A gripping family mystery meets a story of second chances in this warm, feel-good debut.

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'Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender.' — Washington Post
'Full of heart and humour . . . I loved it.' Ruth Hogan
'Will stay with you for a long time.' Anstey Harris
'I defy you to put it down once you’ve started' Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors – until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late...

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

'You won’t be able to put it down because when you’re not reading this book you’ll be hugging it.' Jamie Ford

'Truly original and touching' Helen Hoang

READER REVIEWS
'I couldn't put it down'
'Marvelous, heartwarming, brilliant'
'I enjoyed every second'
'I was gripped from the first page'
‘Read it, there's no way you won't fall in love with Marcellus the octopus!’
‘Goodness me, what a unique and wonderful book.’

"A winningly totally original feel-good mystery packed with memorable characters that, once started, demands to be finished" - Irish Independent

"A unique and luminous book" - Booklist

"An ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut about what it feels like to have love taken from you, only to find it again in the most unexpected places ... Memorable and tender." - Washington Post

"You’ll bask in this book’s warmth and wit" - Spectrum