The Beachcomber

In the second epic novel of The Island of Sylt trilogy by bestselling author Ines Thorn, a young woman must fight to clear her family’s name in order to claim her true love.

The Island of Sylt, 1711

It’s the age of whaling and beachcombing, and life is hard on Sylt—especially for women forced to get by on their own. Ever since the death of her parents, Jordis has lived with her grandmother in the village of Rantum. The two of them survive by beachcombing and by secret fortune-telling, using the oracle runes that are a crucial part of the ancient Norse religion.

Under the local minister’s skeptical eye, Jordis befriends his daughter, Inga. Jordis confides her love for the young blacksmith, Arjen, to her new friend, only to discover that Inga, too, hopes that Arjen will propose to her. The competition shatters the girls’ friendship and puts their families at odds. When a cross falls from the ceiling in the church and a powerful storm hits the island, the minister immediately accuses the “guilty”: Jordis and her grandmother, whom he believes to be witches.

Jordis survives near the harsh North Sea by recovering and finding value in what was lost. But can she recover her reputation and find the value in her own life?

Bestselling author Ines Thorn was born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1964. Beginning her literary journey as a bookseller’s apprentice, she later went on to study German, Slavic studies, and cultural philosophy at the distinguished Goethe University.

In the year 2000, Thorn published her first novel while working in a hospital library. By 2003, she was able to devote her time entirely to writing and has been creating unforgettable historical fiction ever since.

Today she lives in Frankfurt am Main and works as a full-time freelance writer. The Whaler, the first installment in her popular series The Island of Sylt, is her first book to be translated into English for the American market.