Fascinating and enthralling

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This book drew me in immediately as Elizabeth Gifford has a wonderful way with words.
Each character is fully formed,utterly believable and easy to picture.
I enjoyed how the story shifts between centuries, with a great deal of historical fact entwined within the novel. Whilst this book is a work of fiction, there is much truth in the author's description of the Scottish whaling industry, adventures to the Arctic and attitudes of the time towards the Inuit people. She has clearly gone to great lengths in her research.
Gifford cleverly weaves together together a fascinating tale involving a complicated love triangle, a castle full of mysteries, the discovery of unexpected human remains, brave journeys across the Arctic wastelands and fills her tapestry with the best and worst parts of human nature. Caroline is a very likeable character,doing her best in post-war Scotland to care for her husband and new baby and fit herself into her husband's family to help uncover its mysterious past and lay ghosts to rest. Her story is interspersed with late 19th century characters whose actions then, now impact the world in which Caroline finds herself, as she is tasked to uncover their secrets.
Gifford's tale has made me want to visit Scotland again and especially Dundee, to find out more about the intrepid sailors who risked everything to gain the means to support their families.
I can't recommend this book highly enough for lovers of historical fiction who also enjoy a great love story, bravery, stoicism and a wonderful castle full of secrets. Thoroughly engaging right from the start and hard to put down.
I can't wait to read more of Gifford's work.