This is a very enjoyable, well written historical novel with colourful scenes which come alive as you read. There are some excellent descriptions of Kelly Castle from which a real atmosphere exudes. Similarly good are descriptions from Oliver’s time which is firmly set in its historical context in Dundee with the jute factories and whaling ships. Oliver’s story is absolutely fascinating taking us from the castle, aboard a whaling ship where he serves as a surgeon and into the Arctic. There are some superb descriptions here with some wonderfully colourful characters. I especially enjoy the inclusion of the Inuit and we get a strong sense of their traditions and so on. This part of the story is heartbreaking in places and is very vivid. Society views especially of native people are very unsettling to us in the twenty first century but are in the context of the times and this is very clearly demonstrated by Oliver’s mother. She is not a pleasant woman and through her the class divisions and differences are also shown. I love the air of mystery that surrounds Alasdair’s heritage and this evolves well through the storytelling. The early hints at ghostliness do fizzle out though which I think is a shame. The characterisation is good as are the relationships between some of them, at times there is misunderstanding and at others abrasion and dislike. Although the ending is satisfying it is a bit too neatly tied up in a pretty bow in my opinion.