A Bridge Across the Ocean

By: Susan Meissner

Narrated by: Kim Bubbs

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

Wartime intrigue spans the lives of three women - past and present - in this emotional novel from the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War. 

February, 1946. World War Two is over, but the recovery from the most intimate of its horrors has only just begun for Annaliese Lange, a German ballerina desperate to escape her past, and Simone Deveraux, the wronged daughter of a French Résistance spy. 

Now the two women are joining hundreds of other European war brides aboard the renowned RMS Queen Mary to cross the Atlantic and be reunited with their American husbands. Their new lives in the United States brightly beckon until their tightly held secrets are laid bare in their shared stateroom. When the voyage ends at New York Harbor, only one of them will disembark.... 

Present day. Facing a crossroads in her own life, Brette Caslake visits the famously haunted Queen Mary at the request of an old friend. What she finds will set her on a course to solve a 70-year-old tragedy that will draw her into the heartaches and triumphs of the courageous war brides - and will ultimately lead her to reconsider what she has to sacrifice to achieve her own deepest longings. 

©2017 Susan Meissner (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“I was utterly spellbound, beguiled, swept up in this ghostly mystery.” (Jamie Ford, New York Times best-selling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet)

“A beguiling tapestry of storytelling and a unique look at one of history’s most enigmatic ships.” (Sarah McCoy, New York Times best-selling author of The Mapmaker’s Children)

Don't like ghost stories

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If I had known it was about Ghost I would not have purchased. I think there needs to be something in description explaining that it is. Love the writer just not this story.

Only half of this book was good

If I could omit the "now" character Brete, it would be an ok book. Brete was a whining, annoying, pathetic, selfish character. The stories told from the past were much better.

I loved Secrets of a Charmed Life! But, don't get this book if you think it will be as good as that. I was disappointed.

Loved it!!

What a great story. All of them rolled into one makes such a good story. Also a lot to ponder and think on. And yes it had me too! Characters well done. Narrator excellent!! Loved the different stories the age and the feelings it evokes.

Spirits...

I love Susan’s books, but this one just sat uncomfortable with me talking about spirits. I’m a spiritual person, believe in spirits good and bad..just don’t want to “mess” with them.

Fantastic

I loved it the voice of the narrator was very captivating, the story was absolutely enchanting I was hooked to the end.

It's a ghost story

I usually love her books but this was soooo disappointing - I wish the summary had said it was about ghost!

It is about ghosts

I do wish the description had mentioned it is about ghosts. I that said I probably wouldn’t have listened to it. But once I started I couldn’t turn it off. It’s the best episode of the ghost whisperer you can imagine.

Very enjoyable

Loved both the performance and the story. I thought the author tied all of the characters together beautifully. Great ending!

On the fence

Enjoyed the story and the weaving together of past and present characters. However, the vehicle used to accomplish this—ghosts—was farfetched and off-putting to me.

Another Great One!

I have loved every book written by Susan Messiner and this is no exception. I am always leary if there are trigger warning type scenes in a book. This author, however, doesn't put those rough parts in without purpose. They always have an instrumental part in the story that shows the true struggle of humanity and especially as it is related to the time period in which the story takes place.

This story has a unique twist in the telling of a story and a time where loss was overbearing. When there seemed to be little hope new life and hope are found and lives are forever changed and people are grown. This book truly is another great one!