James and Johnny Golden were once inseparable. For as long as she can remember, James shared an almost supernatural connection with her twin brother, Johnny, that went beyond intuition—she could feel what he was feeling. So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone—truly alone—for the first time in her life.
When James arrives in the secluded town of Six Rivers, California, to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to revisit the ominous events of their shared past and finally face Micah, the only other person who knows their secrets—and the only man she has ever loved.
But as James delves deeper into Johnny’s world, she realizes that their unique connection hasn’t completely vanished. The more she immerses herself in his life, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was hiding something, and he’s not the only one. The deeper she digs, the more she is compelled to unravel the truth behind the days leading up to Johnny’s death. Ultimately, James must decide which truths should come to light, and which are better left buried forever.
A Sea of Unspoken Things is a slow-burn small-town mystery that explores themes of grief, family bonds, and second chance romance. The story follows James Golden, an artist who shares a strong connection with her twin brother, Johnny. When Johnny dies in a tragic accident, James returns to their secluded hometown of Six Rivers, California, to settle his affairs. There, she is forced to confront haunting events of her past and reunites with Micah, her first love. As James delves deeper into Johnny’s life and mysterious death, she uncovers her brother’s secrets, leading her to question how well she really knew him.
Similar to Young’s other books, the writing is atmospheric and lyrical. The small town of Six Rivers is the perfect backdrop for this unsettling mystery. Young’s descriptive prose brings the small town vividly to life, making it a character in its own right—it’s dense forests and isolated setting are both enchanting and foreboding, perfectly mirroring the novel’s themes of love, loss, and secrets.
James is a haunted, complex protagonist. Her strong connection with her twin brother, Johnny, is a central part of the story, and his “ghostly” presence can be felt reverberating through the pages. James’ chemistry with Micah is palpable from the start of the novel and provides a nice counterbalance to the unfolding mystery. When James becomes the target of town gossip and angst, Micah becomes protective of her—a second chance romance subplot then develops that delves into the complexities of revisiting past relationships.
The story is a VERY slow-burn mystery—it takes more than half the story for anything substantial to happen, so readers will have to be patient to see the true worth of the story. The first half mostly introduces the characters and shines light on James’ past secrets and strained relationship with Micah. The second half then picks up pace, exploring the mystery surrounding Johnny’s death, exposing buried truths, and features a few unexpected twists. Seasoned thriller/mystery readers may find the twists quite predictable, but the emotional resonance of the storytelling still stands out. The story also features some paranormal elements relating to James’s lingering connection to Johnny. Their ethereal bond is subtly woven into the narrative and enhances the tension in the story.
Overall, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a beautifully written story with compelling characters. Unfortunately, the extremely slow pacing for the first two-thirds of the story requires reader patience, more so than Young’s other works. Narrator Christina Larkin does a wonderful job creating a suspenseful, compelling narrative and brings James and the eerie town vividly to life. If you enjoy atmospheric, slow-burn, character-driven mysteries with paranormal elements, give this book some consideration!
