think.

I listened to this as I was planning out my garden for this spring, so it was just magical timing.

Thank you @flatironbooks #partner and @netgalley for this advance audiobook of:

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Pub date: 3.4.2025

I've read Migrations and Once There Were Wolves also written by McConaghy, and throughout each of them runs a thread that reminds us the fine line between living and dying. The connection between humanity and nature is both woven so tightly that when those bonds are tested nature likely wins. This is one of those stories. It's wonderful, exciting and memorable.