No One Goes Alone – Erik Larson
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: A group of truth seekers sail for the Isle of Dorn in 1905 to determine if the root cause of mysterious disappearances and deaths are the result natural occurrences, happenstance or something more nefarious.
Expectation: A good old fashioned ghost story told in radio serial style.
Reality: An intellectual ghost story that’s heavy on talking and light on action.
Recommended For: Fans of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie with a pinch of Shirley Jackson
Why I Read It: Larson is an always read author for me.
My Take:
A remote island with a mysterious past. Individuals determined to figure out the truth. Strange occurrences that make everyone question reality.
Stop me if you’ve read this one before.
Erik Larson, the noted and phenomenal nonfiction author, takes his first steps into fiction with this audio-only story that borrows heavily from Arthur Conan Doyle and Shirley Jackson to weave a somewhat creepy, intellectual ghost story.
In 1905, a group of truth seekers from the Society for Psychical Research — representing professions as diverse as an illusionist and wireless telegraph operator to professor and author — sail to the Isle of Dorn to use logic, reason and the scientific method to determine if the island’s history of disappearances is the result of natural, man-made or nefarious circumstances.
Fans of Larson’s nonfiction — most notably “Thunderstruck,” which also happens to be my least favorite of his works — will appreciate the Easter eggs he weaves in as well as the politics and etiquette of post-Victorian era England.
The historical angle that has our characters living on the cusp of significant technological and scientific breakthroughs, not to mention world-shifting political events, gives the story a timeless charm with modern sensibility.
Unfortunately, it’s all just rather boring with more chatting than action.
Even after bodies start piling up, members of the party begin to act unnaturally and unworldly creatures are spotted in the grass around the island’s main house, our characters continue to debate and debate and debate what is afoot.
Don’t get me wrong, there were some truly creepy passages that had me turning on lights before entering dark rooms, but it was clear Larson struggled with how to pace a story like this one. Big reveals are presented, reacted to and then we move on.
Maybe this makes sense for our science-minded characters, but it doesn’t make for an exciting listen. The last third is rooted almost firmly in the supernatural, which made it a bit more fun, but I wasn’t wowed by anything truly original — or bone-chilling.
For an audio-only story, the production is also rather disappointing. Julian Rhind-Tutt does a good job of giving each character a unique voice, but why this wasn’t a full cast production that played like a radio serial is beyond me. Some well-placed sound effects and different narrators playing off one another could’ve elevated the more mundane sections.
Larson is an always read author for me, and this story is probably best suited for his biggest fans.
Rating (story): 3/5 stars
Rating (narration): 3/5 stars
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: October 7 - 11, 2021
Multi-tasking: Good to go. I mostly cleaned and exercised while listening.
