Publish Date |
May 23, 2023 |
Category |
Fiction / Literary Fiction / Coming of Age |
Price |
$24.99 |
ISBN: 9781982185251
Format: Paperback
Pages: 272
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: May 23, 2023
“Closer by Sea will have you on the edge of your seat with each page turned. Filled with dialogue that will stay with you long after you’re finished and characters that will stay with you for the rest of your life. An astonishing debut by someone sure to be your new favourite author. He’s mine.”
— MARK CRITCH, comedian and cocreator of the hit TV show Son of a Critch“[A] deeply emotional exploration of the important ties that bind us to the people and places we love. It’s also a fine coming-of-age story compellingly grounded in adventure, intrigue, best friends, and the struggle to find a way through all the awkwardness of adolescence. . . . Chafe’s novel brims with seafaring charm and the marvelous details of a fishing village on the verge of economic collapse. Closer by Sea is a bittersweet, lovingly told tale that’s sure to win your heart.”
— WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER, New York Times bestselling author of This Tender Land and Fox Creek“Chafe’s teen mystery is salt-stained Newfoundland mixed with West Irish legend and the classic adventure of Goonies and Stand by Me. Equal parts haunting, heartbreaking, and hilarious, the reader is drawn into the tragic 1990s Grand Banks cod decline, foreboding paternal absence, and growing up an uncertain islander amid great social change. Sure to be loved on our shores and beyond.”
— JESSE THISTLE, #1 bestselling author of From the Ashes“Tiny, isolated fishing towns are postcard cute and perfectly wholesome. Until they are not. . . . In Closer by Sea, my lifelong friend and Petty Harbour native Perry Chafe has seamlessly woven the innocence and underbelly of Perigo Island in a whodunit dance that will keep you guessing till the final page.”
— ALAN DOYLE, lead singer of Great Big Sea and bestselling author of Where I Belong"Set in an ancient Newfoundland community on the cusp of momentous change, Closer by Sea is an evocative, tender novel with a haunting beauty that lingers long after you finish the last page."
— ELIZA REID, bestselling author of Secrets of the Sprakkar“[R]ich, multifaceted, and unforgettable. And this novel has all the makings of a beloved, classic bildungsroman, as tender as tender can be.”
— LISA MOORE, award-winning author of This Is How We Love and Caught“Is this beautifully constructed novel a coming-of-age story, a mystery, or a fictional examination of the catastrophic demise of the Newfoundland cod fishery? It’s a bit of all three, but frankly, it’s just a really fine tale spun by a gifted storyteller. . . . Short and sweet, it is the perfect weekend read.”
— The Globe and Mail “A memorable coming-of-age tale in the spirit of Ray Bradbury and Stephen King. There is mystery and danger, shadowy figures who are not quite who they seem, and a wistfulness for that strange and beautiful time bridging our younger and older selves—but Perry Chafe's story is uniquely his own, uniquely of his place and of its people. With Closer by Sea, Chafe stakes his place in Newfoundland's writerly pantheon.”
— CRAIG DAVIDSON, author of The Saturday Night Ghost Club and Precious Cargo“A standout novel and story from a singular, unique voice. Perry Chafe manages to grab our hearts and doesn’t let go until the final page. . . . At first glance Closer by Sea is a thrilling mystery, but as you delve deeper, it’s truly the story of loss, innocence, mourning, and friendship. I cannot recommend this book enough. Bravo!”
— ALLAN HAWCO, award-winning actor, writer, and producer“Filled with mystery and adventure. . . . Perry Chafe hasn’t forgotten the wonder of Newfoundland; it’s there on every page. I loved reading this book.”
— SEAMUS O'REGAN, member of Parliament