by Cathy Gohlke

Maureen O’Rielly and her younger sister flee Ireland in hopes of connecting with Colonel Wakefield in America, who had promised their father, 20 years previously via a letter, to help them any time they were in need.  When they arrived in Ellis Island, Maureen’s sister had to stay in the hospital on the island.  Maureen was torn, she didn’t want to leave her sister, but she had to find the Wakefield’s and a job.

As it turns out the Colonel was dead, and the son-in-law threw Maureen out without consulting his sister-in-law, Olivia.  Olivia discovers evidence that Maureen O’Rielly’s father was truly connected to her father and sets out to find Maureen.  In the mean time, Maureen finds a job where her co-workers start mysteriously disappearing.  Maureen has suspicions and goes to great lengths to find out what has happened to them. Band of Sisters tells of the mistreatment of newly immigrated women and of an American group of women banded together to help them.