Book Review: “The House at Mermaid’s Cove” (*****)

I come to another book review, as being not only a Twenty-five Reviews or More reviewer on Net Galley…

 

… I’m also a Top Reviewer, which means 3 or more of my reviews have been added to any NetGalley title details page by a publisher (I bet it wasn’t for any of my 1 star reviews!!)

So, in return for a free e-copy of the book, I write my honest review of…

 

The Net Galley blurb reads:

As World War II rages, love, mystery, and secrets collide on the English coast in a riveting novel by the bestselling author of The Snow Gypsy.

In April 1943 a young woman washes ashore on a deserted beach in Cornwall, England. With shorn hair and a number stitched on her tattered chemise, Alice is the survivor of a ship torpedoed by a German U-boat. She’s found by the mysterious Viscount Jack Trewella, who suspects that she’s a prisoner of war or a spy. But the secret Alice asks Jack to keep is one he could never have guessed, and it creates an intimate bond he never expected.

With her true identity hidden beneath the waves, Alice grasps the chance to reinvent herself. But as she begins to fall for Jack, she discovers he has secrets too—ones echoing the legend of a mermaid said to lure men into the dark depths of the sea.

For two strangers in the shadow of war, lost love, and haunting memories, is it time to let go of the past? Or to finally face it—whatever the risks?

Pub Date 11 Aug 2020

I must admit I ummed and ahed (hummed and ha’ed?) about requesting this one. It sounded a bit “twee” – the mysterious Viscount Jack Trewella….the shadow of war, lost love, and haunting memories… – I also feared that the eponymous mermaid might make an appearance but I decided to give it a go. I’m so glad I did! I loved it!

I’ve enjoyed many novels about WW2, about different women facing dangers in different ways, and very few have been as involving as this one. It was believable and, instead of making it all high drama,the author somehow downplayed the drama, making it all matter of fact, while also keeping it as a vital part of the story.

I found both Jack and Alice to be sympathetic characters, and all of Alice’s motivations were eminently believable. Her religious faith was underlined, but the point wasn’t forced; her doubts and questions were natural, and credible. Jack too was a believable character. The only jarring note slightly was the part set in Geurnsey (I don’t want to say more) which didn’t quite ring true; but I’m willing to overlook this point.

Some reviewers complain that Alice’s experiences in the Congo were glossed over, or that the book was too short, not giving enough detail. I never felt this – the time in the Congo was mentioned  (I felt!) in enough detail to sketch out Alice’s reactions…and the book was about her after this time, not during it. Yes, it was important to understand where she had come from and how this shaped her reactions and life afterwards, but I think I might have got a bit frustrated if there had  been too many flashbacks incorporated in the story. I didn’t feel it was too short, and I felt the ending, and why Alice did not continue her wartime work elegantly explained. I have read another book where the heroine just stopped doing what she was doing (trying to avoid spoilers!) with no real explanation.

Although it was noted to be an uncorrected edition, there were no grammatical or layout errors (Thank you!) The language used by the author was not overly flowery, while at the same time didn’t feel too sparse. The descriptions of the Cornish beach, the African landscapes, the wooded valleys were all well put together.

This is the first time I’ve given a NetGalley book five stars! But I feel it deserved them.