Shalini Bolland’s Girl from the Sea: A Review

In her amnesiac thriller, Shalini Bolland introduces us to the confusion of a lonely woman swept away by the current. Percussive short sentences indicate the mood of the woman. The author moves on to the sights, sounds, and smells of the hospital as our heroine is taken to the Emergency Department.

Reassured by Dr. Lazowski that her amnesia is temporary, our victim becomes obsessed that she can’t even remember her name, let alone how she came to be lying on the beach, bathed in water. Well-meaning doctors, nurses, and detectives pressure her to recall any memories that may arise. “Retrograde amnesia”. The use of the term hits her panic button.

• Where are you from?

• were you running

• Do you have any identifying marks on your body?

• Can you remember the names of people you may know?

“I don’t know” is his blunt reply. A look in the mirror confirms her fears. She has no idea who she is.

Someone has reported that “Mia James” is missing. Could that be her name? We were immediately wary of Mia’s boyfriend and family. Upon meeting her mother, she discovers that there are old photos of her “in storage”. Piers, her boyfriend, whom she doesn’t remember, tells her about a large inheritance she received from her father and a real estate business that she and Piers own together. Mia meets all the new information with mixed emotions. Who can she trust?

This contemporary mystery progresses at a rapid pace, fueling my inability to put the book down. The first-person narration is peppered with short paragraphs that we assume are memories, but even these are muddled. Emotional acceleration is propulsive until the middle of the book. Lies, blackmail, secrets, accusations, mistrust are intertwined the girl of the sea, but the momentum of the book slows to the point where the excitement of the thriller stagnates. A good read for those who don’t need a constantly compelling read.

I thank NetGalley and Adrenalin Books for providing me with an ARC for my unbiased review.