On March 22, 1984, a commercial fishing boat named Wind Blown departed from Montauk, NY, its four white crew members hoping to return in a few days with a large haul of tilefish. Five days into the journey a nor’easter battered the area; Wind Blown and her crew did not return. In this fast-paced debut, Fairbanks (reporter, East Hampton Star) delves into “the improbable way in which these four men’s lives collided aboard the Wind Blown” and the lingering effects of the tragedy on the lives of their family, friends, and community. Fairbanks skillfully explains the socioeconomic context of Montauk and the commercial fishing industry, and explains how social class led the Wind Blown crew to become fishermen. She also describes the men’s complicated family ties; each of the men had a particularly troubled relationship with his father. Through interviews with family and friends of the crew, Fairbanks shows how the tragedy changed their lives and remains with them today. VERDICT Fairbanks deftly handles the story, with an eye for detail and page-turning prose. An evocative, well-researched, and compelling account, this highly recommended book will stay with readers past the last page.