A Sea of Unspoken Things
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Average rating4.5
In this captivating atmospheric novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unmaking of June Farrow, a woman investigates her twin brother’s mysterious death while confronting the ghosts of her own haunted past.
James and Johnny Golden were once inseparable. For as long as she can remember, James shared an almost supernatural connection with her twin brother, Johnny, that went beyond intuition—she could feel what he was feeling. So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone—truly alone—for the first time in her life.
When James arrives in the secluded town of Six Rivers, California, to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to revisit the ominous events of their shared past and finally face Micah, the only other person who knows their secrets—and the only man she has ever loved.
But as James delves deeper into Johnny’s world, she realizes that their unique connection hasn’t completely vanished. The more she immerses herself in his life, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was hiding something, and he’s not the only one. The deeper she digs, the more she is compelled to unravel the truth behind the days leading up to Johnny’s death. Ultimately, James must decide which truths should come to light, and which are better left buried forever.
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An other worldly, haunting mystery exploring how people change (or don't change) in a place where the past bleeds into the present.
This book takes place in a small, isolated town surrounded by redwoods, and it couldn't be more perfect for the plot. It amplified how stifling a community can be where nothing changes and everyone knows everybody.
Because James has been gone for 20 years, you get the unique perspective of an outsider who still has insider information, and that works great to create an atmosphere where everyone is suspicious. Things unravel at a great pace, and by the end I had a bunch of theories and was still surprised.
This was also a really interesting look into how lifelong relationships grow together and apart, how time and distance can change our perception of people, and how ignoring the truth will eat away at you.
I'd recommend for anyone looking for a moody, suspenseful mystery with a little bit of romance and a deep exploration of loss.
I can already tell this one will stick with me for a while.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for feedback
Last year I read The Unmaking of June Farrow and it was probably a top 5 best book of 2024 for me. I usually read fantasy and avoid anything set in the real world.This was the first book set in the real world that I truly enjoyed, loved even. When I saw Adrienne Young had published a new book I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough.
The suspense of figuring out what happens piece by piece is magical. She does such an amazing job keeping the reader engaged with the world in the book and the mystery unraveling before us.
James is such an interesting character and her twin equally so. The two and their group of friends have a past steeped in secrets that keep us on our toes. The quaint forest town holds twist and turns I would have never seen coming and felt so satisfied when the pieces fell into place.
This will be a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery and a touch of otherworldliness to their stories.
I’ve been a fan of Adrienne Young’s writing and I continue to be a fan after this book. It was a slow start with a strong finish. It was difficult for me to read in one sitting, despite how short it was. It felt best spaced out a little at a time. Kind of like the pace of coming to terms with the grief and loss so you grow at the same pace the characters do!
