How does a writer create suspense when the outcome of the real-life story is already known? This book excels at keeping readers at the edge of their seats. How? Woo did a “staggering amount” of research to learn the sensory details of the way things felt, smelled, sounded, looked, and tasted. We care about what happens to William and Ellen because they are real to us. We see that at any moment, the story might have ended differently. In fact, they did experience their share of loss, even in the final pages of their story. This book is unforgettable.
Woo, Ilyon. Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom. Simon & Schuster, 2023, p.1.