Island of Tears (Paperback)

On January 1, 1892, the first immigrant ship arrived on Ellis Island. But what often awaited those on board were corrupt government officials, ruthless sweatshop owners, and callous slumlords, all eager to exploit the immigrants' plight for their own profit. Harper's Weekly contributor and dime novelist Marshall Webb finds himself embroiled in this world after an encounter with young Christina Van de Waals. A newly arrived Dutch immigrant, Christina hopes to become a singer -- but vanishes without a trace before getting a chance to pursue her dream. And soon, what began as background research for Webb's next book becomes an obsessive concern for her safety. Joining forces with reformer Rebecca Davies, Webb determines to prove that justice can't be bought.