Whiskey Island [Mass Market Paperback]

Emilie Richards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

Once a gathering place of Irish immigrants, Whiskey Island Saloon is now home to three sisters whose lives have been shaped by a 100-year-old secret. Megan Donaghue's chance encounter with Niccolo Andreani sets off a series of events leading back to a century-old murder and Megan's family's long-forgotten past.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A multifaceted charmer, Richards's latest family saga (after Beautiful Lies)intertwines two dramas, separated by a century and linked together by the 1880s journal of Father Patrick McSweeney. The book opens in the year 2000 when the Donaghue sisters reunite at the family-owned Whiskey Island Saloon near Lake Erie. Each sister has problems: Megan is single-handedly running the saloon while waiting for their alcoholic father to find his way home after a mysterious disappearance; Casey has returned after a 10-year absence with somebody's frightened toddler in tow; and Peggy has dropped her plans to enter medical school for reasons she cannot share with her sisters. Spiraling back 120 years in time, the reader is then dropped into the world of Irish immigrants Lena and Terence Tierney. After an accident leaves Terence deformed and jobless, Lena secures a position in a wealthy man's kitchenAbut soon learns her employer wants more from her than cooking. Lena turns to Father McSweeney for help, a move that sets into motion a series of events that seamlessly knits together the two stories and reveals a long-buried secret. Though the dialogue can be overly dense, Richards's characters evince impressive depth, and her blend of old and modern makes for a pleasant deviation from the standard historical novel. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Emilie Richards is "a storyteller who uses multidimensional players to lend credibility to storybook situations".

-- The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Mira (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551665700
• ISBN-13: 978-1551665702
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #788,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the author of 60 something novels. I find relationships fascinating and write about them no matter what genre I'm exploring at the moment.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A secret kept for over a century, July 24, 2000

By 

C. M. Chen (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whiskey Island (Mass Market Paperback)

Whiskey Island is the compelling story of the Donaghue sisters whose past is full of pain but whose history is about to be traced back to three men whose love for Lena Tierney irrevocably sets in motion a chain of events that lead to a terrible tragedy and a horrifying scandal.

Niccolo Andreani, a former priest, agrees to transcribe the journal kept by Father Patrick McSweeney who valiantly tended to his flock of Irish immigrants over a hundred years ago. Niccolo finds himself with more questions than answers when he comes into contact with the Donaghue sisters, the little girl under their protection, and the old man who harbors the truth to a murder that took place years ago. An old man who might be their father.

Richards has crafted a powerful story as she allows readers to become acquainted with characters from the present as well as the past. The length of this novel is appropriate because it gives the author the means of exploring the lives of the Donaghues of the present and, more importantly, the struggle endured by the Tierneys. A tragic struggle witnessed years ago by their best friend, Rowan Donaghue, and counseled by their priest, Patrick McSweeney.

The characterizations, drawn by Richards, of all these people are strong and distinctive. Her audience will be swept away by the powerful history of Whiskey Island and the intrigue of its present state. Furthermore, the author has so intricately intertwined the two to create a story whose development will have you turning pages in anticipation and feeling bittersweet, yet satisfied, with its conclusion.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Whiskey Island" - A marvelous story, June 8, 2000

By 

M. Lembach "mlembach" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whiskey Island (Mass Market Paperback)

A marvelous story about three strong, resourceful, but very different, Irish American sisters. "Whiskey Island", an Irish Pub located in Cleveland, is the heart of the story which stretches from the original Irish immigrants until today. There are several wonderful romances, a suspenseful murder and a keen look at family relationships. I found myself so caught up in this book that I tried to read it and cook dinner!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, May 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Whiskey Island (Mass Market Paperback)

Whiskey Island was a terrific read-Lots of twists and turns of the characters you thought you were beginning to know. All the while educating you on the Irish immigrant and other topics. I dont't want to mention as I want you to be as surprise as I was. Ms. Richards is a facinating story teller. I am anxious to read another book authored by her to see if it was because of the subject matter or if she is indeed a good as I think she might be.