In The Wings of Poppy Pendleton, a novel by Melanie Dobson, the newly rich Pendleton family is trying to find a place among the top Gilded Age society families. Mr. Pendleton had built a stunning castle on Koster Island among New York's Thousand Islands, and the family is hosting a fete for elite guests. Their almost five-year-old daughter, Poppy, is sleeping in the castle's tower, supposedly under the care of one of the maids, while the guests party.
But in the morning, Poppy is missing and Mr. Pendleton is dead.
Police, detectives, and curious seekers investigate for years, trying to determine what happened. But Poppy's disappearance remains a mystery.
In 1992, Chloe Ridell is the only resident on Koster Island. Her grandfather, Cade, had been the caretaker of the castle and island in the Pendleton's time and decades afterward. Mrs. Pendleton willed the property to Cade, who then passed it along to Chloe.
Chloe is uninterested in the castle and has never been in it. She runs a candy store started by her grandparents, and she just wants to maintain their legacy. But her funds are running low.
Then one stormy night, a young girl shows up on Chloe's porch. Her name is Emma, but she refuses to say much else about who she is or why she is there. She's frightened, though, especially of a man named Mitch. Chloe feels led to let Emma stay while her situation is investigated by the police. Eventually, Emma lets Chloe see her scrapbook, which is filled with drawings, magazine cutouts, and descriptions of birds. On the last page is a picture from a news article about the magnificent aviary Mrs. Pendelton's husband had constructed at her request and filled with dozens of birds and their native trees. The aviary burned down decades ago. But Chloe wonders at the oddity of Emma's connection to the Pendletons.
Then another visitor shows up out of the blue. A reporter, Logan, arrives in Chloe's candy shop. Poppy Pendleton's ninetieth birthday is coming soon. Logan thought it would be a good time to look into her case again. Chloe has no interest. But Logan convinces her that solving the mystery will not only bring justice for Poppy, but it will stop the curious from tramping around her island and asking her questions.
The point of view switches between characters and timelines to uncover what happened to Poppy, her mother, and Emma.
So far I have loved all of Melanie's novels, and this is no exception. She explores some darker themes than usual. But, sadly, the issues in the story are all too real.
I felt the faith element was woven in naturally and not at all preachy or stilted.
I listened to the audiobook nicely read by Nancy Peterson. Many audiobooks don't include the author's afterword or notes, but this one did. Plus Melanie tells a little bit about her research for the novel, with pictures from a trip to the Thousand Islands and its castles, here.
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