I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

1918. Orcas Island, Washington.

Lucy Nowhere has spent her eighteen years working on the vast estate of the eccentric shipbuilder who took her in after she washed ashore in a green canoe as a baby. But she has long wished for a life off the island, and in a matter of days, she is set to leave for college—and, for the first time, choose her own future.

Then she finds her employer’s severed head on the beach. Rumors swirl that a mischievous spirit and its minions, the sea wolves, have struck again. Lucy doesn’t believe in myths. She knows that a human—a human murderer—killed him. And when she is unexpectedly named heiress to the estate, she understands the next target is her.

Her closest friend, the estate’s vigilant young guard, begs her to escape while she can. But Lucy knows the only way she can discover who she is, and free the island of its curse, is to find the real killer—before she becomes the next victim.

Short and Sweet Review

Lucy Nowhere has lived her entire life on Orcas Island after she was mysteriously found as a baby floating ashore in a green canoe. She’s spent the last eighteen years working on the estate of the eccentric shipbuilder who took her in, helping him document the island’s plants and wildlife. But Lucy has always dreamed of something bigger, and she’s finally preparing to leave for college and build a life beyond the island.
That plan comes to a sudden halt when she discovers her employer’s severed head washed up on the beach. Rumors quickly spread that the island’s old legends are responsible a spirit and its “sea wolves” that have cursed the island before. Lucy doesn’t believe any of that. She’s certain a real person committed the murder. But when she unexpectedly learns that she’s been named the heir to the entire estate, it becomes clear that whoever killed him might now be coming after her next.

Heiress of Nowhere is a very atmospheric historical mystery. The island setting is easily one of the best parts of the story. Between the foggy coastline, the rumors about sea wolves, and the tight-knit community full of secrets, the whole book has a slightly eerie feel that fits the mystery well. Lucy is a strong main character. She’s practical, curious, and very science-minded, which makes her skepticism about the island’s supernatural legends interesting. Instead of accepting the myths everyone else believes, she’s determined to find a logical explanation for what’s happening. At the same time, she’s also trying to figure out her own past and where she truly belongs, since her origins have always been a mystery. The mystery itself is engaging and keeps the story moving. There are plenty of secrets, suspects, and rumors surrounding the estate and the island’s history. I enjoyed watching Lucy piece things together while navigating her sudden role as the new heiress and trying to figure out who she can trust. The book also touches on themes of identity and heritage, especially as Lucy begins uncovering more about where she came from. That part of the story adds an emotional layer that works well alongside the mystery. The romance is present, but it’s probably the weakest part of the book. There’s a bit of a love triangle, and neither option fully stood out to me. It didn’t ruin the story, but it also wasn’t the most memorable part.

Overall, this is a solid historical mystery with a great setting and a main character that’s easy to root for. The island atmosphere, the secrets surrounding Lucy’s past, and the unfolding murder investigation keep things interesting, even if a few elements like the romance don’t feel quite as strong.