Skerryvore

Technology and legend combine in Williams’s uneven debut techno-thriller, which pits twins against powers unknown on a craggy Scottish island. Daniel and Rose’s father has eschewed all technology and become increasingly paranoid after losing his job with a multinational tech firm. When the family’s London house mysteriously burns down, leaving their father presumed dead, a man named Brendan secrets the siblings away to the isle of Cranagh. There, they encounter the enigmatic Mr. Hubblestone and his equally mystifying house, Skerryvore, with its never-ending library. Soon, the twins, Brendan, and Hubblestone engage in a battle for Skerryvore against sinister forces, and the children learn that they hold the key to their own survival, the survival of the house, and more. Dense exposition hampers the pace, and thinly drawn characters coupled with a lack of resolution may prove frustrating for readers. Still, Williams’s exploration of the perils of relying overmuch on technology is germane to today’s discussions about rapid technological advancement, and the book offers both a haunting atmosphere and a unique and layered plot. Ages 12–up. (BookLife)