Coming Soon
Missing Friends
Missing Friends is the story of a woman torn between her own ambitions, a missing seaman she married, and the wealthy speculator she didn’t.
Narrated through the correspondence of Catherine McGuirk, Missing Friends is her true-life journey from Ireland to the port of Sag Harbor, New York, in the 1840s. At the height of the whaling era, Cath meets and marries a handsome seaman just off a vessel. Once he leaves for the gold rush, Cath’s despair spurs her original quest to become a governess. After beginning again in New York City, Cath continues to be torn between her missing husband and being pursued by a wealthy speculator.
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Advance Praise for
“Missing Friends”
I will not be forgetting this anytime soon. I hope there will be more people who would end up loving it like I did. Loved some lines so much I highlighted them, not for this review, but for myself to revisit in the future. Quotes to turn to for guidance, quotes when giving advice to others. There are some heavy lines here that were done magnificently.
This is quite a masterpiece. You have something truly beautiful. I am so impressed with the writing, the story, and the emotions you were able to convey through letters. You have such a strong protagonist in Catherine. I love the voice you give her as well as her word choice when she shares experiences in her letters. The way you explain Catherine’s leaving is brilliant, raw, and flawless. I am in awe of how you express her mental state and her hardened heart.
I’d go as far as saying that it is one of the more impactful books I’ve read in some time because it was such a personal moving insight into the lives of ancestors. It is most certainly one of those books that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page. The prose was beautifully crafted and shines a light into the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. I’d have no qualms in recommending this book for readers seeking a moving and immersive reading experience!
I’d recommend it to readers of historical fiction. The epistolary format is an effective way to immerse the reader in this historical setting and in the emotionally driven story. The voices feel credible and engaging, and I sympathize with the way Cath dwells on her loneliness with a mix of fondness and resentment. I can see the research that’s gone into it, and I can feel myself in that era. It’s also neat to know that it’s based on a real story! I experienced real joy in seeing how Cath interacts with Melville and Whitman.
I do not typically prefer historical fiction; however, this captured my heart from the beginning and tears are still streaming down my face since finishing. It was extraordinarily well written, and captured my attention from sentence 1. Thank you for writing.
I did really enjoy this. The writing in this story is incredibly strong. I think what the author is trying to accomplish is incredible, and I love that these people were brought back to life, if only for a few hundred pages. They have not been forgotten, and they are still loved. Having the opportunity to look through all the resources at the end was incredible. I loved clicking through them to see what there was, and to know I could go visit these graves, visit these people if I wanted to, is mind-boggling.
About the Author
Susan McGuirk had a career in film reviewing and programming at a network and a museum. She has also worked for and served on the boards of several educational foundations. Her membership organizations include The Author’s Guild, The Historical Novel Society, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association.
