A Mystery Book set in the United States around the Great Lakes region and Chicago during the early 20th century.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the treacherous waters of the Great Lakes and the bustling streets of early 20th century Chicago in a tale where maritime trade, personal identities, and the mysteries of human connections are intricately woven together.

The book begins with a legend of an Indian drum that beats to signal shipwrecks on the northern end of Lake Michigan. In 1895, the steel freighter Crayford mysteriously vanishes, making its disappearance an enduring myth. Among its lost crew, Benjamin Marshall's fate intertwines with the vanishing ship’s haunted legacy, leading to a story filled with maritime adventure and familial secrets.
The narrative shifts to Chicago, where Marshall, a prominent figure in the Great Lakes maritime trade, deals with his past's shadows. Once a shipbuilder, now a wealthy man, Marshall's erratic behavior during lake storms hints at deeper, unresolved traumas. Spearman, his strong-willed partner, becomes an antagonist in their tense business relationship. In the backdrop of a stormy February, Marshall's attempt to connect with his past and possibly atone for his perceived sins reveals intricate layers of his psyche and relationships.
Parallel to this, in Blue Rapids, Kansas, young Alan Conrad grows up with an obscure past connected to Marshall through intermittent financial support received from Chicago. Though the monetary aid ceases when Alan turns ten, his connection to Chicago persists, eventually roping him back to the city upon receiving a mysterious letter.

As the story unfolds, Alan's journey leads him to Constance Ryan, whose father is a partner of Benjamin Marshall. Alan learns that his ancestry ties back to Caleb Stafford, a rival of Marshall whose ship, the Crayford, had met a tragic fate orchestrated by treachery and ambition. Marshall’s confession, dictated to a priest named Father Perron, reveals a dark plot involving a severed towline, a life-or-death struggle on a stormy lake, and a community gripped by the haunted drum’s beats. Alan discovers that he is the surviving child of Stafford, saved and secreted away due to the Crayford disaster. His re-emergence and the revelations of Marshall's dying confession bridge the past and the present, uncovering old wounds and pathways to redemption. The book concludes with Alan confronting his identity and heredity, understanding his place amidst the somber and eerie settings of the Great Lakes’ maritime world.

• A captivating historical fiction novel set in the iconic Great Lakes region and Chicago
• Intriguing, complex characters facing personal and historical mysteries
• Expertly written maritime adventure intertwined with family secrets
• A richly atmospheric setting that brings early 20th century America to life
• Engaging plot that blends legend, history, and human drama
• Unraveling of deep-seated traumas and quests for redemption