The Latecomers

By: Helen Klein Ross

Narrated by: Polly Lee, Vanessa Johansson, Robert Petkoff, Lauren Fortgang, Kevin T. Collins, Sarah Franco, Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of What Was Mine - a deeply moving family drama about a young Irish immigrant, an ancestral home in New England, and a dark secret that lay hidden in its walls for five generations.

In 1908, 16-year-old Bridey runs away from her small town in Ireland with her same-age sweetheart, Thom. But when Thom dies suddenly of ship fever on their ocean crossing, Bridey finds herself alone and pregnant in a strange new world.

Forced by circumstance to give up the baby for adoption, Bridey finds work as a maid for the Hollingworth family at a lavish, sprawling estate. It's the dawn of a new century: Innovative technologies are emerging, women's roles are changing, and Bridey is emboldened by the promise of a fresh start. She cares for the Hollingworth children as if they were her own, until a mysterious death changes Bridey and the household forever.

For decades, the terrible secrets of Bridey's past continue to haunt the family. In the present day, the youngest Hollingworth makes a connection that finally brings these dark ghost stories into the light.

Told in interweaving timelines and rich with detailed history, romance, and dark secrets, Helen Klein Ross' The Latecomers spans a century of America life and reminds us all we can never truly leave the past behind.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Helen Klein Ross (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"A triumph of storytelling, The Latecomers is a brilliantly researched and masterly told chronicle of the decades and generations in one immigrant's journey - and the deeply guarded alliances and secrets kept along the way. Ross has written a novel brimming with historical resonance, a riveting read infused with subtle wit and great intelligence." (Kate Walbert, author of His Favorites and A Short History of Women)

"A born story-teller, a brilliant writer, a century of American history, and an old house that has witnessed secrets, betrayals, love and death, read the first page and I dare you to stop. With The Latecomers, Helen Klein Ross has outdone herself." (Abigail Thomas, author of A Three Dog Life and What Comes Next and How to Like It)

"A pair of devastating secrets twists and turns through this riveting, multigenerational novel of a wealthy east coast family and the Irish maid who served them. The Latecomers is about money, identity, and desire - but above all, it's about the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love." (Dawn Raffel, author of The Strange Case of Dr. Couney)

Family saga

A big, sweeping family saga kind of book. Lots of characters, but easy to follow. The only complaint I have is the choppiness of the narrative; there are sections that jump forward and back in time, and there are sections that seemed inconsequential to the broad view of the story. But it kept my interest, and all of the narrators were good.

Enjoyable

This was a book chosen by our book club. It took me a few chapters to get into it but then sped through it. I found the characters engaging and familiar. I looked forward to get back to the book. While there was some frustrating non-revelations, I realized after they actually made sense and made the story richer.
Enjoy!

Just couldn't put this book down. Birdee was such

Just couldn't put this book down. Birdee was such a lovely person. it shows how life continues to go on, however; it shows that life continues to repeat itself from generation to generation.

Disappointing

Very disappointing after reading the book summary. I thought there would be more mystery. I kept waiting for it to get to the point where I couldn’t stop listening, but it never got there.