To hear about the other books we read this week, find Episode 80 here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1793148/episodes/16873441
In 1962, 3 prisoners escaped Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Their bodies were never found and they were never seen again. The case was closed in 1979, but their fates remain a mystery.
Out of Alcatraz picks up the story while the 3 escapees are in the water trying to survive and turns into a historical fiction tale of where their journey takes them. Do they die? Do they survive? What were their plans? Can they trust each other? Are they ever really going to be free? We quickly realize their journey has just begun, escaping was only the first step. Now they have to deal with each other and outside forces that could get them all caught or killed.
The cast is small enough that we dig into each character and just like any good crime story, we figure out what their weaknesses and strengths are. Who can be trusted? Who is smart enough to not get caught?
The art by Tyler Cook is spectacular. I loved his work on Harrow County and the art style is the perfect fit for this tale. The muted colors and tones make you feel like you are looking back in time through a faded photograph. The characters are defined and unique, which is important for a crime story like this. There are frames with flashbacks that work so well here, I was immersed immediately.
The historical fiction angle on this is just so much damn fun. Exploring what could have happened to these 3 and why the 4th didn’t join the escape is enthralling. Who doesn’t love a good crime story?
Yes, they may have survived the escape. But are they really free? Will they ever be truly free?
