“Transfer Day” tells a bit about a historical event I had no knowledge of prior to reading this book. In 1917 the government of the Danish West Indies was transferred from Denmark to the US which is when they became the US Virgin Islands. But Germany was keen on taking possession as they were strategically-located and had deepwater ports. They were also located close to the US. Thus, there were German spies, saboteurs, and soldiers in the Indies.

The book opens in March 2001 with the Danish journalist Soren Jensen. He wants to reconnect with his past and learn more about his family’s history. His life has been in a downward spiral since his wife’s death a year previously. He is assigned a human interest story about the recently deceased 101-year-old Abigail Maduro who supposedly helped prevent the Germans from laying claim to the Indies. His contact in the Indies is Claire Lehman, Abigail’s granddaughter, who is in possession of Abigail’s diary.

So begins the tale of 16-year-old Abigail and her adventures. She is living in Panama when her parents die. Now she must go to the Danish West Indies to live with her Aunt Esther. But in the process of sailing to her new home she encounters spies and other adventures on board her ship. When she arrives at her Aunt Esther’s home, she finds her aunt to be bitter over the loss of her fiancé many years ago. Fortunately Nana Jane, the elderly caretaker, shows her love and affection. Several interesting characters enter Abigail’s life. There’s Queen Coziah, an old voodoo lady; Judge Neergaard, a Danish judge at the local police court; Cooky Betty, the family cook; and German Consul Lothar Langsdorff. The catalyst for most of the action is Erich Seibold, a German U-boat deserter. Abigail befriends him and hides him in her aunt’s basement. However, his presence is revealed and his integrity is tested.

This book is in need of some serious editing and corrections. On one page alone the character “Cooky Betty” is then spelled “Cookie Bettie”. This is just a minor example of careless mistakes that run throughout the book.

There were rare moments of beautiful writing: “…Nana Jane used to say that although everyone was poor under Danish rule, they were happy. Life followed an old, established pattern. Their food came from the sea, their water from the sky. The sugar cane brought the gift of rum and gladness, the chance to forget the past. The quadrille dance brought merriment and celebration.” ( )