Chapter 39: A Preview of "Wild and Wicked Things"
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Chapter 39 presents the first chapter of Wild and Wicked Things. The story follows Annie Mason, a young woman from Whitby who travels to Crow Island after the death of her estranged father. She arrives alone by ferry, feeling both timid and compelled by her father’s final request to settle his estate. At the harbour, she collects a key for her father’s car and drives to a rented cottage, overwhelmed by the island’s quiet luxury. Annie reconnects with memories of her childhood friend Beatrice, who moved to Crow Island a year earlier, and her late fiancé Sam, killed in the war. In the cottage, she reflects on her predictable life back home and wonders why her father only wanted her on the island after he died.
Key Events
- Annie Mason arrives on Crow Island by ferry, observing its eerie beauty and the crows said to hold witches’ spirits.
- She retrieves the car key from a young girl at the harbour office and drives herself to a rented cottage.
- Annie meets Jonas Anderson, her father’s lawyer, who welcomes her and offers assistance.
- Alone in the cottage, Annie recalls her past with Sam and Bea, and the constrained life she left behind.
- She questions why her father summoned her to the island only after his death.
Character Development
Annie Mason – Annie is introduced as naive and anxious, yet determined to try a new path. She struggles with grief over Sam’s death and the estrangement from Bea. Her internal conflict between duty and desire shapes her cautious but hopeful arrival on Crow Island. The preview hints at her potential for growth as she faces the unknown.
Jonas Anderson – The lawyer appears kind and solicitous, knowing details about Annie that unsettle her. He may become a key figure in the larger story.
Beatrice (Bea) – Mentioned only in memory, Bea is Annie’s long-absent best friend whose whereabouts on the island offer a possible reunion. Her earlier silence has left a wound.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Magic and superstition – Crow Island is rumored to be haunted by witches, and the crows are seen as vessels for their spirits. Annie’s mother warns against real magic, but the island’s playful “faux magic” advertisements blur the line between harmless and dangerous.
- Freedom vs. confinement – Annie experiences both the exhilaration of newfound space and the fear of it. The cottage’s emptiness contrasts with her crowded past, symbolizing the opportunity and terror of change.
- Grief and inheritance – Annie’s father’s death forces her to confront a relationship she never had. Her inheritance is both financial and emotional, representing a chance to rewrite her future.
Why This Chapter Matters
Although it is a preview of another novel, Chapter 39 serves as a tonal palate cleanser at the end of One Dark Window. It introduces a new world (Crow Island) and protagonist (Annie) steeped in secrets and dark magic, echoing the gothic atmosphere of the main book. For readers who enjoyed Gillig’s novel, this sample offers a natural next read.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Annie decide to travel to Crow Island despite her fear?
Annie feels compelled by her father’s final request and sees the island as her last chance to escape a predictable life. She wants to reconnect with Bea and hopes the inheritance will help her mother.
2. What does Annie’s memory of Bessie Higgins reveal about society’s view of magic?
The story of Bessie Higgins, hanged for selling poppets with monkshood, shows that real magic is punished harshly. It illustrates the danger lurking beneath the island’s glamorous surface.
3. How does the caged bird imagery or the “unwritten story” relate to Annie’s arc?
Annie describes her life on Crow Island as an “unwritten story,” contrasting with the predetermined path she faced at home. This suggests her arc will involve claiming agency and writing her own future.