The Glass Ocean - by Beatriz Williams & Lauren Willig & Karen White (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Forgotten Room comes a captivating historical mystery, infused with romance, that links the lives of three women across a century--two deep in the past, one in the present--to the doomed passenger liner, RMS Lusitania.

May 2013
Her finances are in dire straits and bestselling author Sarah Blake is struggling to find a big idea for her next book. Desperate, she breaks the one promise she made to her Alzheimer's-stricken mother and opens an old chest that belonged to her great-grandfather, who died when the RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. What she discovers there could change history. Sarah embarks on an ambitious journey to England to enlist the help of John Langford, a recently disgraced Member of Parliament whose family archives might contain the only key to the long-ago catastrophe. . . .

April 1915
Southern belle Caroline Telfair Hochstetter's marriage is in crisis. Her formerly attentive industrialist husband, Gilbert, has become remote, pre-occupied with business . . . and something else that she can't quite put a finger on. She's hoping a trip to London in Lusitania's lavish first-class accommodations will help them reconnect--but she can't ignore the spark she feels for her old friend, Robert Langford, who turns out to be on the same voyage. Feeling restless and longing for a different existence, Caroline is determined to stop being a bystander, and take charge of her own life. . . .

Tessa Fairweather is traveling second-class on the Lusitania, returning home to Devon. Or at least, that's her story. Tessa has never left the United States and her English accent is a hasty fake. She's really Tennessee Schaff, the daughter of a roving con man, and she can steal and forge just about anything. But she's had enough. Her partner has promised that if they can pull off this one last heist aboard the Lusitania, they'll finally leave the game behind. Tess desperately wants to believe that, but Tess has the uneasy feeling there's something about this job that isn't as it seems. . . .

As the Lusitania steams toward its fate, three women work against time to unravel a plot that will change the course of their own lives . . . and history itself.

From the Back Cover

From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Forgotten Room comes a captivating historical mystery that links the lives of three women--two from the past, one from the present--to the doomed passenger liner RMS Lusitania

2013

Bestselling author Sarah Blake is broke and struggling to come up with a big idea for her next book. Desperate, she opens an old chest containing the belongings of her great-grandfather, who died when the RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915. What she discovers could change history. Sarah embarks on an ambitious journey to England to enlist the help of John Langford, a recently
disgraced member of Parliament whose family archives might contain the only key to the long-ago catastrophe. . . .

1915

Southern belle Caroline Telfair Hochstetter's marriage is in crisis. Her formerly attentive industrialist husband, Gilbert, has become remote, preoccupied with business--and with something else that she can't quite put a finger on. She's hoping a trip in the Lusitania's lavish first-class accommodations will help them reconnect--but she can't ignore the spark she feels for her old friend Robert Langford, who turns out to be on the same voyage. Restless and longing for a different existence, Caroline is determined to take charge of her own life. . . .

Tess Fairweather is traveling second-class on the Lusitania, returning home to Devon. Or at least, that's her story. Truth is, her English accent is a hasty fake and her real name is Tennessee Schaff. The daughter of a roving con man, Tess can steal and forge just about anything. Her partner has promised that if they pull off one last heist aboard the Lusitania, they'll finally leave the game behind. Tess desperately wants to believe that, but she has the uneasy feeling there's something about this job that isn't as it seems. . . .

As the Lusitania steams toward its fate, three women work against time to unravel a plot that will change the course of their lives . . . and history itself.

Review Quotes

"A trio of authors seamlessly blend three stories into one epic novel. Spanning a century and three lives, this sumptuous, suspenseful and heart-wrenching story will keep you up all night. Each story stands on its own, with strong characters and a compelling storyline, but it is impossible to know where one writer starts and another begins. Readers will be utterly enthralled." - RT Book Reviews (41/2 Stars, Top Pick)

"...[A]n unputdownable thriller. Williams, Willig, and White form a spectacularly winning team for this action--and romance-packed historical novel." - Publishers Weekly

"Admired in historical and women's fiction circles, these best-selling authors create an absorbing tale interlaced with espionage, secrets, romance, and historic detail. Both witty and urbane despite the ultimate tragedy, this is beautifully rendered retrospective. For all historical fiction devotees." - Library Journal

"Williams, Willig, and White (The Forgotten Room, 2016) work together again to create a riveting histoical mystery . . . "Team W" takes readers on a voyage, filled with twists and turns, in which secrets abound, no one can be trusted, and history isn't always what it seems." - Booklist

"From the writing team that brought you The Forgotten Room comes another must-read collaboration . . . beautifully written, masterfully plotted, The Glass Ocean is utterly uputdownable." - Popsugar

"A sensational tale of drama, espionage, and passion on the high seas. Three brilliantly twisty plots plus a trio of hard-headed, unpredictable heroines add up to one immensely satisfying read." - Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Masterpiece

Praise for The Forgotten Room: "Even with three authors, the story is seamless, and the transitions between narrators are smooth. Focusing on both a family and a single location throughout time makes for a compelling and emotionally worthwhile novel." - Kirkus Reviews

"Wonderful...Strong female characters, swoon-worthy romance, and red herrings abound in this marvelous genre blend of romance, historical fiction, and family saga." - Booklist