By Susan Meissner
This book is about San Francisco in 1906 – the year of the great earthquake and subsequent burning of most of the city. It is also about sociopathy, defining love and loyalty, and walking fine ethical lines. Sophie Hocking, nee Whelan, a recent immigrant from Ireland, finds the slums in New York City so abhorrent, she agrees to essentially be a mail-order bride for a well-off widower in San Francisco.
As soon as she disembarks from the ferry, the devastatingly handsome Martin Hocking is waiting to escort her to the courthouse for their immediate marriage ceremony. Martin provides a wonderful home for Sophie, and sees to any of her needs, and more importantly, the needs of his daughter, Kat. Sophie falls helplessly in love with Kat and aspires to be a great mother for her.
Many things begin to add up to a darker picture of Martin than Sophie initially believed. Right as a crucial moment is unveiled, disaster strikes – literally! The earthquake topples buildings and injures a large portion of the populace. Many small fires create an annihilating conflagration as fire fighters are unable to get water to provide any aid, though surrounded on three sides by the sea. I’ve always been incredibly interested in the events of the San Francisco Earthquake at this time, and I feel like a tragedy can be made more accessible and poignant when we are able to connect with a story, and a character’s experience throughout the event.
All of the natural disaster takes a background to Kat and Sophie. It becomes a beautiful story about how some women are called to be mothers, even if they are unable to give birth. It also takes a village to raise a child, and without the support and love of others, it can be a daunting task.
Pros & Cons & Potential Spoilers
Pros
- Kat is so sweet, you will be smitten too
- Women extending kindness to other women without obligation or duress
- Meissner casts just enough doubt at different points to keep the reader engaged and guessing
Cons
- Justice is very delayed in the book
- Of all the women in the book, that dang neighbor across the street is the. worst.
- Not a big fan of Kat’s natural mother either
- There is no bootlegging despite a great basement setup for one