Lost at Sea

Boyce (The Fifteen Wonders of Daniel Green) spins a riveting, satisfying tale of a small Massachusetts fishing town and the myriad family dramas buried just under the surface. In present-day Devil’s Purse, Mass., the residents lead a stoic, hardscrabble life; when the men don’t come home from sea, “the women allow themselves one good cry behind closed doors before setting their jaws and searching for job listings.” But after fisherman John Staybrook disappears in bad weather, his wife, Diane, suspects foul play. Meanwhile, John’s eight-year-old daughter, Ella, refuses to believe her father is gone, enlisting her babysitter, 18-year-old Lacey Carson, in a town-wide search. Lacey, adopted at birth, struggles with the sense that she was “unwanted,” and often turns to painkillers to quiet her mind. Boyce poignantly explores the impact of opioid addiction on the townsfolk, offering a moving scene of redemption after an overdose. While Boyce’s frequent changes in points of view can be hard to follow, she keeps a firm hold of the plot, methodically unpacking John’s poor decision to take the boat out in bad weather and culminating in a twisty, fast-paced finish. Readers will devour this convincing portrait of a tough New England town, brought to life with lush prose and well-developed characters. Agent: Eric Smith, P.S. Literary Agency. (Mar.)