Hold Back the Tide

Hold Back the Tide is a young adult mystery with strong supernatural and psychological thriller elements, set in a remote Scottish village. It follows Alva, who is forced to live with her father, the prime suspect in her mother's unsolved murder. As the latest in a long line of 'loch guardians,' Alva must monitor the mysterious waters, all while grappling with her grief, suspicion, and the unsettling feeling that something ancient and dangerous lurks beneath the surface. This book explores themes of family secrets, justice, and the courage it takes to confront both human and supernatural evils.

Since there wasn't enough proof to convict Alva's father for the murder of her mother, she's been forced to live in his house in Ormscaula, Scotland, being raised by the man she holds responsible for her motherlessness. His family has been called guardians of the loch for generations, and now it falls to her to monitor the water levels, despite not knowing what she's watching for -- or what may be watching her back.