I am a bit of a history buff, so I really enjoyed reading this book! Everett Townsend, a naval officer serving the Union, finds himself caught in a storm during a routine supply mission. He and his crew come across a shipwreck at Marquesas Keys, where they find a group of deceased men who were locked in the cargo hold and left to drown. There’s only one survivor, and he tells Everett his name and where he escaped from before he dies. Everett suspects foul play, but his report receives little attention from the naval commander in Key West. Everett is later given a new assignment to investigate the murder of an American sailor in a Cuban port, which turns out to be linked to the shipwreck they had discovered in Marquesas Keys. This assignment leads him back to Cuba, where he must confront his past, grapple with difficult decisions, and confront his estranged grandmother, a painful reminder of his family’s close ties to slavery.
Everett Townsend is a well-developed character with a complex backstory. He is only twenty-two years old, but he appears to be very mature which can be attributed to his challenging life experiences. Through his internal monologues, readers gain insight into his hidden feelings, current struggles, and glimpses of hope for the future.
It was interesting to learn about Cuba's involvement in the slave trade, a topic that isn't often talked about. The passages describing slave traders and plantation owners treating people as mere commodities were deeply disturbing.
My favorite moment in the book was when Jacobs Levi finally reunited with his sons. His story was heartbreaking, and I was really glad that he was able to find his children.
“Townsend just stood there silently listening. He could only imagine the sadness that this man must feel. He’d fought for the Union, and now, like so many other freedmen, he was in a desperate search for the remnants of his family. The end of the war had given him freedom but left him living a nightmare.”
I also loved the romance between Everett and Emma, it felt sweet and genuine, and it was a nice contrast to Everett’s guarded personality.
I enjoyed this story! It’s exceptionally well-written, informative, and the amount of research that went into it really shows! Even though it’s a work of fiction, it draws inspiration from real events, including the kidnappings along the Gulf Coast and Florida. The only complaint I have is about the ending - it seemed a bit rushed with too many things happening all at once. It was still a great read, so I’ll most likely read Harbor of Spies: A Novel of Historic Havana too. I want to learn more about this topic and Everett and Emma’s story. I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction/mystery fans!
I love the cover design – color scheme, imagery, and font choice, it all captures the essence of the historical fiction genre! The inclusion of the map of Key West at the beginning of the book is a great addition too!
Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher Lyons Press, and author Robin Lloyd for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! My review is based on an uncorrected text.
Everett Townsend is a well-developed character with a complex backstory. He is only twenty-two years old, but he appears to be very mature which can be attributed to his challenging life experiences. Through his internal monologues, readers gain insight into his hidden feelings, current struggles, and glimpses of hope for the future.
It was interesting to learn about Cuba's involvement in the slave trade, a topic that isn't often talked about. The passages describing slave traders and plantation owners treating people as mere commodities were deeply disturbing.
My favorite moment in the book was when Jacobs Levi finally reunited with his sons. His story was heartbreaking, and I was really glad that he was able to find his children.
“Townsend just stood there silently listening. He could only imagine the sadness that this man must feel. He’d fought for the Union, and now, like so many other freedmen, he was in a desperate search for the remnants of his family. The end of the war had given him freedom but left him living a nightmare.”
I also loved the romance between Everett and Emma, it felt sweet and genuine, and it was a nice contrast to Everett’s guarded personality.
I enjoyed this story! It’s exceptionally well-written, informative, and the amount of research that went into it really shows! Even though it’s a work of fiction, it draws inspiration from real events, including the kidnappings along the Gulf Coast and Florida. The only complaint I have is about the ending - it seemed a bit rushed with too many things happening all at once. It was still a great read, so I’ll most likely read Harbor of Spies: A Novel of Historic Havana too. I want to learn more about this topic and Everett and Emma’s story. I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction/mystery fans!
I love the cover design – color scheme, imagery, and font choice, it all captures the essence of the historical fiction genre! The inclusion of the map of Key West at the beginning of the book is a great addition too!
Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher Lyons Press, and author Robin Lloyd for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! My review is based on an uncorrected text.