Book Review: The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris

First Chapter, First Paragraph is hosted weekly by Bibliophile by the Sea. Share the first paragraph of your current read. Also visit Teaser Tuesdays meme hosted by Jenn.

The Edge of Lost: A Novel by Kristina McMorris, to be released November 24, 2015 by Kensington

Objective rating: 5/5

Source: advance uncorrected proof for review

First paragraph: (taken from an uncorrected proof. The final copy may differ)

Alcatraz Island October 1937

Fog encircled the island, a strangling grip, as search efforts mounted. In the moonless sky, dark clouds forged a dome over the icy currents of San Francisco Bay. 

"You two check the docks," shouted Warden Johnston, his voice muffled by rain and howling wind. "We'll take the lighthouse. The rest of you spread out." 

More people traded directives, divvying up territory. They were off-duty guards and teenage sons who called Alcatraz their home, an odd place where a maze of fencing and concrete kept families of the prison staff safe from the country's most notorious criminals.
At least in theory.  

My summary and comments: Young Shanley Keagan travels in the mid-1930s from Ireland to New York and finds himself alone after the death of his uncle on board ship. He is unofficially adopted by an Italian-American family until he is grown and can fend for himself. However, Shanley, now known as Tommy Capello, unwillingly and unwittingly becomes embroiled in a crime, trying to save his Italian brother, and finds himself jailed on the infamous Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. 

The second half of the novel details Shanley's  life on Alcatraz and life in general for other inmates as well as prison guards and their families who live on the island. Shanley's friendship with the young daughter of a prison guard and attempts to escape provide suspenseful reading toward the end of the book. 

I enjoyed the story of a young Irish immigrant and his travails as a newcomer to America. The book is well researched and gave me a good look at the hardships of immigration at that time for several ethnic groups, among them the Irish and the Italians. Life on Alcatraz, for inmates as well as the prison staff is fascinating in its detail. 

The story kept me in suspense as you root for Shanley trying to cope with prison life and then deciding to plan escape through the shark-infested and cold waters around Alcatraz, an almost impossible attempt that many had tried unsuccessfully. 

Recommendation: If you have ever wondered about Alcatraz and its history, and you like a good historical novel with a suspenseful plot and interesting characters, read this. 

What do you think of the opening paragraphs?

Sunday Salon: Autumn Reads

Welcome to the Sunday Salon where bloggers share their reading each week. Visit The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. 

I have finished a few books this past week:

Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe, a contemporary novel set in the Washington State woods about a woman's grief over the death of her fiance, and how she copes in the face of  his mother's disapproval of her. Four stars.

The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall, an historical novel about aerobic flying as entertainment in the 1920s and a romantic triangle. Four stars.

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, a novel set in the 1960s, about a young boy dealing with and investigating the murder of his older sister. 5 stars.

The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz, a fourth novel continuing the thrillers of Stieg Larsson. Five stars.

Thanks to Kristina McMorris for a review advance proof of her new historical novel, The Edge of Lost, to be released November 24, 2015 by Kensington. 
Book description from amazon: A compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell--and believe--in order to survive.

I am now reading 

Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt, published August 4, 2015 by NAL. A story of estranged half sisters reuniting in the English Lake District, when Lucy leaves Boston to take a temporary job at a school in the seaside village in England where her sister Juliet runs a bed-and-breakfast. Enjoying it so far. Love the setting too - Hartley-On-Sea, even though it seems to be raining there all the time. 

I have also started to read, again, Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, a novel I had started reading before and mean to finish on my Kindle. 

What books are you reading this week?