Sarys

by Alicia Resnik, Angela Avery (photographer), Anna Finkbeiner (illustrator)

"Is it better to live a life of happy lies or bring all the secrets to life," wonders seventeen-year-old Josephine Hutchings as she writes in her journal. In 1824, she’s the “belle” of Bermuda’s society. She’s young, beautiful, and engaged to be married. Until she meets Thomas Driver, the visiting British artist, and her innocent world of ball gowns and tea parties is irrevocably turned upside down.Decades later, in 1994, Josie Amelia Baker returns home to scatter her grandmother's ashes. Having missed the funeral, she hopes to make it a quick visit but finds a box containing journals written by her great-great-grandmother, Josephine Hutchings. Inside the first journal is a cryptic note from Josie’s grandmother asking her to "make amends." Reading the journals changes Josie’s perspective. Josephine Hutching’s words reveal a far from perfect family, a family with secrets. Hiding secrets of her own, Josie immerses herself in her great-great-grandmother's 1824 world of soirees, and gossip, until a personal tragedy forces her to set the journals aside and focus on issues she’s been avoiding.Set against the backdrop of Bermuda, Sarys is a novel of love, lies, murder and a 170-year-old family secret. The dual narrative of Josie Amelia Baker in 1994 is intertwined with the words written in her great-great-grandmother’s 1824 journals. While Josephine Hutchings’ life in 1824 is unraveling, Josie Amelia Baker in 1994, is forced to confront unexpected truths - about herself, her family, and the heritage she thought she knew.

620 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2023

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a recent trip to Bermuda, I stopped at the book store in Hamilton looking for a book just like this. Set in Bermuda and written by an author who lives there, the fact that I hit the trifecta and it was historical fiction was a bonus. Reading about the island after being there was such a treat and I have added some new places to visit the next time.
The story kept me wanting to pick the book back up, well done.🙌🏻

[Veda Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read. Lovely trip back in time to beautiful Bermuda, an interesting look into humanity’s dichotomy for good and evil towards each other.

[Wendy Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book in the Bermuda airport as I was leaving after vacationing there. I ended up really enjoying it. Loved reading the journal entries from 1824 and learning some more history of the Island. The more modern story was 1994, so not totally contemporary but still enjoyed reading about places we had visited. The story was engaging and fun to read. Would definitely recommend.