The brilliant and acclaimed New York Times bestseller from the author of The Women and When the Killing s Done Just off the coast of Southern California, two families one in the 1880s and one in the 1930s come to desolate, windswept San Miguel Island in search of self-reliance, freedom, and a new start in their lives. Both Marantha Waters and Elise Lester strive to help their war veteran husbands pursue their dreams but must themselves grapple with the more nebulous hardships of raising a family in brutal isolation. Boyle skillfully captures that tension-filled quietude ( The New Times Book Review ) in this lyrical, intimate, and unforgettable novel."