Title: Heiress of Nowhere
Author: Stacey Lee
Genre: historical fiction/mystery
Age range: teen
Similar book: Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan
Summary (provided by publisher): 1918. Orcas Island, Washington.
Lucy Nowhere has spent her eighteen years working on the vast estate of the eccentric shipbuilder who took her in after she washed ashore in a green canoe as a baby. But she has long wished for a life off the island, and in a matter of days, she is set to leave for college—and, for the first time, choose her own future.
Then she finds her employer’s severed head on the beach. Rumors swirl that a mischievous spirit and its minions, the sea wolves, have struck again. Lucy doesn’t believe in myths. She knows that a human—a human murderer—killed him. And when she is unexpectedly named heiress to the estate, she understands the next target is her.
Her closest friend, the estate’s vigilant young guard, begs her to escape while she can. But Lucy knows the only way she can discover who she is, and free the island of its curse, is to find the real killer—before she becomes the next victim.
What I liked: Lee balances character and plot nicely. We are quickly invested in Lucy and her wishes for her life, the complications of her situation. This is also a deeply atmospheric book, using its time period and geography to great effect. There are enough twists and racial tensions to keep us engaged even as the plot takes some odd directions.
What I didn't like: Some of the plot twists certainly stretch the bounds of believability and the large cast of characters can become unwieldly at times. This is a book that benefits from careful attention so it's not a good choice for the casual reader.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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