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The Wild Isle #4
The Midnight Secret
The mystery of St Kilda’s residents are all revealed in the epic conclusion to Karen Swan’s bestselling historical series set in 1930s Scotland.
If there’s one thing Jayne Ferguson has learned in her life, it’s that every blessing comes with a curse. She married the most handsome man on the isle of St Kilda—but he’s a bully. She inherited her mother’s gift of second sight - but only ever foresees her fellow islanders’ deaths. She has learned to keep to herself, treading in the shadows and shirking the highs for fear of the lows.
When a needless death strikes at the heart of her home, Jayne’s bad marriage becomes worse and she finds solace with an unlikely friend. Glimmers of happiness tantalize her, though there’s no possibility for anything more, especially once word comes of St Kilda’s evacuation.
But as the day draws near, tensions on the island rise. Secrets are being forced to the surface, passions and enmities erupting with equal violence. A man is killed, as Jayne knew he would be, and her closest friends Effie, Mhairi, and Flora are each implicated. On the mainland, the villagers scatter into new lives, hoping distance means refuge. But then Jayne has another of her dreams and she knows the past isn’t done with them yet.
The Midnight Secret is the fourth and final book in The Wild Isle series, following on from The Last Summer, The Stolen Hours, and The Lost Lover, from Globe and Mail and Toronto Star bestseller Karen Swan.
If there’s one thing Jayne Ferguson has learned in her life, it’s that every blessing comes with a curse. She married the most handsome man on the isle of St Kilda—but he’s a bully. She inherited her mother’s gift of second sight - but only ever foresees her fellow islanders’ deaths. She has learned to keep to herself, treading in the shadows and shirking the highs for fear of the lows.
When a needless death strikes at the heart of her home, Jayne’s bad marriage becomes worse and she finds solace with an unlikely friend. Glimmers of happiness tantalize her, though there’s no possibility for anything more, especially once word comes of St Kilda’s evacuation.
But as the day draws near, tensions on the island rise. Secrets are being forced to the surface, passions and enmities erupting with equal violence. A man is killed, as Jayne knew he would be, and her closest friends Effie, Mhairi, and Flora are each implicated. On the mainland, the villagers scatter into new lives, hoping distance means refuge. But then Jayne has another of her dreams and she knows the past isn’t done with them yet.
The Midnight Secret is the fourth and final book in The Wild Isle series, following on from The Last Summer, The Stolen Hours, and The Lost Lover, from Globe and Mail and Toronto Star bestseller Karen Swan.
480 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2025
173 people are currently reading
900 people want to read
About the author
Karen Swan
63 books2,400 followersKaren Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and a puppy, and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs. Her books include Christmas at Tiffany's, Summer at Tiffany's, The Perfect Present, Christmas in the Snow, The Summer Without You, The Paris Secret, and Christmas Under the Stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
April 12, 2025
A haunting finale steeped in secrets, second sight, and simmering tension.
The Midnight Secret wraps up Karen Swan’s St Kilda trilogy with drama, heartache, and a dash of the supernatural. Though I hadn’t read the previous books, I was still pulled into the stormy lives of these isolated islanders—especially Jayne, whose quiet strength and tragic gift add a compelling layer to the story.
The writing is evocative and atmospheric, and the backdrop of St Kilda’s final days is both poignant and richly imagined. That said, newcomers may struggle with the web of relationships and backstory, which rely heavily on the earlier instalments for emotional depth.
A solid conclusion to a sweeping saga—best enjoyed in order for full impact.
The Midnight Secret wraps up Karen Swan’s St Kilda trilogy with drama, heartache, and a dash of the supernatural. Though I hadn’t read the previous books, I was still pulled into the stormy lives of these isolated islanders—especially Jayne, whose quiet strength and tragic gift add a compelling layer to the story.
The writing is evocative and atmospheric, and the backdrop of St Kilda’s final days is both poignant and richly imagined. That said, newcomers may struggle with the web of relationships and backstory, which rely heavily on the earlier instalments for emotional depth.
A solid conclusion to a sweeping saga—best enjoyed in order for full impact.
October 23, 2025
Ketvirtoji ir paskutinė "Laukinės salos" serijos dalis! Ir tai buvo puikus apibendrinimas, paslapčių atskleidimas ir jau pamiltų veikėjų tolimesnis likimas. Viskas viename ir man asmeniškai - tobula pabaiga!
Pirmose trijose knygose susipažinom su Efe, Maire ir Flora bei su 36 paskutiniais atšiauros salos Sent Kildos gyventojais. Tai tikrais pasakojimais paremta keturių knygų serija apie salos evakuaciją. Ir nuolatinių gyventojų, visą gyvenimą praleidusių atskirtoje saloje, prisitaikymą žemyninėje Škotijoje. Paskutinėje dalyje sužinome ne tik, kaip sekėsi pagrindinėms veikėjoms, bet išgirstame ir dar vienos draugės Džeinės gyvenimo istoriją.
Autorė nuo pat pradžių puikiai kėlė įtampą ir kurstė mano susidomėjimą pasakodama, kaip Efei sekasi įsilieti į sužadėtinio Šoto aplinką, kaip Mairė kenčia nuo žiauriųjų kaimynų ir kaip Florai sekasi ieškoti dingusio sūnaus. Ir tai tikrai nebuvo lengvai nuspėjami siužeto vingiai. Tai buvo tikroviškos situacijos su savais iššūkiais ir nesekmėmis, kurioms merginos stengėsi visaip nepasiduoti.
Sent Kildos bendruomenė tai didelė mylinti šeima, kuri džiaugiasi ir liūdi kartu, kartais teisia, bet tuo pačiu moka atleisti ir priimti atgal. Gaila paleisti pamiltus veikėjus, bet tai buvo nuostabi knyginė kelionė po tolimas Škotijos vietoves.
Pirmose trijose knygose susipažinom su Efe, Maire ir Flora bei su 36 paskutiniais atšiauros salos Sent Kildos gyventojais. Tai tikrais pasakojimais paremta keturių knygų serija apie salos evakuaciją. Ir nuolatinių gyventojų, visą gyvenimą praleidusių atskirtoje saloje, prisitaikymą žemyninėje Škotijoje. Paskutinėje dalyje sužinome ne tik, kaip sekėsi pagrindinėms veikėjoms, bet išgirstame ir dar vienos draugės Džeinės gyvenimo istoriją.
Autorė nuo pat pradžių puikiai kėlė įtampą ir kurstė mano susidomėjimą pasakodama, kaip Efei sekasi įsilieti į sužadėtinio Šoto aplinką, kaip Mairė kenčia nuo žiauriųjų kaimynų ir kaip Florai sekasi ieškoti dingusio sūnaus. Ir tai tikrai nebuvo lengvai nuspėjami siužeto vingiai. Tai buvo tikroviškos situacijos su savais iššūkiais ir nesekmėmis, kurioms merginos stengėsi visaip nepasiduoti.
Sent Kildos bendruomenė tai didelė mylinti šeima, kuri džiaugiasi ir liūdi kartu, kartais teisia, bet tuo pačiu moka atleisti ir priimti atgal. Gaila paleisti pamiltus veikėjus, bet tai buvo nuostabi knyginė kelionė po tolimas Škotijos vietoves.
October 24, 2025
„Žaidėjai jau užima savo pozicijas – prasidėjo pabaiga.“
Aš jau žinau visas paslaptis – ir deja, bet jau atsisveikinau su Sent Kilda visam laikui.
Keista, kai prisimenu, kaip šiai serijai pasirodžius buvau gana abejinga – maždaug, baisiai rūpi čia man kažkokia sala Škotijoj. Ir nors labai mėgstu Karen Swan, visgi iš pradžių nelabai viliojausi skaityti jos pirmą grynai istorinį romaną, ir dar visą seriją (kitos autorės knygos – arba šiuolaikinės, arba kelių laiko linijų).
Bet štai aš čia – su didžiausiu pasimėgavimu surijusi visas dalis, ir dabar jau vadinanti šitą seriją viena iš geriausių kada skaitytų (jei kalbam apie istorinius romanus).
Ir kas dar labai keista – kad visos keturios knygos iš esmės yra apie tą patį įvykį, tik iš skirtingų veikėjų perspektyvų, pintos ir perpintos skirtingais sluoksniais. Neginčytinas autoriaus talentas tiek pasakoti apie tą patį, bet kad skaitytojui išliktų vienodai įdomu, ir dar kad vis tiek pavyktų nustebint – ir ne kartą. Bravo, tikrai!
O finalinėje dalyje Swan talžo savo veikėjas negailėdama – nors visos turėjo po savo knygą, čia jau atrodo, kad nei Efei, nei Mairei, nei Florai nesišviečia laiminga pabaiga. Tik jau nieko negaliu prasitarti. Galiu tik paraginti patiems nukeliauti į Sent Kildą.
P.S. Atskiros pagyros serijos viršeliams, kurie idealiai atitinka visos istorijos nuotaiką – lietuviški viršeliai skoningumu lenkia visus kitus užsienietiškus leidimus.
Aš jau žinau visas paslaptis – ir deja, bet jau atsisveikinau su Sent Kilda visam laikui.
Keista, kai prisimenu, kaip šiai serijai pasirodžius buvau gana abejinga – maždaug, baisiai rūpi čia man kažkokia sala Škotijoj. Ir nors labai mėgstu Karen Swan, visgi iš pradžių nelabai viliojausi skaityti jos pirmą grynai istorinį romaną, ir dar visą seriją (kitos autorės knygos – arba šiuolaikinės, arba kelių laiko linijų).
Bet štai aš čia – su didžiausiu pasimėgavimu surijusi visas dalis, ir dabar jau vadinanti šitą seriją viena iš geriausių kada skaitytų (jei kalbam apie istorinius romanus).
Ir kas dar labai keista – kad visos keturios knygos iš esmės yra apie tą patį įvykį, tik iš skirtingų veikėjų perspektyvų, pintos ir perpintos skirtingais sluoksniais. Neginčytinas autoriaus talentas tiek pasakoti apie tą patį, bet kad skaitytojui išliktų vienodai įdomu, ir dar kad vis tiek pavyktų nustebint – ir ne kartą. Bravo, tikrai!
O finalinėje dalyje Swan talžo savo veikėjas negailėdama – nors visos turėjo po savo knygą, čia jau atrodo, kad nei Efei, nei Mairei, nei Florai nesišviečia laiminga pabaiga. Tik jau nieko negaliu prasitarti. Galiu tik paraginti patiems nukeliauti į Sent Kildą.
P.S. Atskiros pagyros serijos viršeliams, kurie idealiai atitinka visos istorijos nuotaiką – lietuviški viršeliai skoningumu lenkia visus kitus užsienietiškus leidimus.
December 27, 2025
Autorė visai negaili savo veikėjų, tačiau kartu tokiu būdu su šia serija sukūrė reto stiprumo moteris. Kai gyvenimas mėto ir vėto į visas puses, nenuilstantys vėjai negailestingai talžo vis sukeldami naujas bangas, šios moterys nepraranda vilties ir visomis jėgomis kimba į svajones, viltį ir gyvenimą, kurio trokšta. Puiki, puiki, PUIKI serijos atomazga, kuri privertė ir ašarą nubraukti, ir skaityti sulaikius kvapą, ir pasidžiaugti. Laukiu nesulaukiu kitų autorės serijų!
May 7, 2025
I read the entire series and I will be honest, this one was the worst. Still good, but the worst. In the first half, nothing happens, and then I just ended up skipping. This entire book is basically about finding a stolen baby in Canada. It has absolutely nothing to do with St Kilda anymore. I have a feeling like Karen Swan is anticipating a filming of her series like the Outlander books, which, sadly, moved the story from the Highlighands to the USA, causing a terribly boring story about American History, which has made most fans quit the series overall.
I also noticed a complete lack of descriptions of surroundings and nature. You would think that with these covers of an island in the wild nature, you would get beautiful descriptions of the cliffs, the birds, the actual life on the island. Nothing. It is endless spun out talk, micro-descriptions of the character's actions. The most boring type of writing. It seems like the publisher begged for a fourth book and that Karen did not know how to even start. Just my two cents.
Also, there were too many story lines at once. This book was supposed to be about Jayne, someone we hadn't heard of in the first three books. Jayne gets mentioned so little in the book that you would almost forget she was abused by her husband until the final tenth of the book, where this abuse suddenly plays a huge role, as well as her talent for visions.
It's a chaotic, far-sought story that isn't even a story. I could not wait for it to be over. The Dutch translation had multiple badly printed pages and lots of typos and unnatural translations. I like the series as a whole, but it should have been rounded up in book 3. All books could have also been half as long, especially if you won't bother the write nice descriptions instead of micro talk. I paid € 23 to be bored.
I also have difficulty believing that Karen Swan is the same author from some of her individual books. Some of those are so dull I have to put them down after ten pages. It wouldn't surprise me if multiple ghost writers work on all these books.
I also noticed a complete lack of descriptions of surroundings and nature. You would think that with these covers of an island in the wild nature, you would get beautiful descriptions of the cliffs, the birds, the actual life on the island. Nothing. It is endless spun out talk, micro-descriptions of the character's actions. The most boring type of writing. It seems like the publisher begged for a fourth book and that Karen did not know how to even start. Just my two cents.
Also, there were too many story lines at once. This book was supposed to be about Jayne, someone we hadn't heard of in the first three books. Jayne gets mentioned so little in the book that you would almost forget she was abused by her husband until the final tenth of the book, where this abuse suddenly plays a huge role, as well as her talent for visions.
It's a chaotic, far-sought story that isn't even a story. I could not wait for it to be over. The Dutch translation had multiple badly printed pages and lots of typos and unnatural translations. I like the series as a whole, but it should have been rounded up in book 3. All books could have also been half as long, especially if you won't bother the write nice descriptions instead of micro talk. I paid € 23 to be bored.
I also have difficulty believing that Karen Swan is the same author from some of her individual books. Some of those are so dull I have to put them down after ten pages. It wouldn't surprise me if multiple ghost writers work on all these books.
February 22, 2025
Karen Swan is undeniably a masterful storyteller, and her ability to weave engaging storylines filled with atmospheric settings and complex characters is what I loved about the first two books in this series. They were captivating, filled with depth, intrigue, and a perfect balance of romance and drama. Unfortunately, the third book started to lean into the chick-lit category, and this final installment took it even further, losing some of the authenticity that made the earlier books so compelling. Perhaps there was just not enough St Kilda for me.
While I enjoyed reading about all the familiar characters, some of them fell into cliché territory, making their stories feel predictable. The plot twists, which in the past had been exciting and unexpected, felt a little formulaic and the dialogue at times was cringeworthy. And don’t even get me started on the happy ending which wrapped things up so neatly.
That being said, despite its flaws, the book still had some moments of charm, and Swan’s storytelling ability kept me engaged throughout. It just didn’t quite reach the same level as the first two books, leaving the series with a somewhat disappointing conclusion. If you’re a devoted fan of Swan’s work, it’s still worth reading, but those who fell in love with St Kilda and the atmosphere of the earlier books might find this one a little too light and predictable.
While I enjoyed reading about all the familiar characters, some of them fell into cliché territory, making their stories feel predictable. The plot twists, which in the past had been exciting and unexpected, felt a little formulaic and the dialogue at times was cringeworthy. And don’t even get me started on the happy ending which wrapped things up so neatly.
That being said, despite its flaws, the book still had some moments of charm, and Swan’s storytelling ability kept me engaged throughout. It just didn’t quite reach the same level as the first two books, leaving the series with a somewhat disappointing conclusion. If you’re a devoted fan of Swan’s work, it’s still worth reading, but those who fell in love with St Kilda and the atmosphere of the earlier books might find this one a little too light and predictable.
June 16, 2025
De serie is nu, jammer genoeg, ten einde!
Top boek en alle mysteries zijn onthuld.
4,5 ster, afgerond naar 5 ⭐️
Top boek en alle mysteries zijn onthuld.
4,5 ster, afgerond naar 5 ⭐️
January 23, 2026
LT / EN
Užvertus paskutinį ketvirtosios knygos puslapį apima sudėtingas jausmų derinys – ramybė, liūdesys ir tylus džiaugsmas. Tai knyga, kuri pagaliau užbaigia ilgai kurtą pasakojimą, išriša siužetines gijas ir leidžia skaitytojui pažvelgti į visumą.
Vengiant atskleisti detales, galima drąsiai teigti, kad skaitymo patirtis buvo intensyvi ir įtraukianti. Autorė geba išlaikyti emocinę įtampą, o veikėjų kelionės – tiek vidinės, tiek išorinės – nuosekliai veda link neišvengiamos pabaigos.
Vis dėlto Marijos ir Floros siužeto atomazga paliko dvejopus jausmus. Ypač Marijos likimas, mano vertinimu, atrodo nevisiškai proporcingas jos veiksmams ir priimtiems sprendimams.
Nepaisant to, ketvirtoji knyga sėkmingai atlieka svarbiausią savo funkciją – užbaigia St. Kildos sagą ir suteikia skaitytojui galimybę išgyventi visą kelią kartu su herojais. Tai buvo prasminga, dėmesio verta kelionė, o autorės gebėjimas daugybę valandų paversti įtraukiančiu literatūriniu patyrimu neabejotinai nusipelno pagarbos.
__________________________________
Turning the last page of the fourth book, a complex mix of feelings - peace, sadness and quiet joy – overwhelms me. This is a book that finally completes a long-drawn-out story, unravels the plot threads and allows the reader to look at the whole picture.
Without revealing details, it is safe to say that the reading experience was intense and engaging. The author manages to maintain emotional tension, and the characters’ journeys – both internal and external – consistently lead towards an inevitable end.
However, the conclusion of the Maria and Flora plot left me with mixed feelings. Maria’s fate in particular, in my opinion, seems not entirely proportional to her actions and decisions.
Nevertheless, the fourth book successfully fulfills its most important function – it concludes the St. Kilda's saga and gives the reader the opportunity to experience the whole journey together with the heroes. It was a meaningful, worthwhile journey, and the author's ability to turn countless hours into an engaging literary experience certainly deserves respect.
Užvertus paskutinį ketvirtosios knygos puslapį apima sudėtingas jausmų derinys – ramybė, liūdesys ir tylus džiaugsmas. Tai knyga, kuri pagaliau užbaigia ilgai kurtą pasakojimą, išriša siužetines gijas ir leidžia skaitytojui pažvelgti į visumą.
Vengiant atskleisti detales, galima drąsiai teigti, kad skaitymo patirtis buvo intensyvi ir įtraukianti. Autorė geba išlaikyti emocinę įtampą, o veikėjų kelionės – tiek vidinės, tiek išorinės – nuosekliai veda link neišvengiamos pabaigos.
Vis dėlto Marijos ir Floros siužeto atomazga paliko dvejopus jausmus. Ypač Marijos likimas, mano vertinimu, atrodo nevisiškai proporcingas jos veiksmams ir priimtiems sprendimams.
Nepaisant to, ketvirtoji knyga sėkmingai atlieka svarbiausią savo funkciją – užbaigia St. Kildos sagą ir suteikia skaitytojui galimybę išgyventi visą kelią kartu su herojais. Tai buvo prasminga, dėmesio verta kelionė, o autorės gebėjimas daugybę valandų paversti įtraukiančiu literatūriniu patyrimu neabejotinai nusipelno pagarbos.
__________________________________
Turning the last page of the fourth book, a complex mix of feelings - peace, sadness and quiet joy – overwhelms me. This is a book that finally completes a long-drawn-out story, unravels the plot threads and allows the reader to look at the whole picture.
Without revealing details, it is safe to say that the reading experience was intense and engaging. The author manages to maintain emotional tension, and the characters’ journeys – both internal and external – consistently lead towards an inevitable end.
However, the conclusion of the Maria and Flora plot left me with mixed feelings. Maria’s fate in particular, in my opinion, seems not entirely proportional to her actions and decisions.
Nevertheless, the fourth book successfully fulfills its most important function – it concludes the St. Kilda's saga and gives the reader the opportunity to experience the whole journey together with the heroes. It was a meaningful, worthwhile journey, and the author's ability to turn countless hours into an engaging literary experience certainly deserves respect.
February 28, 2025
I have followed this series with great interest over the last few years, and I was so thankful to receive this ARC.
We are back to visit the characters of the Wild Isles series, and this time, the story begins with the POV of Jayne, a woman who can foresee certain events. She's married to Norman, a nasty piece of work, but she doesn't have the strength to fight back in any way.
What she witnesses during her last night on St. Kilda is something she doesn't realise will be significant until further on in the story.
Through this book, we follow Effie, Mhairi, and Flora, key characters in the first three books, and each is left with loose ends that are slowly tied up through The Midnight Secret.
As the book progresses, we visit Canada, different parts of the Highlands, and a return to St Kilda.
The stories of the fictional St Kildan community leading up to the catalyst that finds them leaving their beloved island and all they know and following them as they try to settle on the Scottish Mainland were beautifully crafted.
The entire series is just amazing. Karen Swan made me care about every character, and their stories unfolded unforgettably, so each addition to the series enhanced the previous book.
I hope we will see more series in this vein from the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for an ARC.
We are back to visit the characters of the Wild Isles series, and this time, the story begins with the POV of Jayne, a woman who can foresee certain events. She's married to Norman, a nasty piece of work, but she doesn't have the strength to fight back in any way.
What she witnesses during her last night on St. Kilda is something she doesn't realise will be significant until further on in the story.
Through this book, we follow Effie, Mhairi, and Flora, key characters in the first three books, and each is left with loose ends that are slowly tied up through The Midnight Secret.
As the book progresses, we visit Canada, different parts of the Highlands, and a return to St Kilda.
The stories of the fictional St Kildan community leading up to the catalyst that finds them leaving their beloved island and all they know and following them as they try to settle on the Scottish Mainland were beautifully crafted.
The entire series is just amazing. Karen Swan made me care about every character, and their stories unfolded unforgettably, so each addition to the series enhanced the previous book.
I hope we will see more series in this vein from the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for an ARC.
May 14, 2025
5 star series and the last book had some fab twists and tied up all the pieces so well!
May 23, 2025
That ending! Simply brilliant Karen Swan
May 19, 2025
Het laatste deel in de Wilde eiland-serie. Het verhaal begint wederom op St. Kilda, 1930. Eén ding wat Jayne Ferguson wel in de loop van de jaren geleerd heeft is dat ieder zegen met een vloek komt. Ze heeft een knappe echtgenoot, maar ze hebben een slecht huwelijk. Ze heeft voorspellende gaven, maar deze voorspellen enkel de rampspoed. Op een dag hoort ze over de aanstaande evacuatie van St. Kilda. Wanneer de datum nadert, nemen de spanningen op het eiland toe. Een man wordt vermoord en Effie, Mhairi en Flora raken hierbij betrokken. Zal Jayne hen kunnen behoeden voor rampspoed?
Mijn ervaring:
Heerlijk! Wat een fijne, goede en krachtige afsluiter van deze prachtige, meeslepende en pakkende serie. Ook in dit deel is weer direct de sfeervolle, levendige en vlotte schrijfstijl van Karen Swan te herkennen. Hierdoor waan je jezelf op St. Kilda bij de drie vriendinnen Effie, Mhairi en Flora, en ditmaal is ook Jayne in de verhaallijn als hoofdpersonage meegenomen.
Het verhaal gaat direct van start en begint, net als voorgaande keren, weer op St. Kilda. Wel moet ik zeggen dat ik even nodig had om alle gebeurtenissen van de vorige drie delen weer op een rijtje te zetten. Vooral in het begin had ik heel vaak een 'oh, jaa!' gevoel. Daarna ging ik zonder moeite weer op in deze pakkende en indrukwekkende verhaallijn.
Het is tof hoe Karen Swan in dit vierde deel het verhaal en gebeurtenissen die zich voor de evacuatie op St. Kilda voortdeden nu vanuit de invalshoek van Jayne te beschrijven. Hierdoor weet ze op indrukwekkende, krachtige en verrassende wijze de eerdere gebeurtenissen eindelijk duidelijk te beantwoorden. Daarbij volgen we ook het verhaal in het heden, en lezen we hoe het leven van Effie, Mhairi, Flora en Jayne nu verdergaat nu ze geëvacueerd zijn en op het vaste land wonen. Het verhaal kent echt verrassende wendingen en zeker de gebeurtenissen rondom de baby, waren verrassend, schokkend en wisten me echt geboeid te houden.
Daarbij kent dit laatste deel echt een geweldig, spannend en pakkend plot, dat je én op het puntje van je stoel laat zitten, want er gebeurt echt nog even wat aan het einde én hierdoor worden de puntjes echt op de i gezet. Tot slot volgt nog een hartverwarmend en prachtig epiloog, waardoor je het verhaal met een lach op je gezicht dichtslaat.
Nachtgoud is het laatste pakkende, meeslepende en prachtige laatste deel van de Wilde eiland-serie. We keren opnieuw terug naar St. Kilda, waarbij we ditmaal het verhaal vanuit het perspectief van Jayne krijgen. Daarbij krijgen de verhaallijnen van Effie, Mhairi en Flora ook een verrassend en krachtig vervolg. Met een spannend plot worden eindelijk alle vragen beantwoord en weet Karen Swan op prachtige wijze de puntjes op de i te zetten en de serie af te sluiten. Deze serie is echt een aanrader!
Mijn ervaring:
Heerlijk! Wat een fijne, goede en krachtige afsluiter van deze prachtige, meeslepende en pakkende serie. Ook in dit deel is weer direct de sfeervolle, levendige en vlotte schrijfstijl van Karen Swan te herkennen. Hierdoor waan je jezelf op St. Kilda bij de drie vriendinnen Effie, Mhairi en Flora, en ditmaal is ook Jayne in de verhaallijn als hoofdpersonage meegenomen.
Het verhaal gaat direct van start en begint, net als voorgaande keren, weer op St. Kilda. Wel moet ik zeggen dat ik even nodig had om alle gebeurtenissen van de vorige drie delen weer op een rijtje te zetten. Vooral in het begin had ik heel vaak een 'oh, jaa!' gevoel. Daarna ging ik zonder moeite weer op in deze pakkende en indrukwekkende verhaallijn.
Het is tof hoe Karen Swan in dit vierde deel het verhaal en gebeurtenissen die zich voor de evacuatie op St. Kilda voortdeden nu vanuit de invalshoek van Jayne te beschrijven. Hierdoor weet ze op indrukwekkende, krachtige en verrassende wijze de eerdere gebeurtenissen eindelijk duidelijk te beantwoorden. Daarbij volgen we ook het verhaal in het heden, en lezen we hoe het leven van Effie, Mhairi, Flora en Jayne nu verdergaat nu ze geëvacueerd zijn en op het vaste land wonen. Het verhaal kent echt verrassende wendingen en zeker de gebeurtenissen rondom de baby, waren verrassend, schokkend en wisten me echt geboeid te houden.
Daarbij kent dit laatste deel echt een geweldig, spannend en pakkend plot, dat je én op het puntje van je stoel laat zitten, want er gebeurt echt nog even wat aan het einde én hierdoor worden de puntjes echt op de i gezet. Tot slot volgt nog een hartverwarmend en prachtig epiloog, waardoor je het verhaal met een lach op je gezicht dichtslaat.
Nachtgoud is het laatste pakkende, meeslepende en prachtige laatste deel van de Wilde eiland-serie. We keren opnieuw terug naar St. Kilda, waarbij we ditmaal het verhaal vanuit het perspectief van Jayne krijgen. Daarbij krijgen de verhaallijnen van Effie, Mhairi en Flora ook een verrassend en krachtig vervolg. Met een spannend plot worden eindelijk alle vragen beantwoord en weet Karen Swan op prachtige wijze de puntjes op de i te zetten en de serie af te sluiten. Deze serie is echt een aanrader!
November 2, 2025
Loved this book and the whole series. So many twists with an ending I would never have guessed. 💙
October 21, 2025
Net liūdna, kad tai paskutinė knyga ir jau atėjo pabaiga...
Labai įtraukianti knygų serija, pamilau pagrindines veikėjas - Sent Kildos merginas ir mėgavausi kiekviena knyga, labai patiko 💯👏❤️
Labai įtraukianti knygų serija, pamilau pagrindines veikėjas - Sent Kildos merginas ir mėgavausi kiekviena knyga, labai patiko 💯👏❤️
May 20, 2025
Alle punten van mij. Een heel mooie afsluiter van de wilde eilandreeks. Spannend tot bijna de laatste bladzijde. Ik zal de meisjes missen, echt een mooi verhaal.
August 5, 2025
Fantastic end to a stellar series.
April 28, 2025
Captivating, heart-tugging, and nostalgic!
The Midnight Secret is a compelling, beautiful tale that takes you back one last time to 1930 and into the lives of a handful of previous St. Kilda residents, including the kind Jayne Ferguson, as long-buried secrets come to light, love is lost and found, justice is finally served, and some get to make one final trip to the place they used to call home.
The prose is lyrical and rich. The characters are layered, loyal, and conflicted. And the plot is a captivating, heartwarming tale of life, loss, love, family, friendship, grief, guilt, denial, secrets, revelations, self-reflection, and forgiveness.
Overall, The Midnight Secret is a poignant, passionate, epic, historical fiction novel by Swan inspired by real-life events that is full of soul-searching dilemmas, dangerous situations, and complex, intriguing characters. And while it’s extremely bittersweet to say goodbye to this amazing cast of characters I’ve come to be invested in over these last four novels, it is nevertheless a brilliant ending to a fabulous series that I highly recommend and will undoubtedly miss.
The Midnight Secret is a compelling, beautiful tale that takes you back one last time to 1930 and into the lives of a handful of previous St. Kilda residents, including the kind Jayne Ferguson, as long-buried secrets come to light, love is lost and found, justice is finally served, and some get to make one final trip to the place they used to call home.
The prose is lyrical and rich. The characters are layered, loyal, and conflicted. And the plot is a captivating, heartwarming tale of life, loss, love, family, friendship, grief, guilt, denial, secrets, revelations, self-reflection, and forgiveness.
Overall, The Midnight Secret is a poignant, passionate, epic, historical fiction novel by Swan inspired by real-life events that is full of soul-searching dilemmas, dangerous situations, and complex, intriguing characters. And while it’s extremely bittersweet to say goodbye to this amazing cast of characters I’ve come to be invested in over these last four novels, it is nevertheless a brilliant ending to a fabulous series that I highly recommend and will undoubtedly miss.
May 26, 2025
3.5 stars. This is the fourth and final book in the Wild Isle series. The series tells the story of the evacuation of St Kilda and is a mix of historical fiction, mystery and romance. I absolutely loved the first three books in the series and was eagerly awaiting this one from the moment I finished the third book.
Unfortunately, I found this one a little bit disappointing. It was still a nice read but the story is told from multiple perspectives and it just didn’t quite work as well as the first three books in my opinion.
The first books each focused on telling one character’s story. They take place over the same timeline but are told from a different perspective which is quite clever as the series unfolds. This story does focus on one of the characters but it is also trying to finish off the story for the previous three main characters so it didn’t flow as smoothly. There was a whole section on a couple of the characters (Effie and Archie) that seemed like it was going somewhere but there was a sudden about turn at end and it was just filler which was a bit of a let down.
While the first three books were a brilliant mix of atmosphere, romance and drama, I felt the atmosphere was lacking and the plot twists were quite predictable in this final instalment.
I did enjoy this book. I would recommend the series as a whole and I’m sad that it’s over now, it just wasn’t on the same level as the first three books.
Unfortunately, I found this one a little bit disappointing. It was still a nice read but the story is told from multiple perspectives and it just didn’t quite work as well as the first three books in my opinion.
The first books each focused on telling one character’s story. They take place over the same timeline but are told from a different perspective which is quite clever as the series unfolds. This story does focus on one of the characters but it is also trying to finish off the story for the previous three main characters so it didn’t flow as smoothly. There was a whole section on a couple of the characters (Effie and Archie) that seemed like it was going somewhere but there was a sudden about turn at end and it was just filler which was a bit of a let down.
While the first three books were a brilliant mix of atmosphere, romance and drama, I felt the atmosphere was lacking and the plot twists were quite predictable in this final instalment.
I did enjoy this book. I would recommend the series as a whole and I’m sad that it’s over now, it just wasn’t on the same level as the first three books.
May 25, 2025
4.25/5 rounded down. I’m so sad this series is over! The writing is nothing crazy and at times lazy IMO but I absolutely loved the story and the characters, and enjoyed learning some Scottish history. I loved everyone’s endings and was genuinely shocked by the last scene between Jayne and Mary - I would have loved to see more of Mhairi and Flora’s happy endings (the ending was the only part of the book that I found was paced too quickly) but I’m also very glad the story ended with Effie since her book came first. I also would have loved to have had some flashbacks from Lorna as her character was quite complicated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed this series and this last book wrapped everything up really well. I would really recommend this series. It’s set on the island of St Kilda leading up to when all the residents were evacuated in 1930. Each book is told from a different POV of a groups of girl friends. At the end of the first book, something significant happens and then each book tells the story again from another POV. It’s a combination of historical fiction, romance and mystery very cleverly woven together. I have enjoyed the series so much that I have the audiobooks to listen to at some point. It’s one of those series where I feel I want to go back and read again as I know I will notice different things the next time. This is the first series Karen Swan has written and she says in her acknowledgements that she will do another one - I really hope she does as this has been excellent! 👌
January 25, 2026
Sent Kildos salos istorijos pabaiga, sudėlioti visi taškeliai į savo vietas, tikras visų pagrindinių herojų likimu “happy end’as”. Nors tai ne joks literatūrinis šedevras, bet knyga smagi, neapkraunanti. Tikrai stipresnė, nei paskutinės nuvylusios rašytojos “kalėdinės” istorijos.
October 13, 2025
Different series but enjoyable.
December 19, 2025
Really enjoyed this series!!
January 14, 2026
Fascinerend hoe dit verhaal drie boeken lang uitgemolken is, en dan boek vier een afgeraffeld sneltrein met 2836282 (te verwachten en voorspelbare) extra plottwists. I cannot.
June 7, 2025
Amai ik heb alle vier boeken op 1 maand uitgelezen :-) Drie boeken met een cliffhanger tot je het eindelijk weet in het vierde boek. Ik schrijf in feite nooit reviews, maar dit was toch het vermelden waard. Leuke manier om een reeks te schrijven.
November 7, 2025
4.5*
Užbaigiau seriją... Ir kad ir kaip nostalgiškai nuskambėtų - ech, būčiau norėjusi gyventi Sent Kildoje 🥹❤️
Užbaigiau seriją... Ir kad ir kaip nostalgiškai nuskambėtų - ech, būčiau norėjusi gyventi Sent Kildoje 🥹❤️
January 10, 2026
secret santa got me this, wouldn’t usually pick this up but was actually hooked after I got about halfway through lol, definitely need to read the series in order as didn’t have a clue what was going on at the beginning
November 2, 2025
Nuostabios serijos nuostabi pabaiga. Pagaliau išaiškėjo visos paslaptys ir intrigos.
Read
May 13, 2025Incredible end to an incredible series!
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