The Shark House by Sara Ackerman Published by Harper Muse on 13 January 2026
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
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 Shark House was a seemingly random find that I discovered when I was searching through new 2026 book releases to add to my list, but once I had read the synopsis which mentions sharks and a marine biologist based in Hawaii, I just had to get my hands on it.
The setting and atmosphere are the main draws of The Shark House. I’ve never been to Hawaii (although I’ve watched a lot of Hawaii Five-O, I’m not sure that counts) but the way Ackerman described the island completely transported me there. It’s the middle of winter here in the UK yet I felt like I was catching the sun and waves in Hawaii.
I was very intrigued by what Minnow, the main character, was going through. There are lots of hints that her past was a challenging one, and we learn more about it as the book goes on. It’s clear that she’s still trying to deal with the trauma of her father’s death, although it’s not immediately clear why she was unable to deal with this before now. It’s a very sad situation, but reading about Minnow and her time in Hawaii and with the marine life was a great experience.
There is a bit of a random romance in The Shark House which kicks off about three quarters of the way through. I simply did not care for it. It’s not that the romance was bad, it was that it was bland, and to be honest I just wanted to spend time with the sharks.
I really enjoyed reading the mystery that is threaded throughout this book. While The Shark House is mainly a character focused story, the mystery of which shark is attacking people and why is a very intriguing element of the book. The mystery does conclude very quickly and this probably will not satisfy all readers, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
After reading The Shark House I’m very interested in reading more from this author. The Maui Effect has been on my wishlist for a while, so I’d like to dig into that one next.
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