The Sea House

Hints of magic abound in Gifford’s haunting fiction debut, which follows two story lines; both are set on the island of Harris in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, but the two take place more than a century apart. In the 1990s, Ruth and her husband, Michael, buy a property on Harris, the rundown Sea House, only to make the horrifying discovery of an infant’s bones buried beneath the house during their renovations. Ruth becomes intent on researching the home’s previous inhabitants, and asks the local vicar, Dougal, for any information he can provide. He gives her the diary of the Rev. Alexander Ferguson, who lived in the Sea House in the 1860s. Ruth discovers that she and Ferguson have several things in common, including having heard stories of Selkies, mermaidlike people from the sea, when they were children. In addition, both face personal demons during their time at Sea House. Ruth is haunted by the loss of her mother at a young age, while Ferguson, for his part, laments his failure to prevent the eviction of his parishioners from their homes by the local landowner. Ferguson and Ruth eventually find peace with the steadying help of loved ones. Gifford has an ability to bring depth to her characters, whether they live in the 19th century or the 20th, and this helps hold together her sweeping tale. Agent: Jenney Hewson, Rogers, Coleridge and White. (Apr.)