Pearls in the Snow , the prequel to Angel on Her Knees and Keys of the Hollow by Patricia Josefchak, takes us back to the winter of 1942 43. Thea s Aunt Grace is a young woman. She is waiting at home alone for her parents to return from a train trip.
The parents are travelling in style as only the well-to-do could in the great days of train travel, with special cars for sleeping, eating, and lounging. But a snow slide halts the train and traps them, along with many other passengers, one of whom is a decidedly suspicious character . . .
Meanwhile, at home, Grace is faced with her own terrors, as thugs bent on finding gems break into her home. Grace has a safe hiding place, but finds it intolerable as they shout threats at her and break things. An unexpected event saves the day.