Far Cry by Alissa York

Wow. Let me say again—WOW! Alyssa York is a powerful writer. Her latest book, Far Cry, published by Random House Canada, is nothing short of exquisite. The prose is dense, the characters flawed and fierce, while the plot gently intoxicates, drawing the reader ever deeper. Weeks later, after reading the final chapter, I still can’t shake the ending. Be prepared for these characters to stay with you.

Told from two points of view—that of Anders, a soused Norwegian bachelor who runs the local storefront at the Far Cry cannery, and Kit, his orphaned niece by bond if not blood—this novel invites the reader into a series of unfolding events. If you’re a book nerd, like me, and a sucker for understanding how skilled and seasoned authors like York manage to pull off complex yet riveting narrative structures, you’ll be hooked. You may even go back and dog-ear (gasp) the pages to decipher how she pulled it all off.

The level of research that goes into York’s work brings this early twentieth century British Columbia coastal fishing village to life. You can smell the metallic brine from the boat’s hull as Kit rows through the inlet, feel the sharp cold as Anders plunges into the water for his morning swim. The details make it clear that for York, setting is another character, and she spares no expense.

Get ready to be transported, to fall deeply in love with the sea, and to have your heart broken and buoyed by the intricacy of human connection.

Far Cry By Alyssa York Penguin Random House, 2023, pp. 295 ISBN: 978-1-03-900205-0