The Latecomers

A multigenerational saga about an Irish immigrant who goes to work in a New England ancestral home is “a satisfying blend of historical and familial drama” (Publishers Weekly).

In 1908, sixteen-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. And 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 history, romance and dark secrets, Helen Klein Ross' The Latecomers spans a century of American life and reminds us all that we can never truly leave the past behind.

“An engrossingly rich, unforgettable read . . . I couldn't put it down.” —Lynn Cullen, author of Mrs. Poe and Twain's End

“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 triumph of storytelling.” —Kate Walbert, author of His Favorites and A Short History of Women