Beth's Story, 1914
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Find out what secrets lurk within the walls of Chatswood Manor in this in this first book of a historical fiction mystery series that explores a family’s secrets throughout generations.
The Chatswood family tree has many branches—and even more secrets. It’s the summer of 1914 in England, and Beth Etheridge, great-granddaughter of the original Elizabeth Chatswood, can’t wait for her twelfth birthday to arrive. That’s when she’ll receive her family’s heirloom “Elizabeth” necklace: one half of a heart encrusted with beautiful sapphires. (The companion necklace, encrusted with rubies, will be given to Beth’s American cousin and pen pal, Kate, later in the series.) But when family from France visits Chatswood Manor for the occasion and another family heirloom goes missing, Beth finds herself on a quest to clear the name of her lady’s maid and friend, Shannon. Her search for answers leads her to a hidden diary with clues to a much larger family mystery that dates back generations. What secrets are hidden away in Chatswood Manor?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in 1914 in a Downton Abbey like estate, this first book in the Secrets of the Manor series covers the upstairs goings-on of a titled British family while giving insight to life among the help, as well. Beth can't wait for her 12th birthday, when she will have a grand party and receive a family heirloom necklace. Her lady's maid has quit, and Beth has her replaced with young housemaid Shannon, which causes resentment from the other housemaids. Meanwhile, a locket goes missing, and Shannon appears guilty; Beth investigates to find the real culprit and save her friend. Whitby peppers this lively story with engaging details about the estate, including a hidden tunnel that reveals a former governess's long-lost diary whose pages appear throughout the story and help Beth solve the mystery. Beth's lavish lifestyle and intriguing family history are also covered thoroughly, offering seeds for future books (Kate's Story, 1914 is available simultaneously, and a pair of books set in 1848 are due later this year). Despite her privilege, Beth is down-to-earth and relatable, and she will have readers on her side from the start. Ages 8 12.
