Shannon Griscom

As an avid reader of David Roper's writing, I must share my delight with his latest novella, The Ghosts of Gadus Island. The brief but satisfying tale surely fits the term, "page turner": the beauty and intrigue of the story pulls one through this lyrical tale. Eighteen years after sheltering in the hidden harbor of an almost forgotten island, a mother and surly teenage daughter return to this beautiful setting. Slowly, the story of that first encounter with a teenage boy on the island emerges, and with the retelling, we are told of generational trauma, family secrets, and a love story. The prose is spare and close to poetry, pulling this reader along. I neglected my hosts and companions as I was mesmerized by the beauty of the Maine setting and the complex characters. I will gift this novella to all my friends as my favorite "read" of this year. What a delight to savor this story.