Wednesday 25 July 2018

Review: The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris


On a cold night in October 1937, searchlights cut through the darkness around Alcatraz. A prison guard’s only daughter—one of the youngest civilians who lives on the island—has gone missing. Tending the warden’s greenhouse, convicted bank robber Tommy Capello waits anxiously. Only he knows the truth about the little girl’s whereabouts, and that both of their lives depend on the search’s outcome.

Almost two decades earlier and thousands of miles away, a young boy named Shanley Keagan ekes out a living as an aspiring vaudevillian in Dublin pubs. Talented and shrewd, Shan dreams of shedding his dingy existence and finding his real father in America. The chance finally comes to cross the Atlantic, but when tragedy strikes, Shan must summon all his ingenuity to forge a new life in a volatile and foreign world.

Skilfully weaving these two stories, Kristina McMorris delivers a compelling novel that moves from Ireland to New York to San Francisco Bay. As her finely crafted characters discover the true nature of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal, they are forced to confront the lies we tell—and believe—in order to survive.


Paperback, 340 pages
Published November 24th 2015 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Terri's Thoughts

As a huge fan of Kristina McMorris, this book has been on my to read list for a long time now.  I finally purchased it is audio form and have finally finished it.  Let me tell you that it was worth the wait!

Anyone who has read McMorris' work knows that she has a way to weave a story in a way that is both seamless and captivating.  From the very first words, I was hooked and needed to know what would happen to both Tommy and Shanley.  I must admit that it took may way too long to realise how these stories connect, in fact I feel a little silly as it is really obvious however I will not reveal any spoilers.

This story was essentially about the bonds that tie people together and the lengths they would go to in order to protect one another.  It is really quite beautiful as I sit here and absorb everything now that the story is done.  While perhaps a little far fetched, you believe it while engrossed within the pages.

As I am late to the party I am sure that most fans of McMorris have already read this story however if you have not, please pick it up and enjoy.  In fact pick all of her books up and you will not be disappointed.  As an author that I discovered purely by accident while browsing a book store, she has gone on to become one of my tried and true go to authors.

About the Author


KRISTINA MCMORRIS is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She's the recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, as well as nominations for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Kensington Books, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins. Her forthcoming novel, Sold on a Monday (Sourcebooks Landmark, Sept. 2018), follows her widely praised The Edge of Lost, The Pieces We Keep, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and Letters from Home. Additionally, her novellas are featured in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central. Prior to her writing career, Kristina hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland's "40 Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Pacific Northwest, where she is working on her next novel.


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