The Spinster's Fortune

By: Mary Kendall

Narrated by: Rachel Errington

Moonlit alleys, shadowy tunnels, and buried secrets…

Summer of 1929.

Of supposed unsound mind without a penny to her name, Blanche Magruder lies alone in a home for the aged and infirm.

Meanwhile, her house, a crumbled ruin in the heart of Georgetown, Washington, DC, is pillaged nightly by thieves looking for treasure rumored to be hidden there.

A distant niece, Margaret O’Keefe, is tapped as executor and soon becomes embroiled in the hunt for recovering monies, taking it on as a welcome escape from her financial and marital woes.

As Margaret discovers caches in unlikely spots throughout the house, family mysteries begin to unravel. She questions whether Aunt Blanche is an insane fool or a daring genius, yet Margaret must also wrangle with her own hidden truths.

Pressed toward a convergence of their pasts and presents, the two women must ultimately face down a fateful discovery in order to rectify their lives.

Shrouded in gothic undertones and dark artifice, The Spinster's Fortune is a tale that takes the listener on a strange journey through tangled webs of family deceit.

But where does it end?

©2021 Mary K. Lavin (P)2021 Mary K. Lavin

3.75/5 The Spinster’s Fortune by Mary Kendall

Narrated by Rachel Errington
Run Time 7 hrs and 55 mins

Summary:
There are almost two story-lines here. There’s what happened in the past to Blanche and between Blanche and her sister Emily. Then, there’s also Margaret’s quest to find Blanche’s fortune.

Additional Comments:
• I feel like this has some pacing issues. There’s a lot of setup to get to the payoff.
• Margaret’s okay, but I don’t really feel like rooting for her. She’s a rich lady getting richer. Her husband’s a dud, but that’s her own fault for marrying the pretty drunk.
• Blanche is okay. We do get to see her a wee bit in her mind as the beautiful young woman she was once upon a time.
• The cousin is downright annoying. Note: she’s supposed to be, so in that sense, it was intended.
• The sister for Margaret didn’t add anything. There could have been a chance to contrast the relationships between Blanche and Emily and Margaret and her sister, but it just felt like a lost thread.
• Margaret’s husband has few redeeming qualities. It’s never really clarified if he was straight up cheating on her though. There are a few other threads that feel unresolved.
• Robert’s the quinessential nice guy.
• I had a very difficult time figuring out what era the story was told in. Part of the history is back during the Civil War, but most takes place in the early 1900’s-ish. There are cars. The servants seem to be relics that came with the place.
• The treasure hunt aspect was fun.
• There are a few nice twists that redeem some of the confusion along the way.
• Wrapup works even if it seems too convenient.

Conclusion:
It’s an interesting historical-ish piece. If you enjoy slow-build stories with decent payoffs to mini mysteries, give it a go.
*I received a copy of the audiobook. I have chosen to review the book. All thoughts are my own.