Storm Front

Australian author Charlotte McConaghy's Wild Dark Shore (2025) is a novel which appeared on many 'best novels of the year' lists and regularly popped up on social media with high praise from readers. Knowing little about it, other than it was a work of speculative fiction set on a remote island, I downloaded the audiobook and was immediately sucked in by this remarkable tale.

On the fictional island of Shearwater, located in the cold waters between Tasmania and Antartica, is a research station which holds a seed vault. This collection of seeds, from plants all over the world, has been preserved underground in an icy room to protect the diverse species. There are countless penguins, sea lions and other creatures who thrive in this environment, but the only human inhabitants are the Salt family. Dominic Salt has lived here with his three children for the past eight years, so he knows the island intimately. He is the lighthouse keeper and custodian of Shearwater. Climate change and rising sea levels have led to a decision to close the station, so the researchers have departed and Salt has to pack up the island before the ship arrives to ferry them all back to the mainland. 

A devastating storm rattles the island, and a woman washes ashore. Bruised and shivering, the Salts take her in and tend to her wounds. They soon get to know her, and suspect she is harbouring a secret. But they too have secrets. After so long without a mother, the children form a bond with Rowan.

I loved this novel. The setting of a remote island gives the story a lot of energy and a locked-room mystery element. The sense of place is vivid as McConaghy has described it so well that readers can picture the landscape, smell the salty sea air, and feel the bone chilling cold. The characters were fascinating and McConaghy is gifted in the way she drip feeds information about Rowan, Dominic and the children. Each chapter is told by from a different perspective, so we see things from their point of view. There is also a lot to learn here as young Orly, knows everything about the different species of plants and animals and is keen to share his passion.

I cannot say much more about the story without spoiling it for others, so it is best that readers go in with no expectations. I did and was surprised to find that this novel is multi-layered and so engaging. There are complex themes to McConaghy's novel, with plenty of fodder for book clubs to ponder. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook version, as it employs several talented voice actors who narrate the chapters from the perspective of their characters. It also adds a sense of urgency as the novel heads towards its thrilling conclusion. 

I can see why McConaghy topped so many reader's lists last year. It will certainly be among my top reads this year.