Remarkably gentle mystery

Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures is a gentle debut novel that blends grief, mystery, and unexpected friendship. The best aspect in my opinion: there is an octopus at its emotional core. Set in a small coastal town in Washington, the story is told through three alternating perspectives. Tova is still mourning the disappearance of her teenage son decades earlier. Cameron, meanwhile, is flailing after yet another job loss, estranged from his past and unsure of his future. Their stories are drawn together in quiet, organic ways, but it’s Marcellus who steals the show. His chapters are sharp, brief, and beautifully written. Marcellus, the octopus, was such an extraordinary character. I loved him. The narration from his perspective was my absolute favorite.

This book genuinely caught me off guard in the best way. I picked it up during a trip, having seen it recommended on countless must-read lists, and expected a pleasant, if ordinary, read. What I didn’t expect was to become so invested in the story and its characters. 

The mystery element gave it structure, but what initially drew me in was the setting. I have a deep appreciation for the Puget Sound region, and being familiar with that part of the country made it easy to visualize the landscapes described throughout the novel. I was also intrigued by the inclusion of an octopus as a central character—something outside the norm for me—and that unique perspective ended up being one of the most engaging aspects of the book.

Even though the book is written from three different points of view, I would’ve been completely happy if Marcellus narrated half the book. His clever (and sometimes condescending) perspective of humans and their intelligence, or lack thereof, made me most entranced in the chapters from him. It's rare for a non-human voice to carry so much emotional weight, but Van Pelt handles it with restraint and wit. Marcellus isn’t anthropomorphized beyond believability; he’s just observant, brilliant, and profoundly aware of both his own limitations and the human follies surrounding him.

While the plot is somewhat predictable, the novel is still well worth reading thanks to its colorful cast of characters. The story starts off a bit slow, but the unique narrative perspectives, especially Marcellus’s, kept me engaged even as some of the twists became easy to anticipate. The mystery unfolds at a steady, measured pace, and though it lacks the tension of a traditional suspense novel, it offers something different: a quiet, emotionally grounded story with a deeply human core. 

I found myself experiencing all the emotions while reading, and in the end, it was a memorable journey. I’d easily recommend this as a thoughtful, character-driven choice for a summer read.