Closer By Sea
Perry Chafe
Simon & Schuster
May 23, 2023
272 pages
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Because of my close connection to Newfoundland (I have been there 35+ times with my Newfoundland born husband) I am always interested to read a novel taking place there. I was excited to have the opportunity to read Closer By Sea.
The author is a native of Newfoundland and has written and produced a couple of tv series set in Newfoundland. He does an excellent job of making the setting realistic and easy to picture in the reader’s mind.
This is the story of young Pierce Jacobs. Pierce is still grieving for his father who was lost at sea a few years previously. Pierce and three of his friends set out to solve the disappearance of a girl from their community. This becomes quite the adventure or almost misadventure. Each of the friends has adifferent personality but together they were a team. There is also a group of bullies that rear their ugly heads.
The story has many different elements. Mystery, adventure, friendship, overactive imaginations, bullies, and a mysterious stranger (possibly a mad scientist). The reader learns about different marine life. There is foreshadowing of the cod shortage and the cod moratorium that began in 1992.
I love how this story evolved. And most of all I think the Epilogue was excellent. It really gave closure to the book. All the lose ends are tied up.
This was a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
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