I picked up “Home From the Sea” the minute I heard of the
title’s release and did not regret my purchase for a moment. Mel Keegan has an enviable gift for world
building, in this case transporting us to the English coast circa 1769. Mr. Keegan brings to life an ordinary,
upstanding fellow about to be swept up in secrecy and adventure he could never
have fathomed.
We first meet Jim Fairley running his late father’s tavern. A reputable establishment, The Raven flocks
with clientele who share hair raising tales from the high seas that leave Jim musing
over the thrill of exotic shores. The fog
of his daily grind only lifts when a man of like mind enters the establishment
and the pair discovers mutual attraction.
But these illegal interludes are dangerous, inevitably brief in nature.
As a result Jim finds himself forever consoled by the
companionship of rum-soaked sailors, a dog, one cat, his nearly deaf grandmotherly
cook, and a female populace that assumes an old leg injury left him a eunuch. Even an aged regular sees the danger of missed
opportunity, warning that any safe haven can become a prison.
Enter Toby Trelane, the enigmatic visitor who gradually,
unintentionally, turns Jim Fairley’s mundane existence on its ear. Toby acts as handyman by day and balladsinger
by night, drawing unlikely crowds even on the cusp of bad weather. This stranger piqued my interest with his
secretive yet generous nature. What was
Toby hiding? Why did he seem shamed by
his past?
I had difficulty putting the book down well before any
actual mayhem ensued. You must know,
too, that Mr. Keegan incorporated some unexpected characters, well crafted ones. There’s the long-dead owner of The Raven who
watched the coastal path with eerie intensity.
No one could say why. Mother
Nature plays a major role, for sure, and even the The Raven herself seems like
much more than just a set of structures.
I consider this an outstanding mesh of romance, mystery,
drama, and jeopardy. If you appreciate a
thoughtful story filled with grit and heart instead of endless sex, be sure to
pick up “Home From the Sea”.
Click here to read the blurb, excerpt, or just buy, wish I recommend:
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