Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

The Salvage is perfect for anyone who enjoyed A Haunting in the Arctic or the Terror. Marta is a rarity, a female diver specializing in recovering valuable artifacts from undersea wrecks. She’s contracted to retrieve a body and artifacts from a whaling ship off the coast of Scotland, where the local nobility hope to open a museum and attract tourists who have found other places to go since World War II ended. The Cold War and fears of being bombed lead the insular locals to close ranks against Marta, who doesn’t fit in in so many ways. Marta is haunted by past mistakes and infidelity, her own and her husband’s, and she feels this wreck represents one last chance. But on her first dive she feels she is not alone in the wreck…and that’s just the beginning. Soon unforgiving winter has frozen everyone’s chance of leaving the island, and there’s a shadowy presence that seems to be affecting everyone. Will Marta find the courage to face the truth, take a chance on love and friendship and make everything right?

Jesus Christ, what a book! I sank down into it so far that when I came up for air, I wished to be pulled back under immediately. The atmosphere, the eeriness, the characters, the setting–all perfect. Was I scared? Yes. Did I turn "pages" despite it? Like I was seven and reading "The Monster at the End of This Book" with my grandfather again, the kind of page-turning that comes with both apprehension and glee.

I cannot recommend it enough–and bring a sweater.

It's 1962 and Marta, a marine archeologist, has been sent to a small Scottish island on a diving expedition to salvage some historic artifacts. However, adjusting to the eccentric ways of the islanders proves quite the task. They aren't friendly to outsiders at the best of times and Marta is not exactly known for her charm. Meanwhile back on the mainland she has left a marriage in tatters and an estranged husband who just happens to be her boss. When Marta sees a ghostly figure in amongst the shipwreck, she fears it's the ghost of her past sins come to haunt her. But when some of her salvage goes missing, she realizes something else is going on. She befriends a local- Elsie - as a sidekick to smooth her investigation efforts among this traditional community. But when passion blooms between the two women, keeping the ghost of her failed marriage at bay becomes even more complicated. Marta must find her missing Salvage to save her job, all the while the winter storm of the century is descending on the island, cutting it off entirely. This multi-layered story has a lot to offer- mystery, intrigue, horror and romance all within the compelling historic backdrop of cold war nuclear fears. This dark and atmospheric tale will offer readers a rich and thrilling experience.

Chilling, atmospheric, and beautifully written. A slow-burn gothic mystery set on a freezing Scottish island with ghostly dives, buried secrets, and a quietly electric romance. Utterly captivating.