Publication Date: January 13, 2026
A taut and emotional story, The Shark House sweeps you into a gripping mystery beneath the ocean’s surface, where one woman’s search for answers uncovers long—buried secrets and a reckoning years in the making. Perfect for fans of Lessons In Chemistry and Once There Were Wolves.
1998. The Kohala coast has seen a series of shark attacks in less than a week, setting the island community on edge. Biologist and shark whisperer Minnow Gray arrives on the scene to better understand what may have provoked the attacks, and if the same great white shark is still haunting the area. But as she descends into the blue Hawaiian depths, she soon learns there is far more going on than meets the eye.
Witness to an unspeakable tragedy involving a white shark and her own father, Minnow has her own dark past to contend with. She knows deep inside that unlocking the memory of that long ago morning will be the only way to set her life back on track. And the longer she’s in Hawai’i, the more she comes to see that her journey here might be as much about finding herself as finding the shark.
An atmospheric exploration of the intricate dance between humans and sharks, set against a backdrop of stunning Hawaiian landscapes and deep—sea danger. It’s a tale of resilience, redemption, and the raw power of the natural world. Dive in, if you dare.
A series of great white shark attacks sends Dr. Minnow Gray to Hawaii as part of an investigation.
Author Sara Ackerman combines the beauty of the islands with the danger lurking under the water in The Shark House.
Through a series of journal entries from the past, we get an appreciation of Minnow’s research. What she finds on the island is a push for a shark hunt, something she knows will be destructive.
The more involved she gets, the faster her memories unlock regarding her father and the bite that killed him. While Minnow has an innate “shark whisperer” skill, it gave me chills when she was in the water with Luna.
The Shark House offers a redemptive story tied to deep sea danger.
Sara Ackerman is the Hawai’i born, bestselling author of historical & contemporary novels set in the islands. Her books have been labeled “unforgettable” by Apple Books, “empowering & deliciously visceral” by Book Riot, and New York Times bestselling authors Kate Quinn and Madeline Martin have praised Sara’s novels as “fresh and delightful” and “brilliantly written.” Amazon chose Radar Girls as a best book of the month, and ALA Booklist gave The Codebreaker’s Secret a starred review.
