Granite Harbor is the latest novel from Peter Nichols, a critically-acclaimed writer of non-fiction and other works. This is a crime fiction work that straddles the line between genre and literary in a successful way.
Granite Harbor is a quiet community located in coastal Maine. It’s the type of town where everyone knows everyone and everything. That is until a serial killer begins stalking the children of the area. The first—at least in Granite Harbor—is a teen boy who was out skateboarding with his friends. The next morning, his body is discovered hanging on the grounds of The Settlement—a tourist destination designed to transport visitors back to the history of the area, similar to Colonial Williamsburg.
The gruesome find gets even more creepy when a living frog is found sewn into the body of the boy. (This is as good a place as any to let readers know that if the harming of animals is not something you can stomach, this book is going to be a tough road. None of the inclusion is gratuitous—being in many ways vital to the mindset of the killer—but it is disturbing.)
The detective on the case is Alex Brangwen, a moderately successful author who has taken on a more reliable job for the sake of his daughter, Sophie. Being so new to the job, this is the most intense on-the-job training—especially as the threat continues to grow, with all the children of Granite Harbor at risk.
Peter Nichols tells this tale from multiple points of view, including that of the killer. The literary style of exploring the backstory of virtually every character takes some getting used to. Buried in these historical looks are some vital facts, of course, but with these profiles front-loaded within the novel’s structure, it does slow down the action at times.
Perseverance is rewarded with a second act that is tense and exciting, with new discoveries coming in rapid fire. Each reader will find they respond to different aspects of this isolated community. That groundwork laid in the early chapters really serves to bond the reader with these characters and many readers will hope for a return visit to Granite Harbor.
Between the personal turmoil of Alex life, the strained relationships between other residents of Granite Harbor, and the high-stakes central crime, Peter Nichols keeps readers invested long into the night, with a resolution that more than satisfies.
BUY LINKS: Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols
Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
