Isle Royale
By: John Hamilton
Genre: Thriller
This
story is billed as a young adult fiction. I think it is billed that way because 2 of the
main characters are teens and have most of the action in the story. There are several supporting characters and
they are adults. However, it kept my
attention and I enjoyed it. I was surprised
to see it characterized on Amazon as young adult fiction.
The book drew my attention
because it is set on Isle Royal which is on the northern part of Lake Superior
here in my home state of Michigan. It
started out slow and if I am honest rather dry.
There is a lot of description of the landscape and lakescape at the
beginning of the book. Once the
characters were introduced things started moving along nicely. The time period is the 1920s. Some of the wording and slang was fun to read
from that era.
The story takes place on Isle
Royal at the Wolf Point Lighthouse. It
is centered around the lighthouse keeper and his family. The family is preparing to finally leave Isle
Royal for the winter months. However,
the Lady, as Lake Superior is referred to in the story, has one more storm to
throw at them. As the lighthouse keeper
prepares the lamp for the night a mysterious visitor appears at the lighthouse and
gives him money in return for a favor.
The lighthouse keeper’s son sees the transaction between his father and
the stranger not understanding what is happening. He is rather indignant that his father would
accept the cash.
The stranger turns out to be a
friend turned enemy from the lighthouse keepers past. This man is a rum runner and is seeking to
use the island as a meeting spot for his illegal activities. He also has plans for the lighthouse keeper’s
wife, who happens to be his long lost love.
Ian, the lighthouse keeper’s son and his friend Sally are caught in the
middle. Together, they must find a way
to save the day. They spend the better
part of the book trying to thwart the bad guy.
They also encounter “ghosts” whom they believe inhabit the island.
It was a quick read. The author tied up everything with a neat little bow at the
end of the story. It left me satisfied
and happy with the conclusion.
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