Overview

The House Between Tides begins when human bones are uncovered on a remote Hebridean estate, pulling Hetty Deveraux back to a place she barely remembers as home. As the investigation unfolds, the story moves between the present day and the early twentieth century, when the house was alive with artists, ambition, and quiet tensions. Sarah Maine uses this dual timeline to explore how past lives leave marks that never fully fade.

Writing & Atmosphere

What stayed with us most is the setting. The west coast of Scotland feels raw and exposed, shaped by tides, wind, and long stretches of isolation. Maine’s writing is measured and clear, rich in detail without feeling heavy. The house itself feels watchful, worn down by time and weather, holding on to secrets even as the sea slowly reclaims the land around it.

Characters

Hetty is drawn with restraint, a woman unsure of her place and uneasy with what she stands to inherit. Her story runs alongside that of Theo Blake, a painter living in the house a century earlier, whose creative hunger and personal choices lead toward tragedy. The parallels between them are handled gently, allowing us to see how similar questions repeat across generations without feeling forced.

Themes

This is a novel about inheritance in every sense. Land, memory, love, and guilt are all passed down, whether wanted or not. The House Between Tides also looks closely at art and obsession, and at how people can disappear from history while their actions continue to shape the present. The pace is reflective, inviting us to sit with these ideas rather than rush through them.

What Worked

• Strong sense of place: the Hebrides feel vivid, lonely, and deeply tied to the story.
• Balanced timelines: past and present inform each other without competing for attention.
• Emotional depth: the novel finds power in quiet moments and unresolved feelings.

Minor Quibbles

• The opening takes time to settle, focusing on mood before the mystery fully emerges.
• Readers looking for fast twists may find the story unfolds at a calmer, steadier pace.

Final Thoughts

Thoughtful and beautifully grounded in its setting, The House Between Tides is a story about what endures when people are gone, and how the past waits patiently to be uncovered.

Rating: ★★★★½☆ (4.5/5)