Book Review: Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain

When Annie O’Neill’s nearly lifeless body arrives through the doors of the Kill Devil Hills Emergency Room Dr. Olivia Simon is struck by two coinciding reactions. The first is to sprint into action bound by her duty as a doctor to rush to the aid of her dying patient. The second response is one of disbelief. After all, this is the woman with whom she has been competing, the one with whom Olivia will never measure up. Thus, begins Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain. This intricate story evolves as the narrative reveals the web that joins together two diversely different women, Olivia and Annie. Olivia's husband Paul's involvement with both of these women complicates matters significantly. As the plot expands, Annie’s husband, Alec, becomes entrenched in a friendship with Olivia, searching for an explanation for what forced Annie through the emergency room doors from the beginning.

Olivia discovers herself equally on a path for answers, hungry to determine the rationale behind the community and her own husband’s infatuation with the illusive Annie as well as the grasp that she has over everyone she encountered. Olivia struggles with her own psyche, attempting to find an identity in comparison to Annie including how she can fit into the life that Annie once lived. Olivia wonders at the fascination that her own husband has with Annie, struggling against the strain this mirage of a creature has had on her marriage. She discovers many sordid secrets about herself, her husband, and the illusion of Annie.

In the backdrop lays the ancient lighthouse and the public’s quest to salvage it. Alec and a team of dedicated followers stand strong to spare the lighthouse from destruction. Along with the aging caretaker, they seek to preserve the history of the historical landmark that stands as a beacon of light for their populace. The lighthouse symbolizes a guiding star for them, ushering in lost sailors and lost souls. For those that are without a direction, the lighthouse provides a refuge. For those that possess secrets, it offers shelter to keep those confidences safe. When all is revealed, will the Pharos be strong enough to weather the storm or will everything come crashing down around the feet of these fragile characters?

The interwoven personalities are poetic as their storylines converge into one overarching plot. The author demonstrates an aptitude for maintaining tension throughout the book. The characters and their conflicts throughout the story are accessible. For instance, as Alec attempts to relate to his adolescent daughter while she wants nothing to do with him, this is a developmentally appropriate response in the teenage and parent relationship, especially given extreme circumstances. The complexity of the relationships is navigated throughout the various plot twists. These individuals and their interactions develop in predictable and unpredictable ways as the novel progresses.

As Olivia is examining herself and journeying to decipher why it is that she does not measure up to Annie, these sensations are completely understandable. When she engages in her quest to uncover the mystique of the overall fascination with Annie, Olivia is relatable in that many people would experience the same emotions in her position. In her doubting of herself and her marriage, she is vulnerable and emotional, reacting in predictable ways. In her inquiring of Paul’s willingness to throw away his marriage on a figment of his imagination, the reader identifies with her through the ability to sympathize with her heartbreak.

The love affair with the lighthouse is very endearing. As the committee unites for the universal cause of saving the beacon from certain destruction, this demonstrates the spirit of the population. The enduring spirit of the lighthouse committee and the commitment to their cause, including preserving the past is inspirational. The dedication to the lighthouse is admirable given that the fixture of the land has been there longer than any of them. It is affecting they are so committed to conserving it.

While there are many intriguing aspects to this book, there are a few aspects that are not as engaging. Some of the action of the saga is unbelievable. While these aspects are meant to keep the plot moving, the actions could polarize the reader. People are much more complex than those revealed in this book. Conversely, individuals are sometimes illogical when they are emotional. For the purposes of fiction, the deeds might be exaggerations of irrational behaviors. For instance, Paul’s response to receiving startling news by running out of the lighthouse leaving everyone behind appears nonsensical. This does not seem like something that people would do in a traditional society, however people behave harshly in extraordinary circumstances. Undoubtedly, the activity of the narrative is produced from the perspective of preserving the drama.

This book emerges as an excellent timeline of a community in the midst of a crisis. As they move through the action of the fiction, they are predictable yet emotional in some areas and understandably unpredictable in other areas. The image of the lighthouse as a beacon for the citizens is poetic. The characters coming together intertwined in a tapestry is exceptional. It makes for an engaging read as the author has thoroughly developed each character and created them to each fit into each other person’s story. Each of the individuals evolves over the course of the book. This feature maintains the reader's engagement in the narrative until the end, providing a mystery of interconnections throughout the novel. This book is a complex tale that correlates aspects of romance, suspense and the struggles of family life. As this is the first in The Keeper Trilogy, it would be intriguing to follow these characters to note how their stories evolve over the ensuing books.