Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Shark by Sara Ackerman Published by Harper Collins on January 13, 2026
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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People aren't the only ones who migrate to Hawai'i for a warmer winter.
1998. In the heart of paradise, danger lurks beneath the surface. Biologist and shark whisperer Minnow Gray travels to the rugged Hawai'i coastline, where a series of shark attacks have left the island community on edge. Tasked with uncovering what's going on, she dives into the blue depths, and discovers the problem runs deeper than just one dangerous great white. Haunted by her own past marked by a tragic shark encounter, Minnow finds herself drawn into a tangled web of intrigue and peril that extends far beyond the ocean's surface. A scandal that implicates some of the island's most powerful people.
Determined to uncover the reason for these attacks before the mayor calls a mass killing of sharks in the area, Minnow forms an unexpected alliance with enigmatic fisherman Luke Greenwood whose presence ignites feelings she can't ignore, but also stirs questions about his part in it all. As Minnow works to shield the sharks from the island's fear-fueled backlash, drawing help from two Hawaiian brothers who are housing her, she unravels a scandal that shakes the community to its core. But it's not just the secrets of the island that rise to the surface. Minnow must confront her own traumatic past, the haunting memories that have shaped her life and her connection to these misunderstood predators--and to this place.
The ocean is hiding dark secrets and the islanders are seething with contrasting interests, but a marine biologist with a haunted past has the job of getting to the heart of matters. Sara Ackerman has been emerging as a must-read author for me over the last five superb reads of hers I’ve read.
The Shark House takes place in the late 90’s on Hawaii’s Big Island in a small beach-side community with brief forays into Dr. Minnow Gray’s journals to fill in bits of her past. This is standalone and a blend of genres including modern historical fiction, mystery, women’s fiction, and romance.
Minnow Gray grew up in Hawaii, but due to a tragedy in her past that she blames herself for, she returns when shark behavior in the waters off a beachside community require her to use her marine biology expertise and figure out what is going on with the sharks before some of the town organize a shark hunt and the others panic over the cultural and ecological implications. Dr. Minnow Gray is a minority female in her field of study and this complicates things, but she is determined to get the job done.
Minnow puts up with two brothers and shares an attraction with mysterious fisherman, Luke. She finds something in the deep that is beyond what she was imagining even as she makes some personal self-discoveries that ultimately lead to healing. She wonders about Luke even as she’s falling for him. Has she finally found her way home?
Sara Ackerman writes excellent dual-timeline atmospheric tales, rich in the culture and history of Hawaii and The Shark House is no exception. Most of her other books have showed Hawaii’s island off while The Shark House is an ode to the world beneath the waves and those fascinating cold creatures of the deep who are not monsters, but residents of a different world from our own. I’ve always had a shiver up my spine when it comes to sharks, but they were portrayed and explained so that I found them fascinating in the story. The sharks and the sea were the real main characters alongside Minnow.
Minnow’s struggles made her a wonderful, relatable woman whom I was cheering on as she faced down her past and the present conflict, especially some greedy commercial types who only sought gain.
All in all, The Shark House was a satisfying, engulfing tale of woman, sea, growth, and romance. For readers who want to be transported to a different world and side to Hawaii in this blended genre tale.
About Sara Ackerman
Sara Ackerman is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes books about love and life, and all of their messy and beautiful imperfections. She believes that the light is just as important as the dark, and that the world is in need of uplifting stories. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and later earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories.
Photo Credit: Tracy Wright-Corvo
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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This book is on my TBR. It looks so good! I’ve read one other book by this author and really loved it. Great review!
Oh cool! You are going to love it, Katherine!
The title is an attention grabber! I feel like I would enjoy this in a movie format.
Ooo, that’s a neat thought. I agree that it would make a good movie adaption.
Minnow as the name of the character who is a Marine Biologist. I love that! I love a good shark attack movie so I might actually enjoy this book too.
Yeah, I got a kick out of her name, too. Ooh, if you love the shark movies, you would probably be fascinated by the shark and undersea aspects of this one.
OooOooooooooo. I’m liking the sounds of this one.
Oh yeah, glad it could tempt you, Carole! 🙂