R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 8/9/2013 + 1437 more book reviews

Sometimes it's hard to write your comments about a book you like. That's what it was like for me with this one. I totally enjoyed the story and the heroine, Mattie. Mattie's experience in the hotel mirror one my own first job but that is where the similarities of our experiences end. Mattie loves to observe people and the lovely Grace Brown stimulates her imagination. She so wants to be a writer but finds herself hindered by a promise she made to her mother as she lay on her death bed. Mattie promised to take care of her father and siblings.

Donnelly bases the story on a real murder - that of Grace Brown, whose death occurred July 11, 1906. Digging into archives and whatever sources she can find, Donnelly weaves a most interesting story with characters the reader can understand. Mattie is a fictional but she could have existed and could have felt the same feelings that are described in this novel. The author found that the more she learned about Grace Brown the more she was drawn to her tragic story. This is a haunting read that makes one want to go back for more. More about Grace Brown. More about Mattie. Maybe there will be more some day. Maybe we'll meet Mattie in another book by this author. There is certainly opportunity to develop a series around this character.

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