"Author Louisa May Alcott goes sleuthing"

The time is 1854. Louisa May Alcott is 22. Yes, this is the Louisa who later writes LITTLE WOMEN and goes on to become a famous author. In this book she does the sleuthing.

Her friend Dorothy Brownly Wortham has recently returned from her travels in Europe after her wedding to Preston. Louisa and her friend Sylvia Shattuck have been invited to Dorothy's for tea. Also in attendance are Dorothy's twin sisters Edith and Sarah, their brother Edgar, and their aunt Alfreda Thorney. Unfortunately the one person missing is Dorothy. After waiting for quite a while, she arrives. She says that tea was for tomorrow, not today. She won't say where she's been. She seems quite distraught and asks everyone to come back tomorrow for tea. She asks Louisa to arrive a little early so that they may talk.

Louisa is distressed and determined to arrive early to find out what is wrong with Dorothy. The next day, Dorothy is once again missing. After everyone arrives, Constable Cobban of the Boston Watch and Police arrives to announce that Dorothy had drowned. Her dog Lily was found drowned with her.

Louisa and Sylvia attend the autopsy but it proves to be too much for Sylvia and they leave. Louisa is determined to find out how and why Dorothy was murdered. Yes, it was murder. Louisa ends up putting herself in danger and bringing gossip upon her name in her quest to find the murderer.

While historical mysteries are not my favorite, I really enjoyed this book. It was fun having a famous author do the sleuthing. I thought I was well written and the characters were so well developed that I had trouble figuring out who did it. That always makes it a good mystery in my eyes.

I look forward to reading more books with Louisa doing the sleuthing. I recommend this book.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Posted April 25, 2004

Read an Excerpt

In this delightful new "tale of dark secrets, mysterious men, and heiresses in distress,"* Louisa May Alcott, the beloved author of Little Women, is cast in the role of amateur sleuth-investigating crimes more heinous than anything she can imagine in her "blood and thunder" romances.

Summary

Gentle Reader,

In the days before I achieved renown as the author of Little Women, I was writing and selling stories of a more lurid nature, inspired by my spellbound fascination with the dark and mysterious. But nothing I could conjure from my own imagination could prepare me for the role of detective I found myself playing time and again...

My family and I shared a frugal home in Boston during the years before the Civil War, a time of hooped skirts and beaver hats. While I railed against my lack of freedom as a woman, my parents set high standards for me, offering warmth and wisdom, and secretly (and illegally!) aiding the Underground Railroad. My sisters provided lighter companionship, as did my many friends, including Dorothy Wortham.

I was looking forward to seeing Dot again after her year- long honeymoon overseas. However, the happy reunion I expected was overshadowed by her distant and distraught behavior. Before she could confide her anxiety in me, her body was discovered floating in Boston Harbor, with evidence of foul play. I could not fathom who would wish to harm such a kind spirit as Dot, but I was determined to search the foggy, cobblestone streets until I found out...

Louisa May Alcott