THE VISITORS
by Simon Sylvester
Myth and murder combine in Sylvester's lyrical yet gripping debut novel. Seventeen-year-old Flora is itching to leave the remote Scottish island of Bancree. Her boyfriend has escaped to university and she has one more year at school to endure before she can spread her wings. On the cusp of adulthood, it's a time of change for Flo - and for the island. Men on the fringes of the community are disappearing while two newcomers move to the house on Dog Rock. Danger lurks on the island and the reader can feel the increasing menace that hides in this seemingly idyllic landscape. The narrative twists and turns between folklore and thriller, revealing the darkness that lies in human nature and the intricate balance between truth and myth. Sylvester deftly captures the pains of late adolescence, Flo's coming of age, and the quirks of small communities. The reader is transported to the island and, unlike Flo, won't want to leave.
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