The Visitors

Sylvester’s first novel chronicles the bond forged between friendless 17-year-old Flora and odd newcomer Ailsa after the latter moves to a small Scottish town plagued by several recent disappearances. While pursuing a history-class assignment on the myths of Scotland, Flo comes across a gruesome book that portrays the mythical half-seal, half human selkies as vicious creatures. The book is so unsavory that it marked the end of a small press, Broch Books, which had survived on walking guides and island trivia for the tourists. As she learns more from a storytelling drifter named Izzy, whose tales corroborate the book’s claims, Flo begins to suspect that something is amiss with Ailsa and her father, John. Though Ailsa reveals that John has moved them all over the country to track the missing people that he suspects were murdered, Flo begins to question his real motives. The narrative is mired by stock characters, such as one-dimensional mean girl Tina Robson and spoiled rich boy Lachlan Crane, the savage, reckless heir to the local brewery that keeps the town working. Things come to a head during a violent incident that leaves Flo at the center of a mystery. This story takes some intriguing swings and features a fresh setting and interesting local mythos, but Sylvester misses the mark when writing about teenage girls and doesn’t fare much better with plot. (Dec.)