Storms Gather Between Us
In 1937, having left Australia due to the infamy caused by his father’s actions, young seaman Will Kidd is serving on cargo ships plying their trade between Liverpool and Africa. Although enjoying the pleasures found in seaports, Will suffers under a disciplinarian bosun who despises him and attempts to curtail his career.
In Liverpool, Hannah Dawson lives in a strictly controlled household under her religious and abusive father. After enduring business losses, he concocts a despicable financial recovery scheme that involves Hannah. Will had known Hannah’s aunt in Australia. In an amazing coincidence, Hannah and Will meet at a Liverpool beach. It’s love at first sight, but Will has to act quickly to enact his plans, hoping to counteract Hannah’s father’s scheme and escape the looming war.
Although this novel follows Flynn’s A Greater World (2018), it can stand alone, since the characters’ backstories are introduced non-intrusively. Will’s exploits on the seas and in coastal regions, notably Zanzibar and Naples, and Hannah’s confined life and mannerisms in pre-WWII Liverpool are presented vividly, displaying the author’s talent and extensive research. The descriptions of the sea voyages and locales are undoubtedly based on Flynn’s travels. The novel’s skillful plot elucidates the harsh treatment of some women during the period. Readers will look forward to the sequel. Recommended.
