Remarkably Bright Creatures

For fans of A Man Called Ove,a luminous debut novel about a widow’s unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium–and the truths she finally uncovers about her son’s disappearance thirty years ago. After Tova Sullivan’s husband diedshe began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquariummopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her copewhich she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old sonErikmysteriously vanished on a boat in the Puget Sound over thirty years ago. As she worksTova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellusa giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight tentacles for his human captors–until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova. Ever the detectiveMarcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. As his affection for Tova growsMarcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. Charmingcompulsively readableand full of witShelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a beautiful exploration of friendshipreckoningand hope–a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.