1901. Immigrants lap at the American shores as relentlessly as the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.  Ellis Island Superintendent Joseph Hannegan stands alone in trying to protect the interest of the immigrants-- and of this country-- against the rampant corruption overtaking the immigration station.  As yet another scandal ufolds, Hannegan believes he may finally have enough evidence to rout crooked Assistant Commissioner Edward McNabb.  But when young Irish immigrant Maggie Flynn steps off the ferry and shoots her fiance on Ellis Island soil, Hannegan's mission is derailed.  Naive and frightened, Maggie refuses to explain herself, and the victim's body has inexplicably disappeared.  What begins as an annoying distraction soon grows into a web of lies shocking even to the toughest Tammany politician and unbearably painful to Joseph Hannegan.  With the help of women's matron Rachel Bonner, he must solve the murder or sacrifice all he holds dear.   Set in the vibrant New York of the Gilded Age, the novel flows throughout the halls of Ellis Island into the colorful tenements of the Lower East Side and the sedate luxury of Lexington Avenue.  Rich in history, character, mystery and romance, Bitter Tide carries the reader on waves of suspense to the last page.

"Corruption, political machinations, and Tammany Hall bigwigs add color and realism to this poignant tale. The reader is captured from the first page to the last as Joseph and Rachel race against time to save Maggie Flynn's life. Packed with historical details about immigrant life, this is an essential read."                                                                                                            Library Journal starred review