The Sea Stone Sisters (Eleanor Buchanan)

The publisher’s presentation

Like the stones in their rings, the sisters were meant to stay together.
Now they were scattered across the world.

1931. When Iris Blackmore’s father knocks down the Sisters of Skara standing stones, a dark shadow falls on her family that will echo down through generations. With their fortune lost, the four Blackmore sisters are scattered to the four winds, taking only the rings they inherited from their beloved mother.

Present day.  Grieving and adrift, Roz Chatton leaves her home in Australia, arriving in London with little other than her late mother’s ring. When she stumbles upon a painting of four ancient standing stones, she feels the past calling to her. Drawn to Scotland, Roz begins to unearth a long-forgotten mystery, and a secret that lies waiting for her within her mother’s ring … 

Four lost sisters. An epic journey home. Will you follow?

My reading experience

I was really totally immersed in this book and could not stop reading. What a story and how is it possible that I only discover Eleanor Buchanan now!

I love dual-time novels, and this one is very well balanced. The novel switches between the early 1930s and the present time, and this is written in a way that is easy to follow for the reader. The flow of the story in both timelines is clear and interesting.

I liked the idea of the ring and the painting and how they connect the present and the past. Roz is a lovely character who is escaping one part of her life to end up thrown into something much more complicated, but also so intriguing and emotional. Connecting herself to a past that she did not know about and that still has so many unsanswered questions.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere created by the author. We start in Australia, that Roz leaves grieving for her mother, and with just her mum’s ring. Then to London, where she tries to rebuild her life. A special painting throws her on the quest for the sea stones of Skara in Scotland and there, her present meets her past. The letters Iris wrote from the boat to Ceylon, and later from the outback in Australia, connect the dots little by little.

It is a very well written story, with interesting locations and immersive writing. The characters are all strong and superbly brought to life. I thought Hugo was a really beautiful person and I admire the strength and resilience of Iris and Guy. Roz and Drew have a lot more to find out because the first book reveals only a very small part of Roz’s past.

And now I cannot wait for the next book.

Thank you to Negalley and Headline for having given me the pleasure of reading this book in ARC and to discover Eleanor Buchanan. All opinions are my own.

I enjoy following Eleanor Buchanan on Instagram as she shares impressions of places in her book. It is nice to see and read from the author.