The Seary Line

by Nicole Lundrigan

Nearing death, an old man laments his poor choice of a wife, and has orchestrated a situation where he will see his childhood love one last time. From these circumstances emerges Stella, a woman who grapples with her family ghosts as they reach across the generations. "The Seary Line" is a collage of interactions that explores the strength of a bloodline, and the often minute, but significant energies that propel a life forward.

Genres: Canada

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

“Lundrigan’s skillfully balanced blend of psychological thriller and haunting coming-of-age story is infused with creepy, small-town atmospheric suspense. . . . [Her] writing is both elegant and darkly humorous, delivering bareknuckle social commentary that will appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn, Karin Fossum, and Laura Lippman.”
Booklist, Starred review

Nicole is the bestselling author of nine novels including A MAN DOWNSTAIRS and AN UNTHINKABLE THING. Her work has received starred reviews in Booklist, was selected as a top pick by Globe & Mail, Amazon, Now Magazine, among others, and was shortlisted twice for CWC's Best Crime Novel. Her latest psychological thriller, THE CASE STUDY, was just released.

Reviews

[Barbara Carter]

This is the 2nd book that I’ve read by Nicole Landrigan. The 1st book being glass boys which I loved.
This is her 3rd novel. As historical novels that in a Newfoundland oat port. It follows along the Seary bloodline, down through the generations.
It’s about those things that shape our lives the paths taken, the paths we don’t take and the choices that end up defining as sometimes the smallest of moments.
Sometimes the book is quite haunting at times sad.
It reminds me of living in a small town and hearing things about other people.
The book is also very much about the secrets we hold and those things we never reveal and how a family tree may not really be as you believe it to be.

I definitely will be reading more of Nicole Landrigan’s books.

[Louise]

Another gem from Nicole Lundrigan who continues to fly under the radar yet is one of Canada's best writers IMO.

[Ruth Seeley]

Fascinating historical novel of a Newfoundland outport and of the interconnections in a small community. Spanning the better part of the 20th Century, the novel deals most successfully with the poignancy of love felt but not expressed and the ways in which we manage to snarl up our lives by either making less than courageous choices and/or going along with what others want us to do. My first Lundrigan novel; will be reading the others.

[David]

Generations, ghosts, secrets, and selves. One family and all its ramifications. There are many evocative, sad moments in the novel, balanced with some passages, particularly of self-recognition, which are, if not always optimistic, then at least honest.

[Sraah]

… a moment of silence please
this was by far one of the best books i’ve ever read
it was believable and true
all the generations and connections
this was important to looking inward, self reflection
lyrical, magical, wording and phrases. nicole lundrigan is…
something else.
just in awe


this book feels very special to me now. this book is LIFE.

[C]

More like 3.5.
The path along one family's tree and the various branches it can grow. An enjoyable read with relatable and likeable characters. Loved the rural Newfoundland setting.
The only downside for me was sometimes I found the transitions between point of view and present vs past memories sometimes disjointed and jarring, but don't let that stop you from reading it!

[Aaron (Typographical Era)]

Simply put, Nicole Lundrigan knows what makes people tick. She has a knack for creating rich, believable characters that leap off of the written page and come to life, merging with the reader’s consciousness to conjure up a swirling haze of delicious what-if’s and what-should-i-do’s. Every joy they have the good fortune to partake in feels momentous. Every misstep they take is a physically painful and emotionally exhausting experience. Compelled to ride along for whatever journey they are on, the reader can’t help but shout out verbal cautions at the oh-so-clear warning signs littered about their current path. Stop before it’s too late! Don’t do that! Can’t you see the trouble this is going to cause?

With The Searcy Line Lundrigan delivers a beautiful meditation on the infinite possibilities life offers us and how each choice we make, no matter how small, affects so many other unimaginable things, far into the future. Tracing a family line through generations she not only delves into the conscious decisions that shape our everyday lives, but also questions the intangibles, the things that we’re blissfully unaware of, but that still play a significant role in our lives. Would things be different if we found out secret X? Do we regret not sharing the truth with loved one Y? If only we’d made a deeper connection with person Z.

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