Publication Date: 28th March 2024
Genre: Dual Timeline, Women’s Fiction
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Love the setting; the story doesn't have to be this complicated
1951 Ballycotton Coast
Four women wait and watch for their husbands to return from duty. They swear to keep the secret buried forever, no matter what. As the wives of lighthouse keepers, they have much to take care of.
2023 Maine
Mollie is in her father’s place, recovering from certain issues. As the granddaughter of one of these women, she gets a threatening note about buried secrets. However, Mollie’s grandmother (one of the four women) isn’t in a position to share the details due to health concerns.
However, there’s someone out there intent on revealing it all. What is the secret? How can it affect Mollie and her family after all these years?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Mollie (contemporary track), Beth, Katheleen, Mary, and Ellen, with a couple of short chapters in the first-person POV from the stalker/ blackmailer.
My Thoughts:
The book starts with a prologue from the past and moves on to the present timeline to establish the story. Then, we go back and forth with more chapters in the past. Thankfully, there isn’t much repetition, except for the prologue (which also could have been avoided).
The setting is beautiful, with a dose of darkness to suit the circumstances. However, the lighthouse doesn’t play a central role in the story. It is in the background and a presence that cannot be forgotten. Still, there is no scene in the lighthouse. Moreover, the title should have been The Keepers’ Wives or The Secret of the Lighthouse Keepers’ Wives. The story is about these women and not the lighthouse.
The lives of the lighthouse keepers’ wives can be hard, and this comes across clearly as we see Kathleen, Ellen, and Mary adjust to the absence of their husbands for weeks at a time and how they also have social responsibilities in the village.
All characters are flawed, some more than others. They also have redeeming qualities, some more than others. This creates a mixed blend of realistic characters. However, it also makes it hard to root for a single character. Still, I liked Kathleen’s arc more than others.
Beth’s character is a teenager (17+) in the historical timeline. Her actions and reactions don’t always make her endearing, but readers can see her point to an extent.
Since this is women’s fiction, the male characters are not as developed as the women. However, not all of them are bad, so that’s a relief. I think I liked Albie (Mollie’s dad) the most.
My issue with the book comes with the complicated plotline. Even though everything ties up at the end and comes together well, there’s no ignoring the numerous elements to track. This weighs down the plot and the pacing, making it seem longer than a 384-page book. Keeping it simple would have maintained the focus on the core theme(s).
Moreover, there’s a conflict in the present timeline for Mollie, which pales compared to the past track. I’d have preferred if this wasn’t complex, allowing readers to explore the past secrets and stuff. I couldn’t connect with this track, which meant the ending didn’t work for me.
To summarize, The Lighthouse Secret would make a good book club read and offer a lot for discussion. It will work well for those who like drama and complex plots in women’s fiction.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for eARC.
#NetGalley #TheLighthouseSecret
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TW: Infidelity, cheating, partner death, parental death, grief, sexual assault, infertility
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