Beatriz Williams returns to her fictional Winthrop Island with Under the Stars, a sweeping historical fiction that masterfully weaves together past and present in ways that feel both inevitable and surprising. This dual-timeline narrative follows three women across two centuries, connected by art, family secrets, and the tragic wreck of the steamship Atlantic in 1846.
In the present day, we meet Audrey Fisher, a talented chef struggling to emerge from the shadow of her famous actress mother, Meredith Fisher. Both women reluctantly return to Winthrop Island—Audrey to help her mother through recovery from alcoholism, and both to confront their complicated past with Mike Kennedy, Audrey’s estranged father who runs the local Mohegan Inn. When Audrey discovers a mysterious collection of paintings in Mike’s basement, their lives become intertwined with a centuries-old mystery.
The historical thread follows Providence Dare, a young woman fleeing Boston in 1846 aboard the luxury steamship Atlantic, one step ahead of detective John Starkweather, who suspects her involvement in the death of renowned painter Henry Irving. As the ship battles a devastating storm, Providence finds herself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse while fighting for survival.
Character Development: Complex Women Across Time
Williams excels at creating complex, flawed characters who feel authentically human. Audrey emerges as a compelling protagonist—professionally accomplished yet emotionally vulnerable, trying to forge her own identity while dealing with family trauma and a recent divorce. Her relationship with food serves as both her professional calling and emotional anchor, and Williams captures the precision and passion of culinary artistry with convincing detail.
Meredith Fisher presents a fascinating study in fame’s consequences. Williams avoids the trap of making her simply a stereotypical difficult celebrity mother. Instead, she reveals layers of vulnerability beneath Meredith’s glamorous exterior, showing how past choices and traumas have shaped her relationship with both alcohol and her daughter. The scenes depicting her recovery process feel genuine and avoid easy redemption arcs.
Providence Dare, the historical protagonist, captivates with her intelligence and resilience. Williams brings nineteenth-century Boston to vivid life through Providence’s eyes, creating a character who feels both of her time and remarkably modern. Her relationship with the mysterious Henry Irving and the subsequent events that force her onto the Atlantic create compelling narrative tension.
The male characters, while less central, serve important functions. Mike Kennedy emerges as more than the stereotypical rough bartender, revealing depths of regret and enduring love. John Starkweather, the detective pursuing Providence, develops from apparent antagonist into something more complex and sympathetic.
Historical Research Meets Compelling Fiction
Williams demonstrates impressive historical research in her recreation of the Atlantic disaster. The shipwreck sequences pulse with authentic detail and genuine terror, bringing to life the heroic efforts of Captain Dustan and his crew. Williams clearly studied survivor accounts and period sources, yet never allows historical accuracy to overshadow compelling storytelling.
The nineteenth-century Boston art world comes alive through Williams’s evocative descriptions. Her fictional painter Henry Irving feels authentic to the period, and the circumstances surrounding his death—loosely based on a real tragedy involving the poet Longfellow’s wife—add genuine emotional weight to the historical narrative.
The author’s note reveals the extensive research behind the novel, citing numerous primary and secondary sources about the Atlantic disaster and nineteenth-century steamship travel. This scholarly foundation gives the historical sections their convincing authority.
Dual Timeline Structure: Ambitious but Uneven
Williams handles the dual timeline structure with general skill, creating meaningful parallels between past and present that mostly avoid feeling contrived. The paintings serve as an effective bridge between eras, and the gradual revelation of Providence’s story maintains suspense effectively.
However, the pacing occasionally suffers from this ambitious structure. Some present-day sections feel less urgent compared to the life-and-death drama of the shipwreck, creating an inevitable imbalance. The contemporary subplot involving Audrey’s relationship with neighbor Sedge Peabody, while charming, sometimes feels secondary to the more compelling historical mystery.
The transitions between timelines generally work well, though a few feel abrupt. Williams is most successful when she allows the historical sections to build momentum before cutting back to the present, rather than switching too frequently.
Romance Elements: Strengths and Weaknesses
The romantic elements receive mixed success. The developing relationship between Audrey and Sedge Peabody has genuine chemistry and develops naturally from friendship. Williams avoids insta-love, allowing their connection to build through shared experiences and mutual respect.
The historical romance between Providence and John Starkweather proves more problematic. While Williams attempts to develop their relationship amid the ship’s crisis, the enemies-to-lovers arc feels somewhat rushed given the extreme circumstances. Their attraction lacks the slow burn that might make it more convincing.
The most compelling romantic thread may be the rekindled relationship between Meredith and Mike. Williams captures the complexity of former lovers with shared history and a child, showing how past hurt and enduring attraction can coexist.
Writing Style: Atmospheric and Engaging
Williams writes with the polished confidence of an experienced novelist. Her prose flows smoothly between the contemporary sections’ casual intimacy and the historical narrative’s more formal period voice. She particularly excels at atmospheric description—the storm-tossed Atlantic sequences and the New England island setting both feel viscerally real.
The dialogue generally feels natural, though occasionally the contemporary characters speak with slightly more polish than seems realistic. Williams captures Audrey’s professional chef vocabulary convincingly, and the period dialogue maintains authenticity without becoming overly archaic.
One notable strength is Williams’s ability to convey information without obvious exposition dumps. The art history, maritime details, and family background emerge naturally through character interactions and discoveries.
Themes: Family Legacy and Hidden Truths
Under the Stars explores several resonant themes with considerable depth. The idea that family secrets echo across generations drives much of the plot, and Williams shows how past choices continue to influence present lives in complex ways.
The nature of artistic creation and the relationship between artist and subject receives thoughtful treatment through the Irving paintings. Williams examines how art can simultaneously reveal and conceal truth, and how interpretation changes across time and perspective.
The theme of women finding their own identities despite family expectations runs through both timelines. Both Audrey and Providence struggle to define themselves independently of the men and circumstances that constrain them, with varying degrees of success.
Minor Criticisms
While generally successful, Under the Stars has some minor weaknesses. The contemporary sections occasionally feel less vital than the historical drama, particularly in the middle portions. Some plot conveniences—such as the paintings’ perfect preservation and the manuscript’s survival—strain credibility slightly.
The resolution, while satisfying, wraps up perhaps too neatly. Some of the family revelations feel somewhat predictable, and certain character arcs conclude more smoothly than the complexity of the situations might warrant.
The book’s length works both for and against it. Williams has space to develop her characters and historical setting thoroughly, but some present-day scenes could benefit from tightening.
Connection to Williams’s Other Works
Under the Stars represents Williams’s fourth return to Winthrop Island, following The Summer Wives, The Golden Hour, and most recently Husbands & Lovers. Readers familiar with these previous novels will appreciate the continued development of the island’s fictional history and the appearance of familiar family names.
For newcomers to Williams’s work, this novel serves as an excellent introduction to her style and interests. It showcases her strengths in dual timeline storytelling, complex female characters, and atmospheric historical recreation without requiring knowledge of the previous books.
Similar Reading Recommendations
Readers who enjoy Under the Stars might appreciate:
- Kate Morton’s novels – particularly The Forgotten Garden and The Secret Keeper for similar dual timeline mysteries involving family secrets
- Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women – for another story of women’s resilience in the face of historical tragedy
- Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds – for comparable historical fiction featuring strong female protagonists during crisis
- Susanna Kearsley’s The King’s Messenger – for dual timeline historical fiction with romantic elements
- Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife – for similar treatment of real historical events through fictional characters
Final Verdict
Under the Stars succeeds as both an engaging page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of family, art, and historical tragedy. Williams demonstrates her maturity as a novelist in handling complex themes and multiple storylines while maintaining narrative momentum.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its vivid recreation of the Atlantic disaster and its examination of how past secrets continue to influence present lives. While the contemporary sections occasionally lack the urgency of the historical drama, the overall effect is satisfying and emotionally resonant.
For readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters, family mysteries, and atmospheric settings, Under the Stars delivers a compelling reading experience. Williams has crafted another solid addition to her Winthrop Island series that both satisfies longtime fans and welcomes new readers to her fictional world.
Under the Stars ultimately succeeds in its ambitious scope, proving that the past and present remain more connected than we might imagine, and that some stories demand to be told across centuries.
