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This Door of the Seas
Not yet published
Expected 5 Jan 27“An immersive tale of betrayal and injustice that reverberates with a howl of anguish three centuries old.”—Chris Brookmyre, author of The Cracked Mirror
From internationally bestselling author Val McDermid and Geographer Royal of Scotland Jo Sharp, a heart-wrenching novella about an ill-fated colonial scheme that bankrupted a country and forever altered the trajectory of history
At the end of the seventeenth century, a brave group of Scots sail for a jungle-coastline on the other side of the world, the junction between North and South America. Their to establish a trading colony that would assure their hard-strapped country’s future, as the East India Company had done for England. Their plan? To open a passage through Panama, a true “door of the seas and key to the universe.” Instead, what begins as a dream of prosperity quickly turns into a nightmare that bankrupts an already impoverished nation and propels it towards political union with England.
Written as a series of letters home from expedition scientist Dr. James Wallace to his wife Eliza and Sir Robert Sibbald, Scotland’s first Geographer Royal, This Door of the Seas offers a devastating account of the infamous Darien Scheme, the colonial misadventure that completely changed the history of Scotland.
From internationally bestselling author Val McDermid and Geographer Royal of Scotland Jo Sharp, a heart-wrenching novella about an ill-fated colonial scheme that bankrupted a country and forever altered the trajectory of history
At the end of the seventeenth century, a brave group of Scots sail for a jungle-coastline on the other side of the world, the junction between North and South America. Their to establish a trading colony that would assure their hard-strapped country’s future, as the East India Company had done for England. Their plan? To open a passage through Panama, a true “door of the seas and key to the universe.” Instead, what begins as a dream of prosperity quickly turns into a nightmare that bankrupts an already impoverished nation and propels it towards political union with England.
Written as a series of letters home from expedition scientist Dr. James Wallace to his wife Eliza and Sir Robert Sibbald, Scotland’s first Geographer Royal, This Door of the Seas offers a devastating account of the infamous Darien Scheme, the colonial misadventure that completely changed the history of Scotland.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 5, 2027
About the author
Val McDermid
327 books5,539 followersVal McDermid is a No. 1 bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages, and have sold over eleven million copies.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
She has won many awards internationally, including the CWA Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year and the LA Times Book of the Year Award. She was inducted into the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was the recipient of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2010. In 2011 she received the Lambda Literary Foundation Pioneer Award.
She writes full time and divides her time between Cheshire and Edinburgh.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 26, 2026
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novella.
This Door of the Seas by Jo Sharp and Val McDermid is a quick, entertaining historical novella that transports readers back to 1698 and Scotland’s ill-fated Darien expedition. Told through the letters and journal entries of Dr. James Wallace, the story feels remarkably authentic, often making you forget you’re reading historical fiction rather than genuine historical documents.
I knew very little about this period of Scottish history before picking up this book, so every new development came as a surprise. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse for the expedition, they somehow did. It made for a fascinating and engaging read, even as the events became increasingly tragic.
The epistolary format works wonderfully, drawing you into the voyage and making you feel as though you’re experiencing the expedition alongside its passengers. The writing is smooth and accessible, making this an ideal novella to read in a single sitting.
If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly stories centred on sea voyages and forgotten moments in history, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try. It’s a compelling, atmospheric read that packs a lot into its short length.
This Door of the Seas by Jo Sharp and Val McDermid is a quick, entertaining historical novella that transports readers back to 1698 and Scotland’s ill-fated Darien expedition. Told through the letters and journal entries of Dr. James Wallace, the story feels remarkably authentic, often making you forget you’re reading historical fiction rather than genuine historical documents.
I knew very little about this period of Scottish history before picking up this book, so every new development came as a surprise. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse for the expedition, they somehow did. It made for a fascinating and engaging read, even as the events became increasingly tragic.
The epistolary format works wonderfully, drawing you into the voyage and making you feel as though you’re experiencing the expedition alongside its passengers. The writing is smooth and accessible, making this an ideal novella to read in a single sitting.
If you enjoy historical fiction, particularly stories centred on sea voyages and forgotten moments in history, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try. It’s a compelling, atmospheric read that packs a lot into its short length.
July 27, 2026
ARC copy kindly provided by NetGalley and Atlantic Grove in exchange for an honest review.
This was for me, an absolute triple threat. Historical fiction, historical fact and a story set at sea.
I didn’t know much about The Darien Scheme before reading this, but is an essential part of Scottish and ultimately British history, and this powerful and immersive book, tells the tale from start to end so compellingly.
Written entirely on the form of correspondence back home to our main “character” James Wallace’s wife Eliza, Dr Robert Sibbald a botanist who didn’t go on the journey due to his age, and finally William Patterson, a main mover and shaker of the scheme who had returned home.
For me, this was a short but powerful tale, and at times I had to remind myself that, whilst of course firmly grounded in reality that is was a work of fiction, as the style of the correspondence and the language used felt so believable and reminiscent to letters and journal entries in books I’ve read such as The Wager.
I loved this, and will without doubt be picking up a copy on its release.
This was for me, an absolute triple threat. Historical fiction, historical fact and a story set at sea.
I didn’t know much about The Darien Scheme before reading this, but is an essential part of Scottish and ultimately British history, and this powerful and immersive book, tells the tale from start to end so compellingly.
Written entirely on the form of correspondence back home to our main “character” James Wallace’s wife Eliza, Dr Robert Sibbald a botanist who didn’t go on the journey due to his age, and finally William Patterson, a main mover and shaker of the scheme who had returned home.
For me, this was a short but powerful tale, and at times I had to remind myself that, whilst of course firmly grounded in reality that is was a work of fiction, as the style of the correspondence and the language used felt so believable and reminiscent to letters and journal entries in books I’ve read such as The Wager.
I loved this, and will without doubt be picking up a copy on its release.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley and this is my review:
Written in epistolary format, This Door of the Seas is a fast paced historical fiction novella. It is based on a true story of Scotland's attempt in 1698 to establish a trading colony in Darien, Panama. We follow an expedition scientist James Wallace as he aboards a ship and sails with the company to the promised Eden of prosperity. As you might expect, the company's expedition is not going as planned and they face numerous hardships.
It's always wonderful to learn something from a historical fiction book. Scotland has fascinated me a long time and now I have a little bit more information about it. I had a good time with this little book, and it mainly was what I expected it to be and I'm glad I read it.
But the plot driven approach left me feel a bit distanced from the characters. I would have wanted to spend more time in Darien hearing what James did there and how the everyday life was. The political scheming was also something I wish that had been spend more time with.
Written in epistolary format, This Door of the Seas is a fast paced historical fiction novella. It is based on a true story of Scotland's attempt in 1698 to establish a trading colony in Darien, Panama. We follow an expedition scientist James Wallace as he aboards a ship and sails with the company to the promised Eden of prosperity. As you might expect, the company's expedition is not going as planned and they face numerous hardships.
It's always wonderful to learn something from a historical fiction book. Scotland has fascinated me a long time and now I have a little bit more information about it. I had a good time with this little book, and it mainly was what I expected it to be and I'm glad I read it.
But the plot driven approach left me feel a bit distanced from the characters. I would have wanted to spend more time in Darien hearing what James did there and how the everyday life was. The political scheming was also something I wish that had been spend more time with.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fantastic short read about a really interesting piece of history. I had no idea about the historical context when I started reading (other than from the blurb that perhaps the expedition doesn't go as smoothly as hoped) and I feel like I came out of this book having learnt a lot! I appreciate the sources and historical context given at the back of the book.
I think one of my favourite parts of this book was the pacing. I've read a few books in this epistolary format, and there's always a level of disengagement from the actions the letter writer is talking about. However, I felt like the setting in this book and the flow of actions made me want to keep turning the page to see what disaster would befall them by the start of the next letter. There was so much action packed into the story that it was easy to forget that it was written in this format from time to time.
I will definitely be recommending this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I think one of my favourite parts of this book was the pacing. I've read a few books in this epistolary format, and there's always a level of disengagement from the actions the letter writer is talking about. However, I felt like the setting in this book and the flow of actions made me want to keep turning the page to see what disaster would befall them by the start of the next letter. There was so much action packed into the story that it was easy to forget that it was written in this format from time to time.
I will definitely be recommending this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 28, 2026
Thank you to Val McDermid, Jo Sharp, Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This Door of the Seas is part historical non-fiction and part historical fiction. Told in an epistolary format, James Wallace writes to his beloved wife Eliza, the aged botanist Dr Richard Sibbald, and William Patterson.
Over one thousand men in five ships set out to claim the land of Panama for Scotland in a desperate attempt to set up their own trading post and as a last stand against the political might of the English in the late 17th century. The infamous Darien scheme goes absolutely tits up and ends up in catastrophic disease (bad), heavy mortality (worse), and a political merger with England (horrifying).
This was a compelling read and an important historical event for anyone remotely British / Scottish!
This Door of the Seas is part historical non-fiction and part historical fiction. Told in an epistolary format, James Wallace writes to his beloved wife Eliza, the aged botanist Dr Richard Sibbald, and William Patterson.
Over one thousand men in five ships set out to claim the land of Panama for Scotland in a desperate attempt to set up their own trading post and as a last stand against the political might of the English in the late 17th century. The infamous Darien scheme goes absolutely tits up and ends up in catastrophic disease (bad), heavy mortality (worse), and a political merger with England (horrifying).
This was a compelling read and an important historical event for anyone remotely British / Scottish!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Interesting tale written in form of letters to his wife. Historical and entertaining. Thank you to the authors. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews