This novel of historical fiction whisks us to the Massachusetts island of Nantucket in July 1846. Our focus is on three central characters. Eliza Macy is the wife of whaling ship captain Henry Macy, who hasn't been home in a good, long while. Since whales are now becoming more difficult to find, Eliza and her daughters are secretly on the verge of bankruptcy. Meg Wright, who is nine months pregnant, co-owns a shoe and cobbler shop with her husband, Benjamin. Their house is in the New Guinea community, where the townspeople of color live. And Maria (pronounced mah-RYE-ah) Mitchell is the librarian for the Atheneum. She's also interested in telescopes and astronomy, and she hopes to identify a new comet someday.

Nantucket has a Quaker base, with an added diverse population, and it is supposedly progressive in its treatment of everyone as equals. But does the ideology match the reality?

Lurking in the background for us -- but not for the islanders, yet -- is the knowledge that a major downtown fire will happen soon, with devastating effects. What can you expect, when each home -- mostly, built of wood -- depends on candles and lanterns for light? And what can you expect, when barrels of incoming whale oil are stowed by the harbor? What will happen when the common tool becomes a fast-burning fuel? How will each person respond? What losses will they have to deal with?

Each chapter focuses on the action surrounding one of the three main characters. Their tales are told in third person throughout. In this way, we learn more about their lives, their families, what goals they strive for, and what challenges they face. Naturally, their circles overlap a bit in everyday life. The fire will bring them to a major intersection. Will Eliza, Meg and Maria ever be the same again? What about Nantucket, their home?

Daughters of Nantucket is a solid story based on the author's extensive research. A fire really did destroy much of Nantucket in July 1846. Maria Mitchell really was an astronomer who lived there and would soon locate a new comet. Some readers may grouse that it takes many pages to get to the point of the fire in the telling. But the three backstories are necessary to understand who the characters are. The delay also serves to create true suspense for the reader, who suspects that any stray spark that appears on the next page could mark the beginning of the end.

This first novel for author Julie Gerstenblatt is a compelling spell binder. Please give us another!