47 Sorrows

Several children have discovered what they think is a monster on the lakeshore.  Thaddeus Lewis and Francis Renwell go to investigate.  They discover the monster is the body of a woman; only later when the constable and doctor arrive do they discover that it is really a man.  The only identifying thing found on the body is a bit of green ribbon.

Meanwhile, Thaddeus' son Luke is heading home from the west.  Friends out there had asked him to deliver parcels and messages on the way home.  He is shocked to discover the number of poor immigrants who are arriving on the shores of Lake Ontario.  Shortly after Luke arrives, his father is sent to Kingston by his boss on an errand.  Luke joins him.  There they discover more Irish immigrants in dire straits.  Luke decides to stay to help.

Luke works hard helping the immigrants.  His efforts are appreciated by those that he helps.  As he reads the newspapers, he comes to the realisation that there are those taking advantage of the situation.  He feels he knows some of them, but he is unsure as to what they are doing. One of the deaths that Luke attends to is a man who only has a green ribbon on him.  Later, in the early fall, Luke receives a letter from his father that his mother has suffered a second stroke.  He asks Luke to return home.  Sadly, immediately upon his return home, his mother passes on.

Luke still has a few mysteries to solve.  He turns to his grieving father for help.  They get some answers back in Kingston, but they also create more questions.  They run into trouble as they continue their investigation and attempts to help the immigrants.

Author Janet Kellough's novel ends without a complete resolution.  Thaddeus goes home, while Luke heads for Montreal to study medicine, both knowing that they have personal issues to deal with.  Kellough unfortunately used the term "emigrants" throughout the novel when she really should have used "immigrants".  Other than that, a good, quick read.