Danger, division, and a mystery at the heart of his family confront Asa Starbuck as he navigates the bitterly fractured mid-19th world of what has been called “the Golden Age of Whaling.”

The scion of a wealthy whaling family, Asa’s life is comfortable, barely touched by the corrosive issues of the day.

When his world collides with the reality of slavery and the nearly unimaginable suffering and courage of fugitives, lip service gives way to personal commitment, a commitment that will jeopardize everything, including his life.

The bonds of love, friendship, and family are tested in this extraordinary coming of age story, Peopled with historic figures, and loosely modeled on New Bedford, this thoroughly researched book sheds new light on the onshore activities of the whaling industry, including the community’s great, although little-known, role in providing an avenue of escape for fugitive slaves.

Books by Fleury Sommers have been called “fascinating” (Kirkus Reviews) and “lyrical” (The International Review of Books). Bayview Boulevard delivers a deeply engaging novel that entertains while shedding new light on an often-overlooked period of our history.