Midge Raymond | Book Chatter

Devils Island
By Midge Raymond & John Yunker
Oceanview Publishing,9781608096145, September 3, 2024, 320pp.

The Short of It:

Adventurous and suspenseful.

The Rest of It:

*No Spoilers*

Six people depart for an island tour. The island in question happens to be the home to endangered Tasmanian Devils. Not typically known to be a threat to humans, but when one of the guests go missing, Kerry, the tour lead can’t help but think the worst.

If you enjoy locked door mysteries then you are in for a treat. Stuck on a remote island, bad weather forcing them to remain together, and then the unthinkable, a missing person. That’s enough to satisfy, but then add long-time friends reconnecting after a significant break, married couples that are not so happily married, a rather juvenile assistant tour lead, and the flora and fauna of this isolated island with no other human inhabitants, and you’ve got a VERY satisfying read!

While Kerry attempts to hold it all together, her job depends on it, she’s doing what she can to not lay blame where it doesn’t belong. Blaming an endangered species, can only hurt their chances of survival. From a naturalist’s perspective, we experience the beauty of the island even though there is death and danger at every turn.

If you think you know where the story is going, then you’d be wrong. There are a lot of plot twists that keep you guessing and not the kind just thrown out there to throw you off. Plausible twists that will have you flipping those pages. We get to know each character intimately as we spend time with them on that island. I really liked Kerry. Wouldn’t mind a sequel at ALL.

I love to read but some books you just want to spend time with and that is how I felt with Devils Island. Armchair travelers will rejoice. Mystery lovers will find themselves completely captivated. And you outdoor types, rock climbers, hikers and the like will find something to love here as well.

Devils Island will be on my fave list at the end of the year. You should know that it comes out September 3rd, but waste no time, pre-order now.

Source: Sent to me by the author.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

My Last Continent
By Midge Raymond
Scribner Book Company, Hardcover, 9781501124709, June 21, 2016, 320pp.

The Short of It:

A highly readable story touching on the environmental impact of tourism upon Antarctica and its native penguins.

The Rest of It:

If you’re not familiar with Midge Raymond, you ought to be. Years ago she asked me to review a collection of short stories titled (Forgetting English) and it was one of the first short story collections that I read and actually enjoyed. The stories were so well-developed, which is what I worry about when reading short stories. Will I feel satisfied after reading them? Yes. In this case, yes.

My Last Continent is her first novel and it’s actually an expansion of one of my favorite stories from Forgetting English, (The Ecstatic Cry). In this novel, we meet Deb Gardner who has been studying the habits of penguins in the frigid waters of Antarctica. Year after year she returns and takes great pleasure in the solitude that her research provides. But at times, it does get lonely so when she meets and falls in love with Keller Sullivan, she’s conflicted. Can you have a successful relationship with someone when your research takes you to one of the most remote areas of the world?

I read this book in a day. It’s smart, makes you think about the impact of tourism on wildlife and has a little bit of something for everyone. There’s a bit of romance, a little science and a terrific, harrowing account of a ship sinking (not a spoiler).

The most impressive thing about this book is the handling of the timeline. The story bounces back and forth in time, sometimes by hours and sometimes by decades, but it’s executed so well. I had no problem moving between chapters and I found myself fully immersed in the landscape Raymond depicts.

If the summer heat is already beating you down, pick this one up because as soon as you step into the world that Raymond creates, you’ll cool off pretty fast and learn something new in the process. Plus, hello! Penguins. How can you resist?

Source: Review copy provided by the author.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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