Saltwater: A Midsummer Ghost Story
Saltwater is the second book in a quartet of ghost stories set in remote Scottish locations at key points of the Celtic calendar. This instalment is set during the summer solstice, perhaps not naturally a spooky time, but Thomson draws out all its uncanny potential to create an unsettling Gothic story.
Our protagonist, Tom Torrance, is a scientist, supposedly immune to life’s wilder fancies but increasingly subject to unnerving otherworldly experiences. It is 1896, and Tom works as an engineer for the Northern Lighthouse Board, constructing lighthouses around the country. The symbol of Victorian industry shedding light on pagan superstition resonates throughout the novel. Tom’s latest commission is to manage the building of a lighthouse on the remote island of Stroma. However, he discovers that the locals, far from welcoming their endeavours, are happy with the status quo, which allows them to supplement their meagre living with goods salvaged from wrecked ships. And, although midsummer is a time of light, it is also a time when evil spirits can cross into the human world.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, mainly Tom, but other viewpoints give us an alternative view. The setting is glorious, and Tom’s urban eyes give us a glimpse into the beauty of this wild, dangerous place – something that he increasingly appreciates as the novel progresses. There are many genuinely eerie moments, and I enjoyed the references to Scottish folklore. Thomson creates a range of colourful characters and manages a slow build-up of tension with many twists and turns. Ultimately, though, this novel feels less satisfying than the first in this quartet. It may be because the darkness of Halloween – when the first book is set – is naturally scarier than the long days of summer. Nonetheless, this is undoubtedly an enjoyable read; just not quite as engaging as the first.
