The Light on Farallon Island: a woman flees to the islands with a secret and finds more danger

The Light on Farallon Island by Jen Wheeler is a story of one woman who flees to the Farallon Islands with a secret in 1859. Thirty miles off the coast from San Francisco, the Farallon Islands are known as the Devil’s Teeth, Lucy Riley seeks their remote location as she seeks a new start as a teacher to the children of the lighthouse keeper. However, Lucy carries a dangerous secret along with a name that isn’t hers and a past she is trying to run from. As she joins the island’s community, she discovers there is a reason for its nefarious name. Lucy must find the courage to confront her past as she seeks to protect her new life on the island. What is she trying to hide? Will she find the life she is looking for? 

This story was not what I expected. The descriptions of the seas and the island were amazing. I could feel the choppiness of the water and the precariousness of the island’s cliffs. However, other descriptions were too brutal and unnecessary, especially the scenes of animal abuse. I didn’t care for Lucy, her secret or why she is trying to hide out on the island. There were too many elements to the plot that it was frustrating trying to figure out how they are tied together. There were elements of the characters that I felt were totally unnecessary and didn’t add anything. I felt the characterization of a Christian man as abusive and overbearing to be tired and overdone. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend The Light on Farallon Island. 

The Light on Farallon Island is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook