A very intersting book to read, "The Cottagers"

From Publishers Weekly
Cyrus Collingwood, 19, a lifelong resident of Vancouver Island, spends most of his time spying on the vacationers in their East Sooke holiday cottages with a mix of curiosity and resentment . He becomes fixated on Brooklynites Samina, Nicholas and their three-year-old daughter, Hilda, and their friends Laurel and Greg from St. Louis. Cyrus insinuates himself into their lives, acting the proud local eager to share the island with the visitors, and begins picking at their insecurities, including the professional jealousy among Nicholas, a successful historian; Greg, a struggling biographer; and tenure-track English professor Laurel. Only Samina, with her exotic beauty and reserved manner, remains a puzzle to him. One day Nicholas does not return from a walk along a secluded beach, and everyone becomes suspicious of everyone else. Using an omniscient narrator who unevenly reveals his characters, debut novelist Klimasewiski illustrates the who-really-knows-anyone? angles nicely, but they overwhelm the narrative voice, making the book feel idea-driven. (May 12)
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Recommended. Half way through it.

Is it in paperback yet?

Takes place in Vancouver. I had to google to check out the lay of the land. Long ago I went to Vanouver for high tea at the Empress Hotel which is mentioned in the book.

I was just there (in Victoria, not the Empress) two weeks ago. We spent three days on the Island, it was lovely. I have had high tea at the Empress, on another trip, and it was fun. We went to the city of Vancouver this last trip, too.

It sounds like a book I would like to buy, since I love books about islands and have an ongoing collection of them, but I have too many books and hardcovers take up too much room.

Except that so many people go there for tea that it's like a ride in an amusement park. Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed it - but it wasn't quite the relaxing experience I had hoped for.

I'd recommend going back.

I went to Anne Hathaway's house after that. Still have a tin box from it too. I remember mostly how crazy everyone drove and the "Amber lights flash" sign.

He teaches at Wash U in St Louis. Took him forever to get this book out--I'm guessing a collection of short stories was also part of the deal, and will be out before long. I've read the first couple of chapters (got sidetracked, but will come back to it). Great stuff.

I finished it, but wasn't so jazzed about the last 3 chapters. Other than that, it was quite the page turner. I liked Cyrus and Greg.