Review: Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey

Unexpected romance, deadly betrayals, and the perils of complex families swirl madly together in Whirlwinds, Waves, and Willow by Flo Dombey, the second emotional installment of The Willow Chronicle.

Willow’s life has been turned upside-down by the reappearance of a biological father she thought long dead, making every decision feel unsteady for the headstrong 17-year-old, despite having some of the best sea legs in Port Townsend, WA. The mysterious suicide of her wealthy stepfather adds another devastating blow, further distancing Billie from her mother, whom she blames for the lifetime of secrets that led to this tragic collision of past and present.

Seeking an escape from the surviving father she barely knows and a mother she may never trust again, Willow forms a connection with Bambi, a schoolmate facing her own demons, and a pregnancy that was forced upon her. Putting her seafaring skills to work, Bambi and Willow head across the Pacific aboard The Serenity, the same 60-foot trawler where her stepfather took his life.

Karl Myers, meanwhile, is trying to put his family back together after nearly two decades apart, but his arrival in Washington seems to have only made things worse. Rekindling a flame with Laura and connecting with his daughter for the first time may have cost another man his life. When Karl’s best friend is suddenly murdered and his beloved wife goes missing, the investigation seems to lead back to Karl’s door – thanks to a missing gun and a money-driven motive. Deceit, greed, fraternal loyalty, and the toxic spiral of old love collide shoreside, as the sea pulls Karl’s daughter towards an uncertain fate. As the wheels of justice spin out of control, the ocean crashes down around the adventurous young lovers, leading to a powerful and unpredictable climax.

The narrative is remarkably detailed and well-researched, seamlessly diving into nautical terminology and sailing lingo that feels authentic and colloquial, rather than clumsily technical. From multilayered narrative musings and creative descriptive passages to explosions of raw emotion that reveal the unbridled ugliness of human nature, there is attention to nuance in every aspect of the prose. Set in 1956, Dombey directly explores cultural paradigms of the time and the limiting beliefs of racism and misogyny through his nuanced character relationships, particularly between Karl, Reggie, Mirabelle, and Sam. The fractured dynamic between Willow and Laura is palpable, with the abusive bond between Karl and Laura giving a dark edge to their relationship, while the unexpected bond Billie builds with Bambi is a nourishing escape into non-traditional love.

The procedural elements of the investigation are the slowest parts of the prose, and some of the hardest to believe, as conflicts of interest abound, and police protocols seem readily ignored when convenient for the plot. There are also some grammatical errors, pronoun inconsistencies, and misspelled words (“daughteer,” etc.) that a superficial spellcheck might miss, but the language is generally smoothly written and carefully chosen.

Despite some minor issues, this captivating story is an ambitious, unpredictable, and undaunted examination into the dark corners of human connection, resulting in an intimate and revelatory novel.