The Spinster's Fortune

by Mary Kendall

Moonlit alleys, shadowy tunnels, and buried secrets…

Summer of 1929.

Of supposed unsound mind without a penny to her name, Blanche Magruder lies alone in a home for the aged and infirm.

Meanwhile, her house, a crumbled ruin in the heart of Georgetown, Washington, D.C., is pillaged nightly by thieves looking for treasure rumored to be hidden there.

A distant niece, Margaret O’Keefe, is tapped as executor and soon becomes embroiled in the hunt for recovering monies, taking it on as a welcome escape from her financial and marital woes.

As Margaret discovers caches in unlikely spots throughout the house, family mysteries begin to unravel. She questions whether Aunt Blanche is an insane fool or a daring genius, yet Margaret must also wrangle with her own hidden truths.

Pressed towards a convergence of their pasts and presents, the two women must ultimately face down a fateful discovery in order to rectify their lives.

Shrouded in gothic undertones and dark artifice, THE SPINSTER’S FORTUNE is a tale that takes the reader on a strange journey through tangled webs of family deceit. But where does it end?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Ebooks, Family, Mystery Thriller

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2021

About the author

Mary Kendall lived in old (and haunted) houses growing up which sparked a life-long interest in history and story-telling. She earned degrees in history related fields and worked as an historian for many years. Her fiction writing is heavily influenced by the past which she believes is never really dead and buried.

Fueled by black coffee and a possible sprinkling of Celtic fairy dust, she tends to find inspiration in odd places and sometimes while kneading bread dough.

The author currently resides in Maryland with her family (husband, three kids, barn cat and the occasional backyard hen) who put up with her mad scribbling at inconvenient hours.

Reviews

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing historical mystery set in 1929 in Washington D.C. It is loosely based on the story of the real Blanche Magruder, who actually hid treasure in her house for her relatives to find. Although it is set in 1929, through Blanche we are transported to the Civil War era and other events during her life. Each character is fascinating in his or her own way, but none more so than the spinster sisters, Emily and Blanche. Margaret’s story, including the treasure hunt, her shaky marriage, and her growth as a person, is in itself a captivating tale. The attempts of others to benefit off of the carefully hidden treasure is interesting to watch. This story has it all–a hidden treasure, well written characters, intrigue, lies, and a shocking surprise. This book is so well done that I was surprised it is Mary Kendall’s debut novel. I can’t wait to read her next one. I received a free copy of this book through Hall of Fame Virtual Book Tours. My opinions are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the summer of 1929 Margaret O'Keefe learns that she has been appointed as the executor for her aging aunt, Blanche Magruder.  Blanche has been placed in a home for the destitute after her crumbling home was condemned.  However, Margaret learns that the home has been looted as stories of a hidden fortune are passed around.  Margaret is already trying to escape financial woes with the horse breeding business she was left by her father and a husband who wastes their money in gambling and drinking.  Margaret goes headfirst into trying to uncover the Magruder fortune.  In doing so, Margaret gets to know Aunt Blanche and slowly discovers the reasons why her Aunt felt the need to hide her family's fortune. 

The Spinster's Fortune is a historical mystery based on the strange tale of the real Blanche Magruder who really did hide away her family's fortune in rags before she was placed in a poor house.  While not much is known about the intentions of the real Blanche, the author has created an intriguing mystery that incorporates some of the facts from the case.  The story is mostly told from Margaret's point of view with several pieces of Blanche's memories interspersed to help fill in missing pieces.  Margaret was a difficult character to like.  She was straightforward and a shrewd businesswoman, yet didn't seem to have her Aunt's best interests in mind until near the end.  Margaret did not hide the fact that she was just as interested in the whereabouts of the hidden money as everyone else.  Although, this very well may have been the reality of the situation.  Margaret did grow on me by the end as she figured out the situation with her husband.  I was very interested in Blanche and her past in the house, her sisters and her boyfriend who fought in the Civil War. Blanche's character had a lot to unpack and I wish more of the story could have been told from her point of view or her memories.  I loved uncovering the family secrets and exploring the tunnels beneath Washington D.C. Overall, a fast-paced mystery with an unexpected ending. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spinster’s Fortune really takes place in two different times even though it is a tale of the character’s present. There have been plenty of whispers of a fortune buried in the old Brownstone where the two sisters lived. When only one is left and living in a home people who have long heard rumors of a fortune being hidden in the house start breaking in looking for it.

The executor of the estate is contacted to deal with finding the fortune and handling the care of her aunt. As she searches the house she starts to find rolled up bundles of money which is helpful for a number of reasons; her Aunt needs better care and she needs money to keep her horse farm running and her husband out of trouble.

The Spinster’s Fortune was a wonderful way to spend a lazy Saturday. I sat down with the book and endless glasses of ice cold water. I found myself lost in the stories of both the effort of old Blanche to hide and safeguard her family fortune and Margaret’s desire to find it before all is lost for both of them.

These are characters that keep you turning the pages to find out if all will end well or if like other Gothic tales before it, the fates will deem otherwise. The reader comes to care for both women and wants the best for them. Once I started reading I just kept going until I found myself turning the last page. If you are looking for a book to keep you interested with a solid story and some fun twists this is the one for you.

4.5

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Secret tunnels, Hidden treasures, and family secrets made “The Spinster’s Fortune” a delightful book to read.

This book was a short one but so effective. I loved the mystery element behind what Blanche was hiding. Initially, the story felt a bit procedural. We would get a chapter on Blanche hiding the treasure, and later Margaret trying to uncover it. But as the story progressed, it became complex and intriguing. I enjoyed how the chase impacted the characters and how the treasure interconnected between the past and the present.

Blanche was my favorite in the story. She is quirky, mysterious, and had a lot of secrets. You never really know if Blanche is senile or acting to get her way. She surprised me quite a few times with her antics. The author also adds humor to the story, especially when Jesse finds her and thinks she’s a ghost.

Margaret is excellent in the role, and I enjoyed watching her using her intuition to help recover the treasure. I also enjoyed the bond that Margaret forms with Judith over the story. It may be a minor thing, but it shows how Margaret wants to bond with her family before it’s too late. The author also did an excellent job with Margaret’s relationships. Lilli exasperated me with her personality, and I laughed out loud with Robert and Margaret when she accused them of their friendship.

Overall, I thought “The Spinster’s Fortune” was a delightful debut by the author and would love to see more such books in the future. Moreover, I would love to see Margaret back in another story and revisit some of the characters from this one.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a true story, this was an interesting read! Margaret gets a call that she has been found to be next of kin for her Aunt Blanche. She has been institutionalized and someone needs to become executor of her estate as she does not quite seem in her right mind. A neighbor having found her lying outside, is what prompted all of this. Blanche seems smart as a tack, yet some of the things she says don’t seem to make the most sense.

Things are not as cut and dry as Margaret hopes, and when she arrives at the house it is in disarray and there is what appears to be junk everywhere. But her aunts had lived kind of like recluses and often there were rumors about them. Another family member is trying to weasel her way into becoming the executor and Margaret feels there might be more to the story than what Lilli is giving. Her claims of just wanting what is best, seems a little odd- or she would have done more to begin with and Blanche would not have ended up in this situation.

As Margaret helps to start cleaning up the house, her intuition has her finding little treasures that Blanche has left all over the house. Maybe she was not as crazy as she everyone thought, but really was quite genius in what she did. Then one night, she escapes and is found at the house. What is really going on with her and will Margaret be able to keep Lilli out of knowing what is all being found.

This was a different type of novel, and it is interesting in that it is based on a true story. Although, lots of people used to hide money, valuable and trinkets all over their houses before banks became a trusted source to hold such items. The story is told through Margaret trying to handle this all, and Blanche during gate time of when she was placing these treasures throughout the house and why.

Thank you to HFVBT for the invite, and the author for sending me a free book. It was an interesting historical to read, with a basis of truth sprinkled in.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and it has a really interesting dual-perspective storyline. While it started off slowly, I became more and more involved in Blanche’s story and the reason behind her seemingly eccentric choice to hide her family’s treasure.

The discovery & diagnosis of Alzheimer's and/or Dementia was fairly new in 1929, so Blanche was probably written off as senile and her most lucid moments given less credit than they were due. I also got the sense that Blanche and her sister Emily, living alone as spinsters in their family home, were probably hoarders.

Sometimes it is amazing what we conveniently overlook about our family & loved ones in order to not upset our lives as they are. And sometimes, we need to be honest with ourselves about the truth in order to move on and live a fulfilling life, otherwise we end up buried under all the lies.

[ReadingMama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good fiction intertwined with just enough balance of mystery, family saga, greed and a hint of romance~ Most importantly, we got to meet the author during our virtual book club discussion, because she graciously agreed to join us. She was kind and informative; having an interesting career path which was still morphing into something new and exciting~ It was so enjoyable hearing her perspectives and her path of becoming a publishing writer, which certainly required persistence and tenacity.

Now, back to the book: with the familiar background of Washington DC’s setting, the author lets us discover the hidden family fortune. Two protagonists, Margaret and Blanche, bring us two different eras as they peel the layers of the family secrets and discovery of themselves. Their characters are well developed and their stories easily envelope us to their minds and hearts.

Initially, I ask a question “Why didn’t the spinsters spend the family fortune to fix up the house or for themselves?” Yet, I know people like that in my family who cannot spend what they have or know their worth… so no further comment. In the end, the fortune was not monetary but instead in relationships with our loved ones. In the end, what truly matters is how we are connected with one another. Although the author leaves the future of Margaret and Robert up to our imagination, she is continuously working on many projects and I look forward to future books :-) Mary Kendall, two thumps for your first novel!

[Nadine Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authors, if you ever wonder if people buy books from Twitter, this is one of those books. The Spinster's Fortune by Mary Kendall intrigued me by its moody cover and promise of mystery. It's a family drama, mostly set in the late 1920s. Margaret O'Keefe, a businesswoman and wife to a guy who's bleeding her dry, is contacted about a home owned by two of her aunts. One has died, and the other is in a nursing home, and the house is in bad shape.

Margaret teams up with a lawyer and, with some help from the tight-lipped Aunt Blanche, begins to unravel the secrets of the house and of her family...as well as secrets going on in her own household. A cousin, Lillie Lamb, has her eyes set on whatever treasure may be found.

The book was a pleasure to read. If I have any criticism, it's that sometimes it's a bit too easy for Margaret to find what she's looking for. Truthfully, though, I really didn't care. I found Blanche's story touching and sad, and Margaret is a worthy heroine.

[Charlie Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing mystery story, sparked by a curious historical event. Set in 1929 in Washington, DC this is a novel full of gothic undertones, hidden tunnels, secret chambers and crumbling mansions. Margaret O’Keefe has inherited her father’s racehorse business which he built up from scratch. Suddenly, she is forced to come to the aid of her elderly aunt, Blanche, who has been placed into an appalling care home whilst her own house is being ransacked for the Magruder ‘treasure’.

Margaret’s husband, the weak-chinned Keith, is more of a hindrance than a help. He has a penchant for liquor, gambling and women, and lives beyond his wife’s income. Margaret’s reasoning behind his behaviour is that he always seemed ‘attracted to things that were bright and shiny’. I love the flashbacks to Blanche’s childhood where she is described as a beautiful, blue-eyed, flaxen-haired girl and also the period eighteen months prior to current events, where you see an elderly Blanche squirreling away the banknotes. Are her hiding places the ‘work of a fool… or the work of a genius?’ and why is Margaret so in tune with figuring most of them out? Despite Blanche’s confused state, she is still capable of moments of lucidity and a happier environment with Madame Corot brings out the truth about her and Blackwell Swann.

This novel also highlights Margaret’s own personal journey. Blanche’s difficult relationship with her sister Emily causes Margaret to think about her own estranged sister, Judith, and re-evaluate her expectations. She also recognises that, although it is easy to dislike the money-grabbing, doughy-faced Lilli Lamb who has her eye firmly on the teak box, Margaret’s initial motives for helping are the same: she also wants the money. She set out thinking the hidden fortune would rescue the Magruder family farm, but over the course of the novel, Margaret’s concern about Blanche takes over and she comes to appreciate the debt she owes to her father and her aunt. Robert Brady also serves as a great contrast to Keith and helps her re-evaluate her relationship with her husband too.

Kendall writes beautifully and there are plenty of lovely descriptions of era and place: the pink grasshopper cocktails and Mr Victor’s Confectionary shop. There’s a really shocking twist to the tale, but it takes until the closing pages to discover what’s fantasy and what’s reality. A superb, at times chilling, mystery which charts Margaret’s journey to find the truth, but which also leads her on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Spinster's Fortune by Mary Kendall and absolutely loved it.

I tend to really enjoy things based on true stories when they are done right and this one really is.
I read over half of it in one sitting and only stopped because I didn’t want to finish it in a day. It’s wonderfully written and absolutely captivating.

It's written from two perspectives: Margaret and Blanche.

Margaret hasn't ever been particularly close to her family but, really, no one in her family is close to anyone else so she's not weird. Blanche, her elderly aunt, is taken to a home for indigent folks when some truths start to come to light. It turns out her aunt may not be as indigent as it seems. The run-down ruin she’d lived in her whole life has been targeted by treasure-seekers who are finding handfuls of cash hidden inside the walls.

As next of kin, Margaret is called in to help. At first, her motives are pretty selfish: find the money and use it to save her father's business. However, as the recovery is underway, she bonds with Blanche and learns a lot about her family. She uncovers the skeleton in the closet (or, the underground tunnel as it were).

Margaret’s journey isn’t easy, but she comes out the other side with a better understanding of who she is and what she wants from life.

I just don’t have enough nice things to say about the novel. Kendall did an amazing job and I absolutely love it!

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

There once was an old lady who hid her money (a not inconsiderable fortune by then standards of 40 000 dollars) all over her dilapidated mansion. Not enough to counterbalance the effects of market crash in a grand scheme of things, but plenty for her distant family. So it’s a weird true story and the author fictionalized it into a reasonable and fairly plausible account of events.
For a debut, it’s pretty decent, For a work of historical fiction, it’s pretty decent. The 19292 Washington D.C. comes to life quite nicely. The characters are ok, not great, but obvious efforts were taken toward giving them dimensionality. The overall tone was oddly light, though, for what is essentially a pretty dark story. This is essentially a Grey Gardens sort of thing with a. dark secret or two thrown in and it might have easily and nicely veered into gothic territory, but it stayed on the bright side of the street instead. Which is odd because the official book description (and even the cover) leans heavily into the book purported gothic undertones.
Overall, again, decent, plenty decent for a random kindle freebie, but there’s nothing extraordinary about the book really outside of the real life story it’s based on. Quick read too.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story meanders a lot with too many too-long descriptions of buildings and scenery and clothing than were necessary to set the scene or advance the plot, in my opinion. The author should also be more attentive to proofreading. "Clod" is not the same as "clad." Keith is not the same as Robert. Worst of all, the question of *why* they wanted Blanche to do what she did with the box contents is never answered or even speculated on. I realize the answer to that question in the real-life inspiration for this story will forever be unknown, but if you're going to fictionalize some of the answers, why not all?

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elderly aunt and a treasure hunt

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spinster's Fortune is a confident debut, full of family drama and secrets. Based partially on a news story from the 1920's, author Mary Kendall takes the premise of a fortune rumored to be hidden in the home of elderly sisters and makes it wholly her own. 

When Margaret O'Keefe, a member of the horses and cocktail set, is contacted by lawyers as the next of kin for her Great Aunt Blanche, she begins to hope that the fortune rumored to be hidden in the Magruder family home will solve her financial difficulties. What she does not expect is the mysteries that begin to unfold as she looks for more than the small rolls of cash that she has a knack for locating within the condemned house, and the slow unraveling of her marriage. 

As the story unfolds and the past is uncovered, the story takes on new facets, from the fraught relationship between sisters to the greed of family members to the clandestine meetings of young lovers torn apart by the Civil War. There is a feeling of slight dread as the story of Blanche and Emily Magruder is revealed and Margaret is led down into the tunnels below Georgetown. While I didn't always like the choices that characters made, everything slowly comes together to make a gripping read.

If you enjoy family mysteries and dramas, fraught relationships between sisters, all with a touch of the gothic, do give The Spinster's Fortune a go. Recommended.

This review refers to a digital galley that I voluntarily read courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and these are only my own, honest opinions.

[Kateri Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the summer of 1929, Margaret O’Keefe has been trusted as executor and becomes embroiled in the hunt of rumoured treasured hidden around her family home in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

I’ve read a handful of historical mysteries but this is by far my favourite. Not only it is written fantastically in the period setting, it is also loosely based on a true story of a similar event. I don’t want to give any of the twists and turns away. If you’re into moonlight gothic fiction, with haunting and heartbreaking secrets at its very core. I highly recommend this story.

Well done on the wonderful debut, Mary!

[Patricia Lumpkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two elderly spinster sisters share a dilapidated mansion in Georgetown, Washington, DC -- a home where they had lived their entire lives.

The story starts in 1929 with younger sister Blanche being found living in a retirement home for the indigent.

Margaret, her niece, begins assisting the attorney for the estate in clearing out the mansion which is as slated for demolition. During the clearing out it comes to light that there may be a family fortune hidden in the house. Thus begins the search.

As the search progresses, a large sum of money is discovered and Blanche is moved to the residence of a lady who has opened her home to elderly in need of a clean place to live with meals and companionship provided.

As the story unfolds, Margaret begins to see both her Aunt Blanche and her estranged sister Lilith in a different light and begins to form a true relationship with them. Further, the reader learns more of the relationship between Blanche and her deceased sister Emily with whom she had shared her entire life. What was original thought to be sisterly love is found to be a relationship built on fear and jealousy.

The reader is drawn in to Blanche's story and her ramblings in the tunnels under Georgetown. You learn of her relationship with Blackwell Swann, her fiance who was thought to have perished during the Civil War, and the reasons behind her obsessive hiding of the fortune following Emily's demise, as well as why she rambled the tunnels.

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick free read for Kindle from Amazon. A story ripped from the headlines of 1929! It takes place in DC and I'm familiar with the Willard, Mayflower and Georgetown University since I live in northern Virginia. I earned a paralegal certificate decades ago there.

Healy Hall--


The prank of student stealing the clock hands is true. Through some mysterious maneuvering, students steal the clock hands off of Healy Tower and send them off to someone important. That person is then supposed to come back to campus to return the hands and potentially speak to the school.



August 30 (two weeks from now) will be Blanche's 181st birthday. So why did she feel she had to hide her cash? No one will know. So a star is given because I didn't know any of this. The story is a bit on the gothic side including mentions of ooooh a blood moon. A total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a Blood Moon, because of the reddish tinge the Full Moon takes on when fully eclipsed.

[Marlyndam2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The webs we weave which must be untangled by those who follow.

So many tangled stories encased In fragile memories of an old lady time seemed to have forgotten. In those aged and tangled memories were an interesting historical story of a family who existed during the Civil War era into the 1920s or 1930’s and the more modern life of a great niece who is thrust into the situation of this elderly, eccentric aunt who lived through the civil war and many decades beyond. A sad, yet beautiful story of unrequited love, s secret birth which changed a family dynamics forever, before the truth is slowly revealed as the story progresses, changing the lives of the relatives who followed, mostly in beautiful and freeing ways. A sequel would be very nice as well as a prequel to guide us through the life of Aunt Blanche who in her last days revealed just the briefest view into her family history, some of it shocking indeed. So well worth the the journey with the surviving great niece as she discovers her family amidst the twists and turns of her own life and those of her historical family. Well done indeed.

[L.B. Stimson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfectly Splendid Historical-Gothic Fiction Novel

I was drawn to this book by its description as having “gothic undertones” but it is much more than a subtly gothic novel. The cast of characters is superb and the atmospheric details to another era made this book a wonderful read–a book I would read again.

Having lived in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas for the past 20-plus years, I was familiar with the places mentioned in the book. The book’s 1929 setting allowed me to retrace my travels in a time warp of sorts, long before the modern age descended upon the District, Virginia, and Maryland.

I wasn’t expecting the twists that Kendall slowly unleashes and this added to the depth of the story. This is historical fiction at its finest and I look forward to reading more of Kendall’s works.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quit at 20%. The story was set in 1929, but at the point I stopped, it could have been set at any time and most places in America. There just wasn't much distinct to the time or location except that the $40,000 that Blanche hides is considered a fortune. We're told a bit about the characters, but they don't show much personality. They're all very stiff and bland. I just didn't care about what happened to them. Finally, even though Blanche is a viewpoint character and we see where she's hiding the money, we have no idea why already hidden money is being re-hidden or why the sisters lived in extreme poverty when they had a fortune. At least Margaret's motives were clearly stated, though she wanted to use the money for herself before Blanche is even dead. Not my type of story.

[Rachael Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a perplexing mystery at the heart of this story that will grip you from beginning to end.

Slipping back and forth in time, we follow Blanche Magruder and her niece, Margaret. Blanche has secrets and a task she is compelled to complete, and Margaret has both money and husband troubles. Over time, as the two become acquainted after being distant for most of Margaret's life, the puzzle begins to unravel to reveal a series of heartbreaking truths for both women.

Engaging and beautifully written, this book brings 1929 to life through the eyes of two strong, complex main characters. There's mystery, romance, tragedy, and some tender moments that may bring a tear to your eye. An excellent read that I can highly recommend.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret.knew she had two spinster aunts on her father’s side, but she had not seen them since she was a young child. One day she gets a phone call that one of them has died and the other has been moved to a nursing home, their home is going to be condemned and she is now executrix of their estate. There is also rumors of a fortune hidden in the old house. Other characters include a playboy husband, a kind and handsome lawyer, an estranged sister, a greedy cousin, and a kindly French caregiver. What begins as a mystery and treasure hunt becomes a story of finding family and acceptance of people as they are. A pleasant read.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a free read on Kindle Unlimited. The outline is based on an old historical story once reported in the newspapers of that time. An old lady reportedly stuffed a fortune away in various locations throughout her rotting and falling about house. As the last person in the family living, they have to find some relative to come deal with the house and the old lady.

There is also a hint of romance intertwined in the story along with the mystery of this ladies life. It gets more and more interesting as it goes along, even though I don't really care for the distant relative. She seems pretty self-centered to me. But she has a slow awakening as the story unfolds.

[Marilyn G. Ticknor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spins terms Fortune

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While perhaps a little stretched, it was totally believable. Margaret was a little bit scheming in obtaining an inheritance to fix family money problems. Killing was grasping for the same inheritance by any means, and Judith was the least affected by the possibilities. It was a good read that I was reluctant to put down one I opened it this morning. Not a long book, but it did not need to be to develop the characters and come to a reasonable conclusion.

[Beth Super · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing story!

This story took me by surprise, holding my interest until the very end. It is really a story of complicated family relationships, the consequences of age and a lifetime of choices. As sad as it was in the reminiscing of the characters, the story held an overall tone of hope and setting things to rights. The manner in which Ms. Kendall reveals the tale is bit by tantalizing bit. Ms. Kendall also has a talent for description and detail that had me fully immersed in the story. Truly a good read.

[Wanda Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are not always what they seem

This is a story about two sisters who spend their entire lives living in the same house their entire life and the niece who becomes the executor of the estate of the surviving sister Blanche. As the take of their lives is unraveled Margaret learns some truths about her own.

As the story unfolds you get to know each character and my interest increased with each revelation. Some things were heartbreaking but the conclusion was maybe better than I hoped.it was interesting, well written and an enjoyable story.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth is stranger than fiction. Rlretried I

In the author’s notes at the end, I was amazed to learn that this very unusual story is based on true events. I can’t even imagine. These characters, too, are so real. There are some to admire, some not, but each became real to me as I read.
They are created well. The writing is good, as is the editing. Others may summarize the story, but other qualities are important to me as well. This book gets five stars for each attribute.

[Jim Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relaxing and filled with mystery

Very relative to the period. With and open mind, mindful of the culture and a sensitivity to characters of the period, I believe you will enjoy the narrative. The author was very methodical in developing the tale. The pace of events took time to develop reader patience. I really appreciate no foul language, no sex scenes, and no violence. The story is what you would expect of a gentile period. Enjoy

[Stacy Hawks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read for those who enjoy a 1920s historical backdrop with a mix of truth. Author Mary Kendall paints a portrait of a woman, Blanche Macgruder, who is finds herself residing in an infirmary leaving her home open to thieves. It's up to a distant relative to hunt down & recover stolen money & property, as she is named Executrix of Margaret's estate. This is a well-written, well researched, & captivating page turner.

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Treasure

Blanche Magruder lived in a world of her own. At her advanced age she was able to manage to navigate the tunnels under her city and her secrets within. Blanche’s niece Margaret and great niece Lillie struggled with each other to claim the supposed treasure left as an inheritance never realizing the greatest treasure of all. Full of suspense!