“Through Sarah’s eyes, the reader learns about the least appreciated tragedy of the American Revolutionary War…
…the British prison ships off the New York waterfront. I found myself deeply immersed in the world that Hulse has created, with dialogue and historical situations that are both accurate and highly engaging. Prisoner of Wallabout Bay shows that it is possible to tell an engrossing story without sacrificing historical reality.”
— Denver Brunsman, Chairman of the History Department at George Washington University and author of The Evil Necessity: British Naval Impressment in the Eighteenth-Century Atlantic World
“Love proves to be a powerful motivator in perilous times…
…as the storyline of Jane Hulse’s historical fiction novel shows. She uses the turning point of the American War of Independence to set the backdrop for an amazing adventure story. Her characters are well-rounded, with interesting backstories and multifaceted depth from a combination of imaginative writing and well-documented research. Hulse’s attention to detail is impressive. This reflects in the conversations between the characters and her descriptions of the era-accurate mindset at the time regarding the diminished expectations of women in a male-dominated society. I could not help feeling sympathy toward the emotional and ideological battle Mrs. Barrett fights because of her daughter’s choices and concern for the pressure Lt. Pritchard must deal with while discharging his duties. All of these come together nicely to create the immersive and riveting story of Prisoner of Wallabout Bay. This is an exceptional novel by all standards.”
— Essien Asian for Readers’ Favorite
☆☆☆☆
"If you’ve never been to New York City in 1776, Jane Hulse’s Prisoner of Wallabout Bay will take you there.
Fueled by a propulsive, spy-versus-spy plot, the book is narrated by young Sarah Barrett, a bold, singularly ambitious would-be journalist navigating her way between the forces of the British Crown and George Washington’s rebels. With its broad cast of lively characters, vivid descriptions of daily life in the roiling city, and impressive, meticulous research, the novel plunges the reader into a series of perilous adventures, at the same time opening our eyes to a little-known war crime that still haunts our history.
— Ellen Pall, author of more than a dozen novels including Must Read Well and Among the Ginzburgs
“An atmospheric and historical tale that follows one quick-witted and compassionate young woman on a quest to save prisoners’ lives.
Prisoner of Wallabout Bay by Jane Hulse completely sucked me in. I was enthralled by the characters, setting, and atmosphere. I adored the sense of adventure that Hulse created through the feisty and no-nonsense main character, Sarah. She was the perfect heroine — smart, witty, and compassionate. Sarah had a passion for writing and hoped to change the world around her through journalism. I really loved this aspect of the book and the importance that Hulse obviously put on writing being able to change the course of history and shed light on a vast range of topics. I feel that this is exactly what she has achieved with this book herself. Plus, what young woman doesn’t enjoy reading about a spirited leading lady who has more things to accomplish in life than marriage? I certainly enjoy it!
Aside from the characterization, I really loved the setting. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book set in the 1700s, and this one was delightfully authentic. The descriptions of taverns, common sickness, and traditional society really intrigued me. I could imagine myself walking the cobbled streets in long dresses and writing in a diary by candlelight. It absolutely got me into the headspace of being a young woman in this time period and the trials and tribulations that came with that. Furthermore, the politics were an added bonus - I didn’t know too much about the Rebels or the war itself before reading this book, so it was fantastic to learn about the history in such a digestible and vibrant way.
Finally, the plot. This book had it all; romance, tragedy, drama, and high-stakes. It was very readable and fast-paced — I read it all in a day! The only let-down for me was one of the characters (Emma), who I found to be quite insufferable to read about and found myself having to pause to take a deep breath.
— Rhona Bowie for Reedsy
☆☆☆☆