The Midnight Secret by Karen Swan {Review}

One thing I learned early on, is that we have to accept things as they are and not how we want them to be.
Page 280

In a nutshell

In this fourth installment of the Wild Isle series, Jayne Ferguson’s story takes centre stage. Set once again on the remote island of St Kilda, Jayne’s visions, troubled marriage, and ties to the tight-knit community make her a compelling narrator. As secrets unravel and evacuation looms, her past and future collide in a story full of tension, heartbreak, and quiet strength.

Book Club Notes

I’ve only read two books in this series, with The Lost Lover (#3) being my first. The Lost Lover read well as a standalone – I didn’t feel like I was missing context and not able to follow the story line but this book was different. I don’t know if it’s because I had context that made it feel crucial or if that context was actually crucial, but nevertheless it enriched the reading. If you read my review for The Lost Lover, you would have seen that I didn’t particularly love it. I didn’t find it gripping and the main protagonist Flora came off as one-dimensional, dull and naive. This one, by contrast, pulled me in from the start. Jayne is a far more layered and interesting character than Flora. With Jayne, the story felt richer, deeper, and more emotionally satisfying. I was completely glued to the book and am so glad I chose to continue with the series.

Read If

You enjoy historical fiction with a strong female lead, emotional depth, and a storyline that builds on past secrets to deliver a satisfying conclusion.