I sometimes choose books based not only on plot but on setting as well. I'm not quite sure where I first read about S.J. Bolton's Sacrifice, the author's first novel, but when I saw that it was set on the Shetland Islands I had to snap it up, or in this case queue for a library copy. Anything set by the sea or on an island is something I'm going to take note of, and it didn't hurt that it also happens to be a thriller. I had high expectations for this story and aside from a few small quibbles, I wasn't disappointed. It reminded me just a bit of Robin Cook's Coma (didn't read the book but saw the movie) which ever since has made me wary of ever having to be be anesthetized (silly, I know).
Tora Hamilton is a strong and independent character. And she's going to need every ounce of her courage by the end of the novel. A Londoner by birth, she's moved to the Shetland Islands with her husband, Duncan, where he grew up. The move causes tension in the relationship, which is not helped by the fact they're trying unsuccessfully to conceive. Duncan's job takes him off the island quite often, but no matter, as Tora is busy delivering babies and looking after expectant mothers. Although she loves her job as an obstetrician, it's sometimes difficult working with pregnant women when can't get pregnant herself.
She gets a shock when she's digging in a field by her house. She uncovers the body of a woman with Viking runic symbols carved into her back and her heart ripped from her chest. Her first thought is that she's found an ancient bog body in the peat, but when it's determined that the body has been in the ground only a few years and the woman had given birth shortly before her death, Tora's curiosity is piqued. Her work in a hospital allows Tora easy access to medical files that abound with discrepancies. When she discovers the physical findings don't mesh with the medical records, not only does her husband, her boss at work, and the police warn her off asking so many questions, she begins to wonder if there's anyone left on the island she can trust.
Bolton combines an edge of your seat thriller with island folklore. Although the Shetland Islands are part of Britain, they were at one time invaded and colonized by the Vikings who brought with them their own beliefs and mythology. Just what exactly has Tora stumbled upon, how many people are involved and who will believe her? She finds a sympathetic ally in a female detective new to the island's police force. As they delve deeper into the mystery of the murdered woman the two women will find themselves in an increasingly dangerous situation.
As I was reading I was wondering just how plausible the story was (and sorry, I've not given you a lot of details, but I hate giving too much of the plot away), but I've decided that it's the moments of the novel's implausibility that make for a story that's actually quite frightening if I think about it long enough. It gave me pause to wonder if something like this could ever actually happen. And doesn't the saying go that truth is often stranger than fiction? So why not the reverse? If I ever do find myself on Unst or any of the Shetland Islands I might have just the slightest trepidation about walking alone at night down a dark street!
I thought this was a wonderfully entertaining and atmospheric thriller. The setting was perfectly evoked. There was at times a sense of claustrophobia on the island that worked well with the story Bolton was telling. I'll definitely be watching for the author's next book, which I hear she is already working on. Tora Hamilton will be taking a breather next time out. Bolton's new book is set on the coast of Devon (yay) and features a veterinary surgeon as her heroine. You can check out the author's website here.