On Hurricane Island

On Hurricane Island by Ellen Meeropol, published by Red Hen Press in 2015, is a 272-page work that delves into the complexities of political tension and personal conflict. As a major hurricane approaches the northeast, the narrative follows math professor Gandalf Cohen, who is abducted by federal agents and taken to a secret interrogation center off the coast of Maine. The story unfolds through the perspectives of various characters, including Austin Coombs, a newly hired civilian guard, and Henry Ames, the FBI special agent overseeing Gandalf’s case, who grapples with doubts about the professor’s alleged terrorist ties.

Readers will encounter a fast-paced political thriller that also serves as a literary exploration of the sociopolitical issues surrounding national security and governmental power. The narrative is set against the backdrop of the anniversary of 9/11, raising questions about the extent of government authority in the name of safety and the implications of surveillance and interrogation practices. Through the experiences of its characters, On Hurricane Island examines the choices individuals must make in the face of moral dilemmas and external pressures, all while a storm looms both literally and figuratively.