On the cusp of World War II, Lilian Shepherd boards the Orontes in July of 1939 as part of England's assisted-passage scheme: a program intended to bring young women experienced in domestic employment to live in Sydney for two years. The voyage is thrilling, with dinners, dances, and cocktails, and the other guests (like the handsome yet somewhat mysterious Edward Fletcher) are intriguing, each with their own stories—and their own secrets. Things start out magical, but with so many people running from their pasts, the close quarters and blurred social structures begin to take their toll. Friendships are formed and tested, enemies are made, and by the time they dock in Australia, Lily will never be the same. Mystery, murder, and peril abound in this richly atmospheric historical fiction that you'll find impossible to put down.