In Safford’s powerful narrative, a woman becomes obsessed with unearthing the dark past of Malaga Island, Maine, where a once-thriving community was forcibly displaced and forgotten. After a near-death experience on her 30th birthday, Penelope Brigid Goode’s world shifts. Colors sharpen, sounds amplify, and disturbing visions of deceased loved ones haunt her days. The number three keeps surfacing, making her doubt her sanity. When a visit to a graveyard with her uncle reveals the presence of spirits from Malaga Island—victims of racist eugenics policies—Pennie is drawn into their unsettling history. Despite warnings from her gut, she becomes entangled with a developer disturbing the burial sites. As Pennie’s visions deepen, so does her resolve to uncover the truth about Malaga Island’s dark past.
Safford’s narrative cuts deep, blending fact and fiction to unearth the buried pain of intergenerational trauma. Pennie’s drive to uncover her family’s ties to the island is fueled by grief and guilt, forcing her to confront the weight of her ancestry. The novel’s tight pacing and sharp prose keep the tension high as Pennie’s search pulls her deeper into a web of forgotten stories and silenced voices. Safford weaves in elements of magical, amplifying the story’s sense of wonder and underscoring the spiritual ties that link past and present. The relationships Pennie builds—with her uncle Alfie, her confidant Dani, and Mali, a descendant of the original residents—are strained and complicated, reflecting the uneasy balance between uncovering the truth and preserving personal bonds. The book doesn’t offer easy resolutions, instead leaving readers with questions about whose voices matter and how history shapes the present. A challenging and thought-provoking exploration of memory, loss, and the relentless pursuit of truth.
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