The Last Summer

A promising new series from Swan (Midnight in the Snow) opens on an island in St. Kilda in 1930, the year the remote, inhospitable Scottish archipelago was evacuated. Effie Gillies, at 18, is content with her isolated life. Eager to show that she’s as capable as any man, Effie works to be the island’s fastest cliff climber and expands her knowledge by reading and studying the local birds. When the Earl of Dumfries and his son, Lord Sholto, visit, Effie is tasked with guiding them around. She’s unaccustomed to romantic attention from men and confused by her own attraction to Lord Sholto—doubly so when her landlord, Frank Mathieson, accuses her of inappropriately flirting with Lord Sholto. As Effie’s calm life grows complicated by her blossoming relationship, the government makes a surprise decision to evacuate all islanders to the mainland. Effie accepts the earl’s job offer to serve as curator to his ornithological collection at Dumfries House, but there, Lord Sholto pulls away, leaving Effie heartbroken. Meanwhile, Mathieson’s body is discovered on St. Kilda and all former residents are targeted for questioning. The vivid beauty and danger of St. Kilda only enhances Swan’s effortlessly intricate plotting. Toeing the line between romance and historical fiction, this gorgeous story and its unconventional heroine are sure to win hearts. (May)