Opinion: Alcatraz Escape Book “Scape Ghost” a Hit in the Hamptons

Nanci LeGarenne of East Hampton, N.Y. fourth novel, Scape Ghost. Her three other east end classics, Cheap Fish, along with Refuge and The Bitter End. are great reads.

East end of Long Island readers are all talking about Scape Ghost. The pages practically read themselves. The Alcatraz connection has everyone riveted!

Ms. LeGarenne is well known throughout East Hampton and Montauk. She contributes local writings and does book readings at most of the east end bookstores and libraries. One might guess a lot of her material is based on some of the colorful characters she has come across in Montauk, Springs and East Hampton Village. She says she enjoys a Guinness and is proud of her Irish background.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, she and her husband have lived year-round in East Hampton for well over twenty years. The seeds of this particular novel came while visiting her son, who lives in the San Francisco area.

The novel starts with an escape from the prison Alcatraz in the early 1960s, before it was closed. Then it focuses on one particular character who after the escape must recreate himself. He chooses being a painter and carver of wood. Then the book takes off with a colorful collection of powerful and historical ghost visitors to a secluded cabin where the escapee found refuge. The deceased visitors arrive as ghosts in their human form. Quite frankly, the dialogue and messages the visiting ghosts convey make for brilliant reading.

This is not your average ghost story book, because the ghost characters are more messengers. The salient points each one makes provokes the reader to reflect and rethink events that actually happened. LeGarenne presents the whole idea of personal rebirth and opportunity to change and overcome. Then there is the suspense of whether the escaped convict will ever be caught by some careless act.

Nanci LeGarenne’s choice of characters and their dialogue is why this book is a must read. The circle of events includes a love story. The rebirth of the main character is powerful. Then there is a reflection on the tragic and historical events of the second half of the 20th century. This all adds up to a great read.

Scape Ghost, as well as LeGarenne’s other novels, are available on Amazon.