Dark Tide encompasses far more than the molasses disaster in 1919, but links the event to other historical, national and world events of the time. Stephen Puleo's research is meticulously documented, for history buffs, and is a wonderful look back in time. In doing so, the reader will see that not much has changed over time. So many things then can easily be transposed on events and attitudes today.

Dark Tide starts out a bit difficult to read as the author tries to fit all the various events together in some kind of coherent picture. Considering he does not employ fictional characters to make the story more exciting, I must give him credit for a pretty decent job.