Kensington Publishing, November 24, 2015.
Three Stars
The synopsis of The
Edge of Lost states that this novel is about a guard’s daughter that has
gone missing on Alcatraz, but that is a little misleading. The girl’s
disappearance bookends the novel, but it is really about an Irish immigrant to
America who attempts to stay true to his beliefs, regardless of the challenges
he faces. Shan travels from Dublin, having never known his family, with the
exception of an abusive uncle. Alone on Ellis Island, he is taken in by the
Capello family, who lost their son Tommy on their journey home to Italy.
At first, Shan struggles to fit in with the Capellos,
but when he gives up on the idea of finding his father, he realizes that taking
on the role of Tommy Capello will give him a second chance at life. Initially,
he uses deception for survival, but eventually he comes to love the Capellos,
who in turn adore him as a true son and brother. McMorris is great at building
strong characters, and you would have to be pretty cold-hearted to not care
about Shan/Tommy and his new family.
Shan bonds especially with his adoptive brother Nick.
As the boys get older, Nick pulls away from his family to make his own way,
while Shan works with their father and prepares to take over the family
business. It is an interesting example of nature vs. nurture, as the boys are
raised in the same home, but grow into dramatically different men with opposite
ethical values – eventually, Shan seems to fit in better with the Capellos than
Nick does.
Regardless of the growing distance between the two
young men, their bond remains strong. The novel moves from family drama to
fast-paced mystery, in the underworld of clubs and gangsters during prohibition
in New York. The scenes felt realistic, in the dark and gritty world of the
mob. When Nick gets himself into trouble, Shan takes the fall and risks
everything for his brother – and ends up on Alcatraz.
The Edge of Lost is a fun, heartwarming historical
novel, as long as you can suspend disbelief. The ending is all too perfect, but
kind of inevitable, too. It was a good, light read with plenty of entertainment
and excitement. I just wished for more Alcatraz!
I received this novel from Kensington Publishing and
NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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