THE GLASS OCEAN by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White
Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White are all notable novelists in their own right. But let them combine their talents into a novel like THE GLASS OCEAN and you really get something amazing. This new story, twhich is a mixture of drama and romance, is the perfect end of summer book, or you could say perfect beginning of fall one. Whatever the season the intertwining story of three women is an entirely engrossing one.
The book takes place in two time periods. In 2013 we are introduced to Sarah Blake, an author who has discovered some materials belonging to her great grandfather. He worked on the RMS Lusitania and was on board when the ship was torpedoed by the Germans. Also on board was novelist Robert Langford, who survived the attack. Sarah determines to search down John Langford, who is Robert’s great-grandson and see if he can resolve some questions concerning both great grandfathers roles in the sinking of the ship..
The book then introduces us to Caroline Hochstetter in 1915. She and her husband Gilbert are preparing to sail on the Lusitania as her husband has business he needs to transact there. The Hochstetter’s are wealthy and are being supplied with the best of everything the Lusitania has to offer. Still what Caroline wants more than anything is more of her husband’s attention. The closer they get to their trip the more distant from her he becomes.
And finally there is Tess, who will also be sailing on the doomed Lusitania voyage. Tess has a job on this trip and it is to steal some papers that are in the hands of Gilbert Hochstetter. Her sister Ginny, who will also be onboard, has come up with this latest scheme. Tess is hesitant about being involved but feels a fierce loyalty to her sister so she has agreed to be a participant in the crime.
All three of these stories are perfectly developed and presented, and they are presented seamlessly. That is the most impressive quality of the book. You have three authors telling one overall story, and yet there are no conflagrations between the styles. I have read other novels by each of the three authors and I do not have a clue as to how the work of this novel was divided between them. Maybe one author wrote Sarah, another Caroline, and the third Tessa – or maybe not.
The result is a novel that is titanic in its historical scope and vast in its emotional vistas. It should be grabbed up as quickly as possible by fans of romantic historical fiction. It is a great merging of dramatic plot, breathless love stories and historical foretelling. It is Beatriz Williams at her best; Lauren Willig at her best; and Karen White at her best. In the past these three women merged their talents in the super successful THE FORGOTTEN ROOM but they triple the pleasure with this latest collaboration.
If you want to end the summer on a high note make sure THE GLASS OCEAN is the next book you read.
THE GLASS OCEAN is published by William Morrow. It contains 416 pages and sells for $26.99.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
