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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.

Publication March 4, 2025

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.