Joanne Harris — Coastliners

Doubleday 2002 Hardback, 486pp. On the tiny Breton island of Le Devin, life has remained almost unchanged for over 100 years. For generations, two rival communities, the wealthy La Houssiniere and the impoverished village of Les Salants, have fought for control over the island's only beach and the source of its prosperity. When Mado, a spirited local girl, returns to Les Salants after a 10 year absence, she finds her home threatened, both by the tides and by the machinations of local entrepreneur Claude Brismand, whose ruthless interests imperil the very survival of Les Salants. Worse still, Mado's father, GrosJean, is suffering the same disease that afflicts the village itself: an apparently incurable loss of hope. Mado, however, is not so easily discouraged. Dogged by prejudice from the superstitious villagers, she is forced to enlist the help of Flynn, an attractive drifter who shows her the means to redress the balance of power between La Houssiniere and Les Salants. But Mado's attempts to transform the dying community have unforeseen consequences. As Les Salants returns slowly to life, so do past tragedies, including the terrible secret that still haunts Mado's father. Add Flynn, who seemed so squarely on her side, has other hidden loyalties. Is he really who he says he is? Or is he leading them all into a trap? DJ. (ISBN: 9780385601726). Good.