Dorrance Publishing has released "Sandcastles," a psychological suspense novel by Susan Meyer set in the coastal town of El Puerto de Santa María, Spain. The book centers on a community unsettled by the unexplained disappearance of several children, and on a menacing figure known as the Watcher who hides his intentions behind an ordinary face.
A Coastal Town Under Suspicion
The novel's setting does much of the work. Meyer places families searching for answers in a town whose daily rhythms, local traditions and waterfront life give the story its atmosphere. As the search continues, ordinary routines begin to look suspicious, and the reader is kept uncertain about who can be trusted.
Two Perspectives on Fear
The narrative follows Laura, an American staying near the Spanish coast, whose unsettling encounter with a mysterious fisherman grows into a series of frightening experiences. Seeking reassurance, she turns to Father Cano, a local priest who is himself confronting disturbing circumstances involving members of his parish. Their paths and anxieties converge, deepening the mystery surrounding the missing children.
Themes and Genre Context
According to the publisher's description, the book explores manipulation, vulnerability and the difficulty of separating real threats from suspicion. It also draws on religious history and local witchcraft traditions, adding a further layer to its central puzzle. Readers drawn to crime fiction and mysteries built on hidden motives and escalating danger are the novel's stated audience.