Dangerous Crossing

by Rachel Rhys

The book is about a ship that is sailing from England to Australia on the Eve of WWII.  The main character is a young woman, Lily Shepherd, who is going to Australia to serve as a domestic worker.  If she stays for two years in Australia her passage to and from England will be paid for.

Lily is excited for this new adventure but also sad to leave behind her parents and brother.  She shares a stateroom in the lower levels of the ship with two other girls travelling for the same reason.  One she likes, one she doesn't.

They are assigned tables for their meals.  Lily is assigned a table which includes a brother and sister and a very outspoken young man who is sure will break out, and hates Jews.  He is being sent to New Zealand to help his uncle on his farm.  His family is probably sending him away to get him away from the war.

Lily develops a friendship/attraction to the young man who is travelling with his sister but his attention seems to run hot and cold.  She is very puzzled at his behaviour.  A young American couple, who are travelling first class, come down to the lower area and encourage Lily and the young man to join them for cards and other outings as the voyage continues.  Lily is warned that there is something scandalous about the Americans.  She ignores the warnings partly because the couple are so insistent on associating with her and the young man.  The young couple seem to be having some maritial difficulties.

As time goes on both the angry young man and the American show and interest in Lily.  She rebuffs the angry young man and he is furious that she likes the young man better than him.  Lily knows that there is a class difference between her and the young man but she hopes it could be overlooked by his family.

Lily also makes friends with a young Jewish woman whose parents stayed behind in Europe.  She is very worried about them.  One night when they are sleeping outside on the deck because it is so hot in the ship, the Jewish girl says she was molested.  The Captain and crew make a short investigation but discount her claim.  Lily is outraged that they don't believe her.

As the voyage continues the young Jewish woman is getting ill and eventually disappears.  All they find is her glasses.  We find out that the American couple lost a child because the child consumed some of the husband's cocaine.  The wife had an affair in Britain with a married man and the man's wife killed herself.  That is why they have left Britain.

We evenutally find out that the angry young man had indeed molested the Jewish girl and accidentally killed her.  As the book ends the young man comes out dressed in drag, revealing his true secret and ends up accidentally murdering the American man.

This book was actually roughly based on a real life experience of an Australian author (who emigrated from Britain).  This woman, like Lily had come over to do domestic service but aspired to be a writer.  She stayed in Australia, married, had a family and did become a successful author.

I found it an interesting story.  The details about the voyage, the dress, etc. were very well done.  The character portrayals and interactions between the characters were also well done