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Star of the Sea

by Joseph O'Connor

A famine crossing shadowed by old ties

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Awards & Recognition

  • Editorial selection

    A New York Times Notable Book

    Named a New York Times Notable Book.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A famine crossing shadowed by old ties

Set during the Irish famine of 1847, the novel brings a crowded group of refugees aboard a ship bound for New York. Their differing circumstances—including a maid’s secret and the presence of the bankrupt Lord Merridith, his wife, and their children—place class, displacement, and personal history in close quarters. A mystery involving a killer seeking vengeance runs alongside the passengers’ journey, while the description also points to themes of responsibility, love, and the possibility of beginning again. The Atlantic passage links the hope of a new destination with the unresolved burdens the travelers carry from Ireland.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in historical fiction about the Irish famine and migration to New York.
  • Readers who enjoy ensemble stories set aboard a ship, with a mystery woven through the journey.
  • Readers interested in themes of class, displacement, family ties, and personal responsibility.

Themes

Irish famine and migrationClass and injusticeVengeance and mysteryLove, responsibility, and renewal

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Award-winning author Joseph O'Connor's Star of the Sea is a New York Times Notable Book and "thoroughly gripping" (People) historical mystery.

In the bitter winter of 1847, from an Ireland torn by famine and injustice, the Star of the Sea sets sail for New York. On board are hundreds of refugees, some optimistic, many more desperate. Among them are a maid with a devastating secret, the bankrupt Lord Merridith, his wife and children, and a killer stalking the decks, hungry for the vengeance that will bring absolution.

This journey will see many lives end, others begin anew. Passionate loves are tenderly recalled, shirked responsibilities regretted too late, and profound relationships shockingly revealed. In this spellbinding tale of tragedy and mercy, love and healing, the farther the ship sails toward the Promised Land, the more her passengers seem moored to a past that will never let them go.

As urgently contemporary as it is historical, this exciting and compassionate novel builds with the pace of a thriller to a stunning conclusion.
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Customer reviews

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Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.