Island Of Tears

Marshall Webb and Rebecca Davies #1

by Troy Soos

Set in the year 1892, a powerful mystery follows Harper's Weekly contributor and dime novelist Marshall Webb as he encounters a young Dutch girl who then disappears from Ellis Island moments after she arrives, and when his investigation takes him to reformer Rebecca Davies, he is introduced to a world of white slavery and murder where the rich and powerful will do anything to protect their illegal enterprises.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, 19th Century

280 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

Troy Soos is a writer and teacher based in Winter Park, Florida. Soos is best known for his "Mickey Rawlings" series of historical baseball novels (seven books set from 1912 to 1923). He also authored a four-book historical mystery series set in 1890s New York featuring Marshall Webb and Rebecca Davies. Soos has written a nonfiction history of early New England baseball history, "Before the Curse," and two mystery short stories ("Pick-Off Play" and "Decision of the Umpire") now available as e-books. His newest release is "The Tomb That Ruth Built," the seventh in the Mickey Rawlings series (published March 2014).
Series:
* Mickey Rawlings
* Marshall Webb and Rebecca Davies

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Troy Soos baseball mystery series featuring ballplayers turned sleuth Mickey Rawlings. Soos paints an accurate picture of the era making Rawlings an enjoyable read. Having finished the series with no future installments in sight, I turned to Soos other series taking place in 1890s New York. Here we meet writer turned sleuth Marshall Webb as he hopes to unravel the mystery of the disappearance of fourteen year old Christina van der Waals, one of the first immigrants to step foot on Ellis Island. Readers discover some of the pressing issues of the day- police graft, the need for child labor reform, and the poor treatment of people who aren’t WASP males. Along the way, Webb encounters photographers at the dawn of the motion picture age and a woman’s rights crusader named Rebecca Davies who seems to be a future love interest. While not quite at the level of Mickey Rawlings, Soos paints a convincing picture of the 1890s, smack dab in an era I love to read about. As I respect the author, I gained enough from Webb and Davies first installment to come back for the rest of the series.

🗽. 3.5 stars 🍎

[Susan Keene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book Island of Tears by Troy Soos due to its subject matter.The story of immigrants leaving their homelands to a new world, is a piece of history that I find intriguing. This period of time at the end of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century are ripe with stories of immigrants coming to America. More than one million arrived in 1907 alone. My intrigue is due to my personal family heritage. My fraternal grandparents immigrated to America in 1912 traveling in steerage three months apart. My father was born here in Missouri making him first generation immigrant. So, when I was born I was a second generation immigrant. My curiosity was triggered some years back and I wondered about that entire experience and what that must have been like.
Much like today there are different amenities and treatment of people of different status. Those who have means travelled first or second class on board ship. Those of lower class and of lesser means were steerage. I did come to learn that those well to-do entered into the country with no restrictions or need to provide personal information and disembarked directly on the mainland. Those in steerage were not allowed to disembark until medical personnel found them safe to enter. Then and only then they were allowed to enter by way of Ellis Island. At this point they were required to give personal information. Name, national origin, race, occupation, and destination. Most immigrants were fully aware of what lay ahead for them. Most had connections upon arrival. Someone present to meet you, or a service that provided transport by train to the intended destination. It is quite relevant that an immigrant traveling alone should have those details in place upon arrival. This story deals with such a situation where a relative had her arrival information destroyed by her cousin’s husband who did not want to be responsible for another. This story tells the reader exactly what could happen in such a situation. There were honest resources available for those not claimed and there were those who took advantage of those left alone and vulnerable. This story deals with both the good and the heartless , and what happens to our unclaimed immigrant, Christina, in the new world. It’s quite the tale. It gave me a clear understanding on the position of an immigrant, especially of a young girl to be in such a vulnerable position. One can only imagine.

[Abbey · Rating 2 out of 5]

ISLAND OF TEARS, Troy Soos, 2001, #1 Marshall Webb, reporter, Rebecca Davies, social worker, NYC 1892. At the Opening Day ceremonies at Ellis Island, a reporter makes the acquaintance of a nice young immigrant girl and decides to follow her story as she adapts to life in America. When a few days later he finds she's gone missing, he tries to track her down.

I very much enjoyed this author's earlier, baseball-centric historical mystery series: smoothly written, funny, AND baseball! Plots were good too. (and one of them was about my beloved Red Sox). His writing here is even better, richly plush, almost Victorian in its depth and complexity. But heavy, and dark. Excruciatingly dark.

I suspect the plot is a good one; there are likely lots of twists and many interesting characters. But I don't know for certain, and won't, since I will not be finishing this book. I read fifty pages and, sadly, must consider it as "Did Not Finish". This is far too dark and, yes, grubby for me, too much ugliness and dirty streets and truly foul people. This historical mystery may be true to its setting, it may be an accurate representation of the period as well. But I did not enjoy reading about it in those fifty pages; the book has over 200 pages total. But that's just me. YMMV.

[Sarai Hawkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk man 300+ pages and it never seemed to catch my interest. Mostly skimmed, especially toward the end.

[Jeff]

19th century immigrants, New York

[Janelle Moyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skimmed it then dropped it half way through. Waiting for it to grab me but never did.

[Michael Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Streets of Fire first abnd enjoyed Troy Soos's characterization of 1890's New York. It intrigued me to read the first of the series. I'm glad I did. I am disappointed that a new Mickey Rawlings mystery hasn't appeared, however I really like Marshall Webb. The story line about immigrants touched me. I hope next year to read a passage about the opening of Ellis Island to my U.S. History classes.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This an interesting concept for a mystery set in the late 19th century New York City: instead of a police detective, two private citizens defy a corrupt police department to try to solve the murder of an immigrant girl. The author certainly knows his milieu, and his attention to detail is half the fun of this book.

[K.B. Inglee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot like Victoria Thompsons work. Same period in New York City. Well born matron makes good by helping the less fortunate. Way more too it than that. I liked the protagonist, a writer for Harpers. KB

[grundoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any mourning over the (apparent) ending of the Mickey Rawlings series has pretty much been laid to rest at having finally run across this terrific period follower. Rampant corruption, immigrant slavery and, hey, bonus points for even working in a little TAEdison douchebaggery.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the historical detail of what New York was like circa 1892. At the same time, it was very sad how immigrants were treated, especially females. Another embarrassment in American history that most of us don't want to think about or admit.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the setting and plot and concept. Felt the writing unmotivated.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. This was hard to rate. Loved the historical setting and the plot - but felt it was lacking. Also felt the ending was rather anti-climatic.

[Glenda]

Pick up at the Dollar store today.

[Rebecca Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the description of New York City in the 1800's; both the physical and the socio-political/economic. Depressing but eye-opening. An easy read.

[Alen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good novel with an interesting story. It's not one of those books where you can guess what happens next. It had a good plot with an interesting twist.