Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

    Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen.
                        Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster, 2013.

    Think you know the Edgar Allan Poe story? He married his cousin who was a young teen and they both died impoverished. His poetry is still studied in literature classes. His short stories are often deemed the original detective stories. Right?

     Just read Lynn Cullen's new book, Mrs. Poe, and you will come away with so much more! The narrator, a married writer named Frances Osgood, is changed forever by her encounters with Poe and his family. Cullen provides a fascinating backdrop for Osgood's probable love affair with Edgar.

      The book is dense, but reads easily. It is lush with period details of 1845-1847. I read an advanced copy and have recommended it to friends when it comes available in Fall, 2013. My conclusion is that Mr. Poe was immensely intriguing, brilliant, and could have wooed and won practically any woman he wanted. Just read the book and come to your own conclusions!

Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni

 The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni.
                          Clarion Books, 2013. (Teen and adult historical fiction).

In 1867, seventeen-year-old Verity Boone returns to her birthplace, a farming community in Pennsylvania. In the local cemetery, she discovers two graves that are outside the fenced area and that are enclosed entirely in iron cages. With the early death of her mother and what really happened in her own family about that time uncertain, Verity takes on the role of detective to find out the truth. The plot moves steadily as she explores rumors and tales of witchcraft, poisons, poor midwifery, family betrayals, and community secrets.  Salerni explores possible explanations for her own questions about two real graves and comes up with her own theory. A little bit mystery, a little bit teen romance, this title is full of surprises.

 

A Tudor Summer

 Queen's Gambit: A Novel by Elizabeth Fremantle.
                       Simon and Schuster, 2013. (Historical fiction, Adult)

What can be better during a long, hot summer than secrets whispered in palace corridors? Elizabeth Fremantle puts her own spin on the tale of Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII and does it with panache and style. Twice married and in love with someone else, Katherine becomes the sixth wife of the aging king. The book includes her stepdaughter, Meg, and her servant, Dot, who provide other viewpoints of the people and events swirling around the royal household. If you gave up on Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies or even enjoyed them but wanted a female perspective, give this debut novel a try.