Under the Stars - an engaging story filled with family drama, a mystery from the past, and a bit of romance.

Meredith Fisher, an award-winning actress, is facing a decline in her career. She has been offered a role that could put her back in the limelight, but her drinking has made her too high a risk unless she gets help. Her daughter, Audrey, is the only one who can ensure she receives the proper attention. Audrey had been running a restaurant with her husband, who recently vanished with all her savings, leaving her in debt. Meredith and Audrey head to their family summer home on New York's Winthrop Island, where Audrey removes all the liquor, bringing it all to the Mohegan Inn, which is run by her father, Mike, whom she hasn't seen in years. The story shifts to 1993, focusing on Meredith and her relationship with Mike. A third storyline takes place in 1846, leading up to the Thanksgiving Day shipwreck of the Steamship Atlantic. A young servant flees to sea following the suspicious death of her employer, famed painter Henry Irving, with a detective on her tail with a warrant for her arrest. In the present, a trunk filled with paintings long hidden in the cellar of the Mohegan Inn is found.

Winthrop Island has been the setting of three previous novels by one of my favorite authors, Beatriz Williams. In her fourth book set in this appealing location, Williams blends the present and the past, filling the pages with family drama, mystery, and a touch of romance. While Under the Stars stands on its own, Williams treats loyal readers with fun Easter eggs and has brought back Mallory and Monk Adams, the main characters from Husbands & Lovers, now in supporting roles. This is also the first time the author has incorporated a real historical event into the narrative. The wreck of the Steamship Atlantic was one of the worst early maritime disasters in New England, claiming about half its passengers. After a boiler explosion, it smashed into Fishers Island, located on the eastern end of New York's Long Island Sound, the inspiration for Winthrop Island. Williams is a great storyteller, and I am delighted to have another book of hers to recommend for an enjoyable summer read.

Many thanks to Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its release date.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary & Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: July 29, 2025.

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