Dominic Salt and his three children are in their final days as caretakes of a tiny island close to Antarctica. They’ve been tasked with closing the base down and ensuring that seeds from the World’s largest seed bank survive. But when Rowan washes up on shore, the Salt family find themselves confronted with their past and their futures. As the days dwindle down and the storms increase the Salt family and Rowan must figure out if they trust each other long enough to get off the island.

One of the things I love about Charlotte McConaghy’s books is the way she integrates nature into mysteries, emphasizing the impact humans have on the natural world. As always, I learned a ton from the story and enjoyed the way she tied in the Macquarie Island and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in the Arctic Circle into the plot and location.

I’m not entirely sure when the story is supposed to take place. It briefly references the various climate devastations and the potential for humankind to disappear, but it’s never fully discussed if the story takes place in the present or if it’s supposed to be more of a dystopian setting. Regardless, while the writing is beautiful, you can feel the isolation and fear radiating off the pages and I loved our setting.

The story itself though is a slow burn and flips between each of the characters present and some jump back into memories. Orly’s POV was interesting as he primarily gave us science lessons; you could hear the youthfulness, optimism, and love of nature in his voice. The pure character development throughout the entire book was excellent.

I listened to the audiobook full cast version and enjoyed most of the narrators. Steve West’s voice for Dominic Salt was a bit difficult for me to decipher but ultimately the audiobook was a soothing listen.

If you want a slow-paced – character driven mystery, with a unique and atmospheric setting, look no further than Wild Dark Shore. I’m interested to see where McConaghy is going to take us next!

Wild Dark Shore is out now! Huge thank you to Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting:
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this book was such a disappointment. i do realize i am in the minority here, but alas, here i am.

this book was the pinnacle of telling rather than showing. it was the equivalent of a six-episode season when it needed AT LEAST 13. the mix of first and third person was not justified in the least. at no point could i gain my footing in the shoes of any of the characters. where were the details, where was the feeling, where was anything i was supposed to believe? i went into this hoping for something similar to hawkins’ the blue hour and got a less fleshed out the god of the woods. AGAIN i do know i am in the minority here. but, alas, i stand firm.

the dom chapters were borderline unbearable; his inner monologue was hollow and unrealistic at best. being an unreliable narrator is no excuse for a lack of verisimilitude. in fact, i think you have to lay it on pretty thick to fool anyone (i.e. gone girl — flynn got it right.) but here, there is no flair, no panache, no creativity in the writing. the sentences were choppy and surface-level. do we really want to consume a plot so quickly that everything that adds depth and meaning has to be stripped away? please say it isn’t so.

but the thing is, i liked the setting, i liked the animal motifs, i liked the themes of loss and life and death and acceptance. i liked the kids! the whole book should have possibly stuck to following one of them or maybe should have doubled down on rowan; i think there could have been strength in that, if the book was determined to stay around the 300-page mark. or go full-allegory! dom is clearly the hopeful but aberrant father, and rowan is the pessimistic but interestingly feminine counterpoint to this could-have-been- meaningful story about climate change. something more artful could have been made with these pieces. but this story, as is, was all lost in the wash for me, personally, as i’ve said, by a mess of a mess of narrative choices. by the end, it became a strange, melodramatic version of the movie overboard (a plot that does not need revisiting.)

please let a scene breathe. make a reader understand a character’s feelings without stating that feeling explicitly. this book left me with nothing to behold and nothing to wonder. 1.5 stars overall.

i do want to thank netgalley and the publisher for advanced review copy. i appreciate the opportunity to share an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion!

As an audiobook junkie i will say that this is one book i think would be better to read physically. There is so much happening and so much emotional depth to this book, i think that it’s hard to appreciate listening to It via audiobook. I was looking for a book i can binge and i don’t think thats this. I would enjoy this so much more if i read a few chapters at a time, processed and went back.

With all that being said, i loved this more than When We Were Wolves! The setting, the characters, the mystery. It’s absolutely heartbreaking and inspiring. It made me push Migrations higher up on my TBR because i still haven’t read that yet. Fen, Orly, and Rowan have my heart ❤️ i could see this being a book students read in school and actually loving.

WILD DARK SHORE
Charlotte McConaghy

A woman’s body washes ashore. A family torn by grief happens upon her. They bring her home to help her recover. She is in bad shape and will need a lot of love and tender care to make it through.

Climate change is upon us and everything that is not ablaze will be soon. Everything alive now will be eradicated. Species are going extinct,

It has been years since I’ve seen a snail.

Two stories.



I am on outlier island, again.

The Good:
The atmosphere was palpable and reminded me of Jane Harper’s books.
The narration

The Bad:
This might be a case of missing it or it going over my head. However, I did not find a connection between the commentary and the mystery. It felt like two books in one.

WILD DARK SHORE in scope is as big as the world is. If this was a debut, I would say they were trying to squeeze too much into this one book. There is a mystery and a ribbon of commentary. The commentary could’ve been its own book. I was left wondering what its purpose was.

There is a difference between enjoying the audiobook and enjoying the material. As is with a few other duet and full-cast narrated audiobooks that got rave reviews recently, (THE FAVORITES (⭐⭐⭐) (LIGHTS OUT (DNF) (FOURTH WING SERIES (DNF) I have had to separate the audiobook presentation from the material.

Someone reading the physical or ebook copy is not going to have the same experience, and I think it has to do with the emotionality of the full cast experience.

You’re going to see five-star reviews everywhere so take this review with a grain of salt. It is lonely on outlier island.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

WILD DARK SHORE…⭐⭐⭐

Dominic and his three children chose to stay behind after a group of scientists left a deserted island trying to save humanity by managing a seed bank. This was a story that focused a lot on the crisis of climate change and its effects on people and the world. A woman is washed ashore, alive, and slowly her story is unraveled. The characters were amazingly developed and beautiful. The literary writing swept me along for the ride. The pacing was on the slower side, but I still enjoyed the storytelling. I listened to the audiobook and at times was confused as whose POV it was at that time. Other than that, the narrators were great. There were many themes of climate change, family, parenthood, love and loss that were laced together in a beautiful way.

4.5 stars.

Shearwater is a tiny island near Antarctica, and it is the home to the world’s largest seed bank. It was once an island full of researchers, but now, its sole caretakers are the Salt family. Sea levels are rising and Dominic and his three children, Raff, Fen, and Orly, are packing up the seeds before they will be transported to safer ground. During a terrible storm, a woman is washed ashore, leaving the Salts to nurse her back to health. No one is telling the whole truth, but will they each learn to trust each other before it’s too late?

WILD DARK SHORE is such an interesting read that spans several genres, literary fiction, romance, and mystery. It’s told in multiple POVs and the audiobook narration features multiple narrators as well.

I loved the setting of WILD DARK SHORE, set on an isolated island near Antarctica. It’s filled with nature’s wild beauty and an immense feeling of isolation from the rest of the world. The description and prose of this novel is beautiful, vivid, and immersive.

The plot is captivating, but its pacing is a bit on the slower side. It’s well worth the journey though. I loved the look at a possible future and the effects of climate change – such an interesting and timely concept. The characters are intricate, complex, and wholly relatable. I loved each of them. Their connections and relationships with one another were all so very well done. WILD DARK SHORE does touch on some heavier themes but each is done with such care.

A truly unique, beautiful, and devastating read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, of this advanced listener copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

Shearwater is home to the world’s largest seed bank and to Dominic Salt and his three children, the last known inhabitants of its rugged shores. The vault holds the last hope of life’s renewal should a disaster strike. When a woman named Rowan washes ashore, the Salt family’s isolated existence begins to unravel. With no way off the island until the next boat arrives, Rowan seeks to find the truth and begins to piece together some of the lies she’s being told.

Wild Dark Shore is a beautifully layered story that blends mystery, survival, and deep emotional connections. While it begins at a gentle pace, the unfolding mystery gradually reveals the island’s many secrets, drawing you further into its quiet, atmospheric world. The bond Rowan forms with the Salt family in such a short time is tender and heartfelt, making their journey together all the more captivating.

This novel is raw and deeply emotional, with moments that linger long after the final page. Though the ending felt a bit abrupt, leaving me wishing for more closure, the story as a whole was an engaging and moving read. Charlotte McConaghy’s storytelling never disappoints!

Read if you like:
- Atmospheric reads
- Slow burn mysteries
- Dual POVs

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars

'Wild Dark Shore' follows the story of the Salt family living on Shearwater, a fictional tiny island near Antarctica - home to the world’s largest seed bank. The story takes place in the recent past when the island was full of researchers and scientists, and today, when all but the Salt family remains. A woman suddenly shows up on shore, beaten from the ocean. Rowan then bonds with the family - a father and three children.

I ran hot and cold while listening. I enjoyed that multiple narrators brought the characters to life, but keeping track of who was who and what timeline was being presented was more challenging than usual. The story's tone shifts back and forth from grief manifestations to climate change to murder mystery quickly. Love and detail are also dedicated to wildlife and ecosystems, woven throughout the story.

Overall, I ended up enjoying the story and its resolution. I may suggest sticking to a print/e-book version to absorb the whole story.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

This reads more like lit fic than a mystery/suspense. It definitely is genre bending, because there are elements of both depending on what part of the book you're at. There is also a surprise romance in there towards the end that pops in out of nowhere. I really enjoyed the narration. The voices and multiple POVs were strong and worked well for the atmosphere of the book. It's a very easy listen. At times it was challenging to follow the different time periods.

Great book for lit fic readers who enjoy something extra from the plot. The combo was slightly tricky for me as I loved the mystery components but the family drama fell a bit flat.

Wild Dark Shores is an engaging and atmospheric mystery, that will sink into readers bones like it's cold isolated island setting.

This audiobook is simply a work of art. The nuanced narration and subtle choices the narrator made brought this world to life. Readers enter into a world of somber secrets, one where ever character is more than what they initially seem. It's hard not to stay engaged with so much unknown on the page. While the mystery unravels keeping the pace breakneck, the delightfully flawed characters really give the tale heart.

Wild Dark Shores is a sure bet for those who like dark, gritty mystery.

WILD DARK SHORE review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🔶Happy pub day to this super buzzy book!! This one has been getting raaaaave reviews and I knew I needed to prioritize it asap! While this wasn’t quite a 5⭐️ read for me, I did really enjoy it!

🔶Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
A family is living and working on a remote island off the coast of Antarctica trying to care for the world’s largest seed bank. When a woman washes ashore half drowned, everything is about to change. Why is this woman here? Is she someone they can trust? And what about the rising water threatening the last remaining seeds of thousands of plants??

🔶This one was so captivating and atmospheric! Truly unlike any other book I’ve read, and as someone who reads a looooot that’s saying something. It’s probably because I did this one on audio, but during the first half I had some trouble keeping the different POVs separated in my mind. I still enjoyed this one overall and the ending had me so emotional. 🥲 Definitely recommend, especially if you enjoyed her other books!

🔶Thanks to @macmillan.audio for my digital copy of this one!

WILD DARK SHORE is everything I love in a book—haunting, atmospheric, and deeply emotional. Charlotte McConaghy crafts a gripping story set on a remote, storm-lashed island, where a fractured family fights to protect the world’s last hope for biodiversity. When a mysterious woman washes ashore, secrets unravel, tensions rise, and the novel becomes a mesmerizing blend of survival, love, and betrayal.

The writing is stunning—wild and raw, like the landscape itself. The suspense builds beautifully, keeping me hooked until the very end. The audiobook narration by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West is outstanding, bringing the characters and the island’s eerie isolation to life with depth and emotion. The full cast makes the multi-POV narrative easy to follow, enhancing the immersive experience.

This is a novel that lingers—thought-provoking, deeply moving, and absolutely unforgettable.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy Charlotte McConaghy's books even though I know they will be sad and fill me with some healthy amount of existential dread. Even so, there's such beauty to her writing, and I find her desire to look for hope and purpose during a bleak future oddly comforting.

In Wild Dark Shore, the story centers on a family living on a remote island near Australia, where one of the world's remaining seed banks resides. The island is slowly succumbing to the ocean, and now only the family remains in the weeks before they are forced to depart for good. It's during this time that a mysterious woman washes ashore.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot. There's a solid mystery at the center that drives the narrative forward, while we also get insights into the lives led by the different family members and the background of the rescued woman. Much of the story focuses on how people deal with grief and questions how humans can grapple with the burden of a failing planet. Just totally light stuff. Even with this being said, I really enjoyed this book and sped through the wonderful audiobook production. While I struggled with McConaghy's last book, this reminded me much more of what I loved about Migrations. I highly highly recommend this one even if it is a challenging read.

Wild Dark Shore
Charlotte McConaghy

I inhaled this book in just a few sittings!!!! a refreshing story, unlike anything I’ve read before.

an Australian family of a father and three kids live on a small island that holds one of the largest seed banks in the world. a woman’s body washes up on shore and they help nurse her back to health. these five are the only ones on this island but there are plenty of secrets among them…

🗣️ multi-POV, jumping timelines
📍 a remote island near Antarctica
🧍 distinct memorable characters with dynamic relationships that move the story along so seamlessly

if you’re looking to be immersed in a sweeping escape of story, THIS IS IT. highly recommend the audiobook paired with a cozy beverage and a mindless activity to really focus on the story!!

“It is really fucking sad that it should take loss to know the precise quality of love” 😩😩😩

Wild Dark Shore is filled with beautiful descriptions of nature, as well as jaw-dropping twists. Dominic Salt and his kids are living on a remote island near Antarctica and protecting the world's largest seed bank. But the island is disappearing as sea levels rise and they are about to evacuate when a huge storm washes up a woman who is barely alive. I can't remember the last time I read a literary fiction book that was also a thriller but Charlotte McConaghy does both beautifully, and also makes us think about some of the hard choices climate change will bring.

The full cast audiobook narrated by Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West was amazing, it has past and present timelines and even follows the POV of some of the seeds.

The audio for Wild Dark Shore was phenomenal by a full cast narration, that included Cooper Mortlock, Steve West, Katherine Littrell and Saskia Maarleveld. I listened at 1.75x speed.

This climate fiction story started off strong, fell flat for me in the middle and ended better than I expected! The author’s vivid nature descriptions are flawless and creates an emotional connection to the story. Wild Dark Shore had a perfect balance of a mystery elements mixed with beautiful literary writing. This novel would be a wonderful book club pick because it is thought provoking and impactful.

My heart was not prepared for how emotionally invested in this story I got, and how much my heart got hurt over and over again by their terrible things that happened to these characters (both on page and past reflections). I am glad that I listened to it because I’m not sure I would have been able to read with the tears in my eyes that were flowing. A stark reminder of climate crisis, and the horrible tasks and decisions that will come with it, put so much stress on this cast of characters. The twists that came I never anticipated, and the range of emotions I felt in this book had me feeling wrung out.

Shearwater Island needs to be evacuated. Dom’s family has been living there to maintain the biggest seed bank in the world, but now there are scientists there to decide which species to let go extinct, because they can’t move them all in time nor do the others have room for them all. But the isolation and stress of the task start a domino effect. A woman washes up on the beach, barely alive. She was on her way to join her husband here, only to find it is only Dom and his family left. With everyone having an ulterior motive and no one telling the full truth, it’s not only nature that is dangerous on this island.

McConaghy creates a perfect balance of multi-character development, an insightful passion for nature (seeds, plants, seals, penguins and whales) while keeping the suspense of a thriller.

The remote island of Shearwater (between Australia and Antarctica) is being swallowed by the sea and the Salts, a family of four, are each dealing with their own trauma and trying to heal themselves while also attempting to heal one another. After plant researchers abandoned the island and the seeds they were studying and protecting, the Salts take over, doing as best they can while working from food rations as the weeks count down until they’re collected or until the sea takes over the island.

When a woman washes ashore badly broken and bruised, Dominic and his children must decide whether she can be trusted and what her intentions are.

This isn’t your typical fast paced, twisty thriller, it’s poetic and beautiful and heart-wrenching. Wild Dark Shore touches on important themes like family dynamics, motherhood, romantic relationships, grief and loss.

The narrators were incredible and moving, it also helps that I loved their accents. I can’t suggest the audiobook version of Wild Dark Shore enough. This story and these characters will stay with me for some time.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first book by Charlotte McConaghy, and I can confidently say it won’t be my last. I listened to the audiobook, and it was an incredible experience—told through five different POVs, each with its own narrator, adding so much depth and emotion to the story. The performances made the characters feel even more real, and I was completely immersed from start to finish.

The story follows a grieving father and his three children, who live on a remote island between Australia and Antarctica, alongside a group of scientists and a crucial seed bank. The setting was breathtaking—McConaghy’s writing is so detailed, bringing the beauty of the landscape and its wildlife to life.

What stood out to me most was how Wild Dark Shore manages to be both plot-driven and a deep character study. Each of the five main characters had such a distinct, compelling voice, and I found myself truly invested in every single one of them—which feels rare. Their individual struggles, emotions, and relationships added so much to the story.

Another thing I really appreciated was how McConaghy weaves in the risks of climate change in a way that feels realistic rather than preachy. The environmental themes are woven into the fabric of the story, making the reader feel the urgency and impact without it ever feeling forced. The book raises thought-provoking questions about our world and future, but it does so through the lens of these characters’ personal journeys, making it even more powerful.

This book has a bit of everything—suspense, mystery, thriller elements, romance, deep grief, the effects of climate change, and a raw look at mental health. But at its core, it’s a story about family—what binds us together and how we find strength in one another. I went in knowing very little beyond the hype, and I’m so glad I did. This story completely swept me away, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC audio

WILD DARK SHORE | MARCH 4TH, 2025

Charlotte McConaghy’s latest novel, Wild Dark Shore is a captivating character and plot driven story. Nothing short of great, this book manages to be successful in both the aforementioned areas.

Wild Dark Shore follows a family on a remote island and the woman who washes ashore in search of pieces of her past. The book is thrilling and mysterious as well as a masterclass in nature descriptions and character studies.

I fell in love with all of the main characters in this book and their motivations. I also loved the setting and the writing with the narration jumping back and forth. I found the twists and turns to be breathtaking and I cannot wait to read more by McConaghy.

The story is impeccably impactful in its depiction of the lengths we will go to in order to protect those we love and the sacrifices we will make along the way. It is also a reminder of our insignificance as humans in the face of this great and giving planet.

Thank you to @macmillianusa @macmillan.audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!