Daniel Plainway: Or The Holiday Haunting of the Moosepath League

The Moosepath League #3

by Van Reid

As with the first two novels of The Moosepath League, Van Reid again proves himself an incomparable storyteller with a spellbinding tale that is both lighthearted comedy and touching drama. Daniel Plainway opens during preparations for Christmas 1896 in snowy Maine. Holiday cheer eludes country lawyer Daniel Plainway as he contemplates the demise and disappearance of a neighboring family with whom he had shared countless happy times. Not a man to forget dear friends, when Plainway learns that a missing portrait of his friend's daughter has been recovered, he sets out on an odyssey that changes his life and the lives of an orphaned child, a large-hearted ballplayer, and an extraordinary woman he meets along the way. Soon Daniel crosses paths with the irrepressible Tobias Walton, his trusty companion Sundry Moss, and the distinguished members of the Moosepath League, a band of true originals who approach events earnestly enough but always seem to leave a good deal of merriment in their wake.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Christmas, Adventure, Historical

398 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Old-fashioned fun and humor are the hallmarks of this picaresque series set in 19th century Maine. This third installment in the series features as always, the entertaining and happily ridiculous gentlemen that comprise the Moosepath League. -Paula C.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time, and I always think of it around Christmas. It's part of a series of stories, set in coastal Maine in the 1800s, about a club of goofy guys called The Moosepath League. They are the background in this particular story, which is an exquisite story about ghosts, the woods, the old way of life in New England, and the ways a mother's love can transcend even the worst circumstances. It's a moving story but full of laughter, humor and just good folks. I LOVE this book and think everyone should read it. If you're sad, it will reaffirm your faith. If you'rehappy, it's just a fun read.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this one. I realized a couple of chapters in that I was reading it out of order - I skipped the second one in the series - but I was already engrossed in the story and I didn't want to quit! Still much entertaining by the adventures of the Moosepath League and I love Sundry Moss and Toby Walton. Great story - it had me laughing out loud in several places, like the great snowball battle. Lots of fun!

Cindy

[Dollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this series seven years ago. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every single story in the series. Van Reid is such a great writer (move over, Stephen King). His characters are so well described that this reader wishes I knew them all. The stories are full of adventure, familial love, romantic love, mystery, quirky characters, humor and some Maine history thrown in! What’s not to like? In this story, attorney Daniel Plainway of Hiram, sees the portrait Mr. Walton had printed in the Portland paper. He’s sure he knew the woman and he knows she had a son who has been missing for three years (Bird!). So, I got to find out little Bird’s fate, which I was happy about. I think I may have enjoyed this story more than any of them due to a couple of reasons. One of them is something that Sundry Moss thinks, “There are several Maines…” This is so true. My maternal grandparents lived in Rangeley, mountains and lakes, and my paternal grandparents in South Thomaston, Maine seacoast, very different places. Also, in this book were a group of five elderly sisters, The Pettengills. They reminded me of my grandmother, who was born in 1896, and her sister, both widows, who lived together and took care of each other. Anything that brings back fond memories of my grandmothers is a good thing. This winter, when the temperature is below zero and we have a few feet of snow on the ground, I will have to remember these stories to remind me of how much I really do love Maine (eight months out of the year, anyway). I highly recommend these wonderful books.

[Karis Campeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of an intriguing, charming, and simply fun series with delightfully colorful characters!

[Janet Renda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Moosepath League books are some of the most fun books I’ve ever read. I’m so thankful to have discovered them.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The words charming, funny, romantic, and even creepy come to mind. I so enjoyed everything that made this third moosepath installment a continuation of what I already knew to be a unique journey!! mister Walton and Sundry Moss have become two of my favorite literary characters!
There are a few rather creepy ghost scenes/references. There was at least one instance of a character taking the Lord’s name in vain-no thank you. Also, this likely isn’t the author’s fault but this ebook edition had so many formatting errors—lack of capitalization, parts of sentences missing, etc. It didn’t affect my reading other than mild inconvenience—I was so excited to continue the story that I didn’t really care!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle and very entertaining novel that reminds me of Dickens, probably on purpose by the author. Lots of little love stories, very mild violence and a wonderful description of the setting in Maine in the late 19th century. I lived and worked in some of the areas mentioned and that always gives me a thrill to see familiar names and places. I'll be looking for more titles by this author; great for easy reading in front of the fire.

[Erik Tolvstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the Moosepath League tales. As is usual with these wonderfully crafted stories, there are several interwoven plot lines, some arcing back to the first books in the series. Daniel Plainway ties up several threads in an enjoyable and plausible fashion. In this case, the journey and the destination are worth the effort.

This is my third round of reading the series :-)

[Sharon Thurnell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have not actually read this book yet. It looks as though it is not a stand alone book. Reviews have recommended that the books should be read in order. I will search for the first few books and move on to this one. I will, of course, change my review after I have read this one.

[Julie Beahm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. The books in this series just keep getting more and more funny. Some of my favorite literary characters are right here.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Van Reid has a delightfully quirky sense of humor that comes through in all his books. Fun read.

[Tiffany]

Delightful!

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm..not sure how to react to this one. Another one for my Christmas Lit. list. Was hooked by the cover art and the odd title. The "mystery" was weak, and there were more than a few times in the middle of a scene, as entertaining as it may have been, that I thought "what is the point of this?" - there was some wavering and wandering of the plotline, like a drunk man's tracks in the snow (yes, throwing in the winter metaphors, I know, I know). However! I'm not sure how to classify this book, it doesn't fit any genre I know of, and that in itself is an accomplishment. And! There is some very funny wordplay and games with names and some lovely gems of sentences (e.g. "There were tea and coffee and cider to wash it down, and apple pie and cheese to send them all into a glorious postprandial narcosis."), and some wonderful winter scenes - sleigh rides, snowball fights, train trips. All in all, decent and entertaining. It might not have been the best idea to cut into the series as I did, but why change my bad habits now? I'll save my reading resolutions for the last day of the year.

[Starry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is 3rd in the Moosepath Leagues series, which takes place in Maine at the end of the 1800s. I would describe them as "cozy" books (mystery readers will understand that term) and perfect for anyone who liked Dickens' novel The Pickwick Papers. Each tells the adventures of Sam Walton and 3 bumbling young men who admire him and want to emulate his kind and adventurous nature. In the course of each book, they meet (or re-meet) many interesting characters and accidentally solve a crime. The stories draw one in with their gentle humor and good-naturedness. This particular one -- a Christmas story -- was difficult to follow at the beginning due to the number of characters but eventually evened out and became highly readable. One of the best scenes was the clueless-but-honorable Moosepath League members, plus a slightly senile military General, joining the village boys' snowball fight for noble reasons.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel it's important to start this series from the beginning, you'll enjoy it much more that way. However I realize many libraries lack the complete series, and inter-library loans can take forever, so you'll be tempted to get the electronic versions. However do NOT get Daniel Plainway via Kindle, as it's a total typographical disaster. Get a hard copy via Moosepath.com or a used book seller online.

This book is consistent with the others in its humor, intertwining of subplots, sense of adventure, fascinating historical references, and VERY good writing. There may be a bit more pathos here, but it's worth it.

I am rereading the series (again) and in the middle of just about every volume I think "THIS is my favorite book in the series!" and then...I read the next.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well-written book with great characters. I started to read it because it was on a library shelf with Christmas books but found it would be a wonderful book to read regardless of the season. The mystery was interesting, the character development was good, and I loved how an ordinary thing like a hat could take on a character of it's own.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third time reading this book. So good! It has adventure, humor, romance, historical period of 1896 and even a bit of a ghost story. Van Reid has a wonderful cast of characters that rival Dickens, and a sense of pace/plot that will keep you engaged into the wee hours of the morning. Still one of my favorites, and possibly my favorite of the Moosepath League titles.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

As heartwarming as Van Reid's previous Moosepath League books - now, with added Christmas cheer! If you're sick of reading about (or dealing with) messed-up people doing mean things to one another, have a dose of Mr. Walton, Sundry Moss, Phileda McCann, and their friends. You'll feel better.

[patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

delightful capers of young men and women in winter in maine. easy, enjoyable, pleasurable, light reading.

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Several of the characters were a bit tedious in the visual comedy. Others were funny. This was just a weird book.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

They're still fun! What more can I say? These are characters I would want to meet in real life.

[Charis]

3rd book in this series (begins with Cordelia Underwood). - jolly good fun; unexpected vocabulary and names, a diverting trip in the late-19th-C. Northeast (Maine, mostly? . .)

['jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love his books. They are just fun. Love that kindness triumphs through everything in the long run and I love the Maine tall tales.

[Gregory Andis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment of the series.

[Francine Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Daniel Plainway. That is all...

[Kathryn]

"Moosepath League #3"

[Gail Clayworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the Moosepath League books so far.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read of Reid's work the more I enjoy it. Well done Van Reid!!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting book! Many people and stories slowly coming together, crossing paths, intertwining as the story builds to its crescendo. A satisfying read.