Set in Sowell Bay, Washington, we begin our story with a diary-like entry from Marcellus, who just so happens to be an octopus. Marcellus has been living as an exhibit in the Sowell Bay Aquarium since his capture, and he's not exactly happy about it. A little way in though, during one of his 'adventures', he meets elderly cleaning lady, Tova, and the two form a sort of friendship.
Tova tragically lost her son over 30 years ago, and more recently lost her husband to cancer. She cleans the Aquarium to keep busy, but she is still haunted by the unanswered what-ifs surrounding the death of her son. Marcellus puts two and two together and tries desperately to communicate the truth to Tova, and we meet a new face in town also looking for some truths of his own.
This is a cosy armchair mystery (without a great deal of mystery) that is easy to read and an easy narrative to keep up with. If you're feeling burned out lately, this may be the escapism read for you! I love the unique relationship between Tova and Marcellus, and the crochety voice Marcellus is given throughout the tale. The plot is quite predictable but it's a heartwarming read, with little quirks to the characters throughout. I think I would have loved more of Marcellus (or possibly even all Marcellus!) as he's such a unique voice and perfectly written as an octopus.
The ending doesn't quite tie up all the loose ends, which I actually really like in a story - a little ambiguity keeps the mind ticking! Although I liked the arc of the story I felt some of the details were quite random and unnecessary, and sometimes brought me out of the world of Sowell Bay while I tried to figure out why it was important to know the details of cleaning day when we're in the middle of an argument. The plot itself was quite clichéd - losing phones to give an excuse for an argument, an imminent move to create urgency, a disgruntled teenage son sabotaging his mother's date etc... But on the whole an enjoyable read, and a chance to escape into another world for a little while. A definite 'beach read'!
- Emma
@emma.greenwood
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