In a Kingdom by the Sea

by Sara MacDonald

A sweeping, evocative story of love, secrets and betrayal, set against the stunning backdrops of Karachi and Cornwall.

Perfect for readers who love Santa Montefiore, Rosanna Ley and Dinah Jefferies.

When Gabby’s husband accepts a transfer to Pakistan, she discovers a new world of heat and colour, of exotic bazaars and trips to the breath-taking Kashmiri mountains. It is an escape she didn’t know she was looking for.

But then a shocking letter from her sister reveals a devastating secret. Gabby is transported back to her childhood home on the Cornish coast, and as memories unravel, so too does her new life in Karachi.

Will Gabby find the courage to face the dark secrets and embrace a different future?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Pakistan, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Audiobook, Asia

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2019

About the author

Much of my life has been as a gypsy without roots.

I travelled as a child, went to many schools, ending my education in a strict Catholic convent in Malta while my parents lived in Cyprus.

I was set on an acting career and after working as an ASM in The Theatre Royal Windsor I won a place at the London Academy of Music and Drama.

My acting career was brief. I went off to Germany, Norway, Sharjah, then on to Singapore and Malaysia as an army wife.

I kept journals of my time in the Middle East and my first novel, Falls The Shadow, (now out of print) was published by a small independent publisher.

Eventually, tired of an itinerant life, I moved to Cornwall and put down roots. Having secured an agent, my next two novels Listening to Voices and The Sleep of Birds were published by Headline.

Sea Music was published by Harper Collins to critical acclaim, followed by Another Life, The Hour Before Dawn and Come Away With Me.

At the end of 2009 I took the decision to take time off to travel. I visited Oman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and lived for a year in Karachi, Pakistan. The result is a new book, set in Pakistan.

Reviews

[Trish at Between My Lines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this emotional and gripping read and got swept away on an exciting, exotic and turbulent journey.

Gabby, an empty nester now that her sons are in college, moves to Pakistan with her husband who is currently working there. It feels like a last ditch attempt to save their marriage, as they’ve grown apart over the years.

The dual plotline switches between now and Gabby’s childhood. I was invested in Gabby’s life and admired her as a character but the star of the show for me was Pakistan. The political unrest ramps up the tension in the book, and I got flashbacks to the stress I used to feel watching the tv show Homeland. This book is nothing like Homeland but gave me similar anxious feels.

My first book by this author, but it won’t be my last.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had started this book last June and for some reason I abandoned it.

I started it again on January 18 and did not remember one word or circumstance!! I AM glad I re-started and now finished. It was very good and I stayed engaged throughout. I also listed with audible. The narator, Esther Wane, was fabulous.

The story is told in three parts.

London
We meet Gabby and her husband Mike. We also meet her older sister, Dominique: half sister - same mother but different father. Mike takes a job in Karachi Pakistan. That is Mike's modus operandi - taking jobs away from home and being gone LONG stretches at a time. Gabby has always supported him and not complained.

Karachi
Mike makes an unusual move and asks Gabby to join him in Karachi. She turns her editting job over to her assistant, Emily, and goes to be with Mike in Karachi. Gabby immediately falls in love with the city and makes many friends.

Mike betrays her there and she abruptly returns to London

Cornwall
Dominique and Gabby grew up there. In this part, they return.

I could say more but then might spoil.

Both Karachi and Cornwall are 'by the sea' - thus the title.

4 stars

[Tea Jovanović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good family drama... page-turner... a bit of Far East a bit of UK... a bit of past and a bit of present day... pure pleasure :) For fans of Santa Montefiore :)

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading a book written by a true storyteller, and this is the case with ‘In a Kingdom by the Sea’. The story flows beautifully, the characters are believable, complex, and draw you into their world. The settings are contrasting, but both are atmospheric and described using vivid imagery so that you can enjoy the sensory experience, as you become immersed in the secrets and mysteries of the plot.

There is a lovely balance of contemporary and historical as the family’s secrets are revisited and revealed. This is a journey of self-discovery for Gabby as she overcomes her emotional setbacks, and finally becomes her true self.

There are many important themes explored in this novel, the political situation in Pakistan, and the difficulty of day to day life there, contrasted against the freedom and relative safety of life in London, and the rural idyll of Cornwall, is most complex and absorbing. I love how the friendships made, and the encounters with individuals are portrayed in a positive, hopeful way. Its authenticity makes the whole book more realistic and enjoyable.

Gabby’s journey, both emotionally and logistically is the driving force of this story, and many women will identify, with at least parts of it. The role of women and the oppression they face underpins this novel, and the strength and resilience of these women resonate.

I will miss the characters and settings in this story, reading it, is a truly positive experience.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins UK - Harper Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Ana Stanciu-Dumitrache · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un roman lipsit de actiune, care nu a fost pe gustul meu. Mi-au placut descrierile si decorul, pentru ca prezinta o lume exotica, insa mi s-a parut genul de roman de duzina.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book against the backdrop of Pakistan!

[Omamah Alvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started off liking this book. Part of it is based in my city Karachi but halfway through the book, nothing happens. Then at chapter 31 you are revealed big secret. After that, I just didn't feel like reading on. I might come back to this but for now, I just don't care enough to know what happens in the end.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine how it must feel to live in a country that is nearly always depicted negatively? How does it feel to have your country's natural beauty and landscape usurped by the violence of a small percentage of people? This is what Gabriella discovers the majority of the population of Pakistan face when she accompanies her husband Mike to Karachi where he works for Pakistan Atlantic Airways.

Gabriella and her sons have been used to Mike disappearing for months at a time on various jobs abroad, however, she is beginning to feel she and her husband are drifting apart. When Mike suggests she come and stay with him in Pakistan, she jumps at the chance, however, instead of strengthing the relationship, Gabriella feels further away than ever. Constantly left behind in a hotel while Mike attends numerous conferences, Gabriella is virtually housebound; it being too dangerous to venture outside. Not only that, she suspects Mike is having an affair and to top it all off, her half-sister Dominique reveals a devastating secret about their childhood in Cornwall.

In a Kingdom by the Sea by Sara MacDonald is essentially a contemporary love story, exploring the woes of a nearly fifty-year-old coming to the end of a long relationship. With underlying elements of mystery, for instance, what happened to Dominique in the early 1970s and what exactly is Mike up to, the novel also explores the hidden truths of a country stereotyped by violence and terrorism.

Gabriella meets dozens of kind and caring people in Pakistan who have her best interests at heart. These people are not dangerous or violent as the media often leads the western world to believe. Whilst some groups of people are content to cause death and destruction, leaving the cities a minefield to navigate, there are plenty more who wish to live peaceful lives. Gabriella is captivated by the beautiful, enchanting landscapes, unlike anything back home in England.

As the story progresses, Gabriella learns more about the lives of women in Pakistan. They are unable to live as they please, having to bow to the commands of their husbands, parents and brothers instead. The more Gabriella speaks to these women, the more she realises that cooped up in the hotel most of the day, she is in a similar situation, under the thumb of her own husband. So, she stops. Thinks. Is this the life she wants?

In a Kingdom by the Sea is a slightly long-winded but eye-opening story. Not everyone will be able to relate to the lives of Pakistani women, however, their plight will resonate with those who relish freedom. Whilst it is difficult to compare Gabriella's life with the women she meets in Karachi, readers will also be rooting for Gabriella's happy-ever-after.

[Ashley Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant on sense of place; tense and suspenseful. I tore through it, longing to know the secrets buried in Gabby's past.

Full review to come at Shelf Indulgence, my review blog at www.ashley-dyer.com

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure, natural beauty and emotional highs and lows dominate this novel. I knew very little of Pakistan and particularly enjoyed the author’s detailed descriptions of the people, places, culture and customs.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sense of place, and a good story.

[Emma Dailly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed the descriptions and atmosphere when the characters were in Pakistan, the writing really bought it to life.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

Although it has a rather slow start and drags a bit at the beginning, it is well worth reading in its entirety. I'm so glad I finished it!

This story of a middle-aged woman living in England the wife of a self-absorbed man she loves very much is very much the average humdrum life that often becomes a relationship. She tends to flashback often to her childhood in Cornwall with her parents and older sister who became banished from their happy family unit for reasons she never understood. She looks back on that event as a point in her young life where things changed forever and marked her for life.

Her long-term marriage to a man who travels away from their family for extended periods she feels is stable and she has supported through the years while raising two sons. He decides to take a job in Karachi Pakistan which poses danger. She eventually goes to Karachi upon his request. Her life changes by leaps and bounds as two monumental events strike her at once altering her life forever.

The descriptions of all locations are extremely well done and I felt each location as if I were there. The emotions she feels at various times I felt. The character descriptions are spot on.

This is a book that I could relate to as a woman very well. I felt the happiness, anger, depression, fear, etc. as if it were myself! So the writing is solid. I only wish Mike were less happy.

Definite recommendation to readers of novels who might be going through or have experienced mid-life crises after a long, stable marriage. I truly felt this one!

[NAGHMA KHAN · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring, Boring, Boring

This is one of the most boring books I’ve read & I’ve read a lot of books, I basically just skipped pages to even get through it, super boring!!

[Zeeshan Ahmad · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a kingdom by the sea.

It’s a story of evocation, betrayal, a self-obsessed husband and an almost torn marital life. Gabby is the main character, which narrates the whole story. The story is set in two contrasting cultures: A western culture depicted by London and a tormenting, violent, at times dim but the beautiful and enchanting city of Lights, Karachi of 2010-16.
Gabby lefts London to stay with his self-obsessed husband in Karachi, who works as director in Pakistan Atlantic Airlines.
The story starts after a very long wait, when Gabby receives a letter from her sister, telling her of a dark secret buried in their past, a disturbing truth that crushes Gabby’s cherished, idyllic past and makes her feel gloomy in the terrorizing Karachi. At the very same time, another betrayal -bomb explodes infront of her, when her husband reveals that he is besotted by someone. In severe tension and distress, Pakistani people with their ever-loving, hospitable and comforting nature help her to get back on her feet. The Gabby that evolves from this crisis is different, strong and decisive thanks to the horrors of Taliban war, bombing and target killing she saw in Karachi. She leaves for London afterwards but knowing that Karachi has taken some part of her.
But something happens on the flight back, and after sometime she comes back in an entirely different environment. At the same time, Flood strikes Pakistan and the situation all over the Pakistan is terrifying and gloomy. In this testing times, Gabby finds a new solace, a new life and a new ambition.
Overall, I think the story is too far-fetched. At times, the book seemed like someone’s writing without any story and purpose. Some of the characters are just too perfect, and the characters change their emotions way too quickly, which makes this book slightly less practical. As I’m not that much into young, historical fiction, this book seemed very dry to me. It’s more like a writer giving an account of betrayal in the backdrop of cultural clash, which for me doesn’t add up that well. This book leaves a lot to be desired.

For me, this book was dry, boring and pointless at times.
I would rate this book as Average.

[Tim Wickenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘In a Kingdom by the Sea’ by Sara MacDonald follows a period in the life of a woman – Gabriella, married to Mike, a high-flying, workaholic who has spent most of their married life working away from home. After Mike takes a high-pressure job in Pakistan, she begins to examine both her life choices and her marriage. Mike has never acknowledged her own successful career as book editor and translator, or the rock she has been for their two grown-up sons. As the cracks in their relationship grow, Mike asks Gabby to come and join him in Pakistan, and despite the dangers, she sees an opportunity to make a life change and to work on their relationship. Once in Pakistan it soon becomes obvious that Mike is unable to change and she is left to fend for herself and in the process makes new friends and meets a Russian charity worker, Sergei, who sees her potential and offers her an opportunity to work for him.
The story switches between 2009/10 and her idyllic childhood memories of growing up in Cornwall with her sister Dominique, where an unexplained event leads to her being sent away and leaving Gabby without answers. As the novel develops, we learn the shocking truth, leaving Gabby questioning her childhood.
With her marriage collapsing and her past left in question, she and Mike have to flee Pakistan. The final part of the novel sees Gabby rebuilding her life and putting ghosts to rest.
This is a gripping, well-observed and beautifully written story. The descriptions of Pakistan and Cornwall are vivid and colourful as are the cosmopolitan characters who carry the narrative inexorably forward. The style of writing is poetic and effortless, and I found myself enjoying both the story and the way it was written. The plot flows with nothing in the way to detract from the thrilling complexities of Gabby's situation, and it is a fascinating study of couples in mid-life who find that both their relationship, life's goals and childhood memories are not what they thought they were. I highly recommend this book, and I will be seeking out more of MacDonald's work.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby is used to her husband working overseas for long periods but had hoped he would be a little nearer home now that they are getting older and their sons are at university. When Mike gets a job in Pakistan she decides to join him. However despite Gabby falling in love with the country and the people, things don’t go quite to plan.

This is a book in three very clear parts. The first part sets the scene of Gabby & Mike, their life, their children and Mike’s jobs. The second covers Gabby & Mike’s time in Pakistan and the third comes after they have left. Although I enjoyed all three parts of this book I would have been quite content if it had finished after the second part. Yes, there were unfinished threads but it worked for me. I wasn’t quite so keen on the third section and didn’t feel it flowed as well as the earlier part of the book.

This is a well written book that flowed well and was easy to read. The descriptions of Pakistan are beautiful and I saw clearly the juxtaposition of the beautiful old culture with the modern unrest. There are flashbacks to Gabby’s childhood in Cornwall with her parents and sister Dominique which are clearly defined. All of these factors make it easy to read & easy to pick up and put down without loosing the thread of the story.

The characters are generally “nice”. They are slightly three dimensional but not all that deep.

This is a nice easy read. A perfect holiday read or one to be read when you are likely to be disturbed. I would certainly be happy to read another book by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Mustafaen Kamal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although you can sense the author has tried their best to capture the essence of Pakistan and Pakistani culture, she has resolutely failed. I do not think it's surprising that if you look at the reviews, those familiar with Pakistan have been more reserved with their praise whereas those who (I assume) have never been, are overcome in some sort of orientalist daze.

Characters:

Female protagonist: Introverted feminist who gets betrayed by her husband and then moves to Pakistan with a man she has met twice and emailed once.

Male villain: Such is the determination of the author to portray the protagonist's husband as an absentee - that she forgets to inform the reader of anything particular about him that might prompt us to feel any sort of emotion. We know he's an extrovert, we know he found someone interesting, we know that he took trips whilst lying to his wife - I have summarised all the main takeaways that you can distil from the c.300 pages of this book.

Setting:

Throwing in a reference to "Dolmen Mall", highlighting the anguish of consistently suppressed characters and flatly describing Flagstaff house does not make this a well-researched book.

If you've read my review, you have already spent longer on this book than you should have.

[Tina O'reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby's husband Mike has worked abroad almost constantly since they married. She has brought up their boys practically single-handedly whilst running her own translating business. She often thinks back to her childhood and reminisces about how blissful it was living in Cornwall with her parents and her sister until her sister was sent to live in France with their aunt.

As a swansong to his career, Mike gets an opportunity to work in Pakistan. The country is in turmoil, there is unrest with the Taliban, non Pakistanis are escorted everywhere by security staff. Gabby isn't the only one questioning why he would accept but he does. After a short time abroad, Gabby is invited for a short stay in Pakistan and she falls in love with the country and it's people. Shortly after, Mike asks her to go and live with him there on semi-permanent basis and she thinks they could regain some of the missing romance from their marriage.

However, Mike continues to be absent, works long hours, travels away from the hotel. Gabby wonders why he wanted her there. Then she receives a letter from her sister with revelations she wasn't expecting.

Pakistan is colourful and a little scary. When she returns to England she has a feeling it's not the last time she will go back.

[Doireann O'B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and interesting story. I found the characters quite realistic, and I especially like how the 'bad' characters have elements of good in them as well as bad. Gabby's relationship with her husband was well developed showing how a marriage often just slips away rather than being ended with one big event (although it was sort of ended by both I suppose). The book is a bit 'white-saviour' -esque at times - Gabby, whose only skill that we know of is the translation of European languages, is for some reason the person who is needed by an NGO to help save suffering Pakistanis? That seemed a bit odd. I also think Gabby's automatic friendships with people in Pakistan could have been developed a bit more, I didn't get a strong sense that they really were good friends except for her insisting that they were. However, overall it is mostly well written with some aspects better than others, and the story is interesting and well told.

[Sukaina Firdous · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book I really wanted to read as it was set in Karachi and had excellent reviews. However, I was greatly disappointed. Not only does the author fail to bring characters other than the heroine to life, she fails to capture the true essence of Karachi. It is written by an outsider who never had a chance to experience the true flavour of Karachi. While the hospitality and generosity of Pakistanis is reiterated throughout the book, it still leaves one with a negative view of the bustling, multicultural city of Karachi as a war-torn, violent city repeatedly emphasizing that Pakistan is unsafe. For me, who has lived in Karachi most of my life, I was stuck till the end looking for even a flicker of the city I know, love and call home.
There is a disparity in the characters who never really have enough substance or reason to actually do the things they do in the book either.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In spite of Amazon's description as a "historical romance", it is neither historical by my definition (it's set in 2010 with flashbacks to the heroine's childhood), nor strictly a romance (although about a crumbling marriage and the possibility of a better relationship near the end). It is, however, a marvelous read, with settings in Pakistan and Cornwall, and is the story of a woman figuring out her life and moving on, amidst some fascinating places and sometimes terrifying experiences. The heroine does show inertia at first that the reader may become impatient with, but I think it's probably quite realistic for real life in her situation, and the author makes good use of that time giving you important background information that proves useful as the plot gains traction and moves along.

[Ink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started. I stopped. I started. I stopped. It takes almost 1 quarter for you to develop interest, but once you're done with it, you'll definitely love it. Since the narrator is female, so this is more relatable to them. The writer takes you through life of gabby. Her flashbacks of mystery from her childhood and the illusion she has created for her present.
The story beautifully narrates also how she copes with her life when her biggest illusion crashes. What were her own vulnerabilities that led her to create illusion.
Overall this has been a good and interesting read where the writer writes in depth about all her feelings of gabby and how she's getting through each moment.

[Fatima Hanif · Rating 3 out of 5]

not much of a good or bad rating but just thoughts on the book. its painful, sad no matter how satisfying the ending was made out to be. it still doesnt lessen the pain of the abandonment Gabriella faced, the cheating husband. Her story only signified the sacrifices every woman has to make. is every woman supposed to live in fear that any factor such as distance could take a person they love away from them? i don’t get it. the sadness of it all. the absolute helplessness. why do woman always give up everything for love? why do they start revolving their lives around the man they love? why are women so weak and dependent? i hate it.

[Gdansk19 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a well written boom that flows between locales and timelines to tell the MC story. Very atmospheric and almost dreamlike in its pacing. I somewhat struggle with the use of a nation being beset by so much strife and poverty being used as an epiphany setting for the heroine's major life change though. There are glimpses into the complexity of the individuals and culture through some supporting characters. I just was uneasy towards the end because it felt like we toed the line and flirted with the edge of some white savior aspects in the story. It left we with mixed feelings about a novel I was enjoying for 2/3s of the reading. This may just be me though.

[Rita Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah MacDonald is an exceptional writer and has managed to make a captivating story out of very little! That's not to say you won't want to read it, Gabby quickly draws you into her life and her thoughts. These characters are so real that you want to know more about them, what is going to happen to them and what happened in their past. Her insights into life in Karachi from an outsider's point of view are poignant and revealing. An engrossing read that has ensured I will be looking for more of Sarah MacDonald's books.

[Munaza Kazmi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you for writing so much good about Pakistan & our hospitality, but you've been to Karachi only that is no doubt somehow unsafe also polluted...further I want to say you mentioned that the British have taken just "furniture" from us, I want to open your blind eyes to the Koh-e-Noor which is still intact in queen Elizabeth's crown....my land was once called "A Golden Sparrow", whose gold had been stripped off. Also you people separated us, before the arrival of British, we people were living in peace, the famous line "Divide & Rule", go & see the history before making stupid comments.

[Jacqui Mccann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been to Pakistan, felt the heat of the sun and taken in the breathtaking scenery before being transported to the quaint Cornish countryside through the evocative and deliciously descriptive narrative in this book. I love it when a book takes me to far flung places so I almost feel like I’ve been there. Woven through a story of family secrets and a reminder that we never truly know the burdens others carry even those closest to us, I enjoyed the twisty turns the story took. A great read

[Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating!

I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this novel. It is a story of politics but also a love story of many levels. A woman takes a chance on an exotic adventure and finds herself in love with a strange land and a very different culture while finding herself at the same time. Beautiful descriptions of Karachi take you there, the sights, the aromas, the wonderful people- it's almost a sensory explosion! Finally, the love of her life and the focus of her work appear from a most unexpected place.

[Viola80 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molto carino, si dilunga parecchio sulla faccenda del matrimonio della protagonista (non spoilero nulla, ovviamente, ma insomma si capisce immediatamente dove va a parare), però sia le parti ambientate a Karachi sia quelle in Cornwall sono davvero ben scritte e suggestive. Nel complesso una lettura molto piacevole e curata nei dettagli, spero che l'autrice ambienti ancora i suoi romanzi in luoghi esotici. Molto meglio questo degli ultimi della Jefferies, almeno per me.