The Spirit of Scatarie by Lesley Crewe

Lesley Crewe’s The Spirit of Scatarie (pronounced Sca-tah-ree) is a well-written, fictional story about the real island of Scatarie, just off the northeastern tip of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, and is told from the point of view of a spirit or ghost.

“You might be startled that this tale will be told to you by a ghost. I prefer to be called a spirit, but it’s all the same. The truth is, I have as much right to tell this story as anyone. Scatarie belongs to the living and the dead.”

This slice-of-life story is about three babies: two boys, Hardy and Sam, and one girl, Mary Alice, born on Christmas Day in 1922. They were born into three different families on the isolated island of Scatarie. The story follows these children as they grow up and become best friends on an island with no electricity, indoor plumbing, running water, or telephones, except for the government phone in the lighthouse. It describes a close-knit fishing community whose members depended on one another to survive.

“I was in a community that could only depend on each other. They were in a separate world within a world. They didn’t have access to a lot. But then, you don’t need a lot.”

The Spirit of Scatarie takes us on the life journeys of these three people, from their school years to their day-to-day lives after, and through their milestones of weddings, births, and deaths. It provides an accurate description of the lives of the families that lived on the island. It touches on the events of the war across the pond and the cultural differences on and off the island. It also depicts the changes that occurred on the island as technological advances spread, the quality of life improved, and the fishing industry evolved. Issues of post-traumatic stress were also touched on.

Along with the descriptions of the day-to-day hardships these families faced, author Lesley Crewe also describes the beauty and the love these families had for their island. The responsibilities of the lighthouse keeper and the daily routines of families living on the island were explored. I won’t soon forget the use of catalogue pages in the outhouses in lieu of toilet paper.

This story will appeal to Lesley Crewe fans, people who love maritime and war history, or anyone who likes a bit of spirit in their stories. I enjoyed the unique point of view from which this story was told. It created a unique voice that made the story engaging and memorable.

Publisher: Nimbus Publishing limited (September 16, 2025)
Paperback: 6″ X 9.25″ | 384 pp
ISBN: 9781774714560

Sue Slade

Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an engaging cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader and her reviews cross over many genres.