Island of Tears

In 1892, the first ship debarks at Ellis Island loaded with hopeful immigrants looking forward to a new start on the first day of the new year. A contributor to Harper's Weekly, dime novelist Marshall Webb is at the scene of the docking to observe the goings-on so he can write a series of articles and eventually a book. On the island, Marshal meets Dutch arrival Christina Van der Waak, whose trust and optimism in the American system he believes will make quite a good story, but she instantly vanishes. Marshall concludes that there is more to Christina than just the tale of an upbeat emigrant and he begins to make inquiries into what happened to her. His investigation takes Marshall all over Manhattan and leads to reformist Rebecca Davies and Colden House, a shelter for abused women. Rebecca joins Marshall on his quest as the search for the apparently abducted young woman turns frantic and quite dangerous. ISLAND OF TEARS is a detailed historical mystery with romance to spice up the relationship between the lead duo. The story line is filled with action that occasionally slows down when author Troy Soos pays homage to the Gay Nineties with incredible descriptive depths rarely seen in a novel. This e thrilling mystery enlightens and entertains the audience. Hopefully further collaborations between Rebecca and Christina will occur as fans of historical tales will believe Mr. Soos hit a home run off of that HANGING CURVE.Harriet Klausner