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Wild Dark Shore

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2026

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Wild Dark Shore

By: Charlotte McConaghy
Narrated by: Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, Steve West
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THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
SELECTED FOR BBC RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME , REESE'S BOOK CLUB AND TIME's MUST-READ BOOKS FOR 2025
LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2026
LONGLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL

'I am in awe. I am in love. I am heartbroken. All of it possible, all at once, after a book as extraordinary as this one' CLAIRE DAVERLEY
'Breathtaking' HANNAH KENT
'Spellbinding' Washington Post
'Had me gripped from the very first page' RACHEL JOYCE

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A storm gathering force.

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny weather-lashed island that is home to the world’s largest seed bank. As Shearwater risks being lost to rising sea levels, the island’s researchers have fled, and only the Salts remain.

Until, during the worst storm in living memory, a stranger washes ashore. The family nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, but it seems she isn’t telling the whole truth about why she’s there. And when Rowan stumbles upon sabotaged radios and a recently dug grave, she realises that she’s not the only one on the island with a secret.

A novel of breathtaking twists and dizzying beauty, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love.

 Psychological Thriller & Suspense Exciting Heartfelt
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Critic reviews

"A ferociously smart read, timely and poetic, and had me gripped from the very first page" (RACHEL JOYCE)
"A breathtaking novel of romance, mystery and twists that will shock you" (REESE WITHERSPOON)
"Wild Dark Shore is absolutely astonishing. McConaghy's writing knocks me over every time" (FREDRIK BACKMAN)
"Enthralling . . . A finely written novel that’s also a family saga — the kids, Raff, Fen and Orly, are brilliantly portrayed — a masterclass in using multiple perspectives, and an evocation of an ecosystem that’s both poetic and science-driven"
"Spellbinding . . . Captivating . . . McConaghy keeps the novel moving at a blustery pace, thanks to her deft plotting and shared point of view . . . To read this exceptionally imagined, thoroughly humane novel feels like following the last people on Earth as they prepare to leave some part of their souls to the most beautiful place they'll ever know"
"Vivid . . . Moving . . . Wild Dark Shore abounds with evocative nature writing . . . We're shown why a person might withdraw from the messiness of life after tragedy and trauma . . . The novel also offers its injured characters a path back to connection and community, a risk McConaghy argues must be worth taking, no matter how fraught the future"
"I am in awe. I am in love. I am heartbroken. All of it possible, all at once, after a book as extraordinary as this one" (CLAIRE DAVERLEY)
"At once a gripping mystery, an exquisitely written ode to the natural world, and a taut, psychological thriller, Wild Dark Shore is a triumph. Charlotte McConaghy is masterful in her ability to show the intricate connections between place and the human heart, and Wild Dark Shore shows her at the height of her powers. Breathtaking" (HANNAH KENT)
"McConaghy writes beautifully about the natural world and expertly ratchets up the tension, as mutual suspicion increases and secrets are gradually revealed... A powerful read"
"

Sublime . . . Charlotte McConaghy’s climate thriller was my absolute favorite book of 2025. I’m a sucker for vivid settings and the way Charlotte captures Shearwater, a remote island near Antarctica, and its marine life is stunning. It’s part family drama, part mystery and completely absorbing

" (CARLEY FORTUNE)
All stars
Most relevant
Sad? Feeling hopeless about the state of the world? If you’re not already depressed. After reading this, you soon will be.

Cheerful

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This book is just breathtaking.

The narration is superb.

The story is delightfully unpredictable, the descriptions of the wildlife and landscape are breathtaking. The writing is subtle yet so thoughtful, the penguins, the whales, the seed stores, the Salt Family, the ocean and the waves, the seals, everything all so well written.

A masterpiece.

Utterly superb - what a brilliant book!

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This story is ok but the narration is truly awful, its all so breathy and the most ordinary line sounds like its from some steamy romantic novel, it made me laugh and annoyed me in equal measures throughout the whole book. made myself finish it but I wouldn't waste the credit, the character relationships were so unrealistic and unbelievable.

let down but narration

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The actor reading for Dom is too melodramatic and breathy. He’s channelling Karl Urban (who I know is Kiwi!!) to laughable affect, sounding like ‘hard Aussie guy’ caricature.

I like the story, the intrigue & tension but this guys voice takes me out of it and my eyes hurts from rolling so much. I’m going to stop the audio and read the book instead. The other actors are good, what a pity.

Male narrator ruined it for me

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At first I wasn’t sure. It’s not my usual book, but I’ve seen a lot of recommendations for it. So I gave it a go, and so glad I did. The story was beautiful. With the different voices reading the story I could really imagine them, and the things they were explaining.
I cried a few times!

First book of 2026

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