'Love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with!’ – Santa Montefiore, author of Shadows in the Moonlight

The mysteries of St Kilda are finally revealed. The Midnight Secret is the epic conclusion to Karen Swan's historical Wild Isle series, set in Scotland.

Jayne Ferguson has always been a keeper of secrets – especially her own . . .

If there’s one thing Jayne Ferguson has learnt in her life, it’s that every blessing comes with a curse. She married the most handsome man on the isle of St Kilda - but he’s a bully. She inherited her mother’s gift of second sight - but only ever foresees her fellow islanders’ deaths. She has learnt to keep to herself, treading in the shadows and shirking the highs for fear of the lows.

When a needless death strikes at the heart of her home, Jayne’s bad marriage becomes worse and she finds solace with an unlikely friend. Glimmers of happiness tantalise her, though there’s no possibility for anything more, especially once word comes of St Kilda’s evacuation.

But as evacuation draws near, tensions on the island rise. Secrets are being forced to the surface, passions and enmities erupting with equal violence. A man is killed, as Jayne knew he would be, and her closest friends Effie, Mhairi and Flora are each implicated.

On the mainland, the villagers scatter into new lives, hoping distance means refuge. But then Jayne has another of her dreams and she knows the past isn’t done with them yet.

The Midnight Secret is the fourth and final book in Karen Swan's sweeping, bestselling Wild Isles series, following on from The Last Summer, The Stolen Hours and The Lost Lover.

_{Paperback edition charted at #9 on the Sunday Times Paperback Bestseller Chart 26/10/2025}

A gripping new series set on the Scottish island of St Kilda . . . meticulously researched and beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers. It contains all the ingredients of a wonderfully satisfying read: love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with - and some you hate! -- Santa Montefiore, author of Shadows in the Moonlight
Packed with wonderful, authentic historical detail, this is a fabulous conclusion to the sweeping ‘Wild Isles’ Scottish drama series that works equally brilliant as a stand alone read – but you’ll want to discover all the books * People's Friend *
The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I’ve ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second installment. -- Cathy Bramley, author of The Summer That Changed Us on The Last Summer
Vividly drawn and beautifully atmospheric, this is a book to savour. -- Heat Magazine on The Last Summer
The queen of destination books . . . exciting . . . beguiling * Woman and Home *
Swan is a superb storyteller. I loved it. -- Eve Chase, author of The Glass House on The Last Summer
I so enjoyed The Last Summer by Karen Swan, which provides fascinating details about life on St Kilda prior to the evacuation of its inhabitants from the island. Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series! -- Jill Mansell, author of Should I Tell You? on The Last Summer
A delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer -- Rachel Hore, author of One Moonlit Night on The Last Summer
Wonderfully romantic and epic in feel, this beautiful historical novel is a fascinating and deliciously escapist read -- Tasmina Perry, author of Guilty Pleasures and Perfect Strangers on The Last Summer

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter, Christmas at Tiffany’s, The Christmas Secret and Together by Christmas.

Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

Her historical series, The Wild Isle, is based upon the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.