Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace
Widow Minerva Place is used to a quiet, orderly life, and she prefers it that way. She has little interest in idle chit-chat with her neighbor Nella, or the Baptist Minister of Music, Brother Larson. She teaches piano lessons to the local children out of necessity rather than genuine affection for young people. In her free time, she visits the nearby graveyard, finding names to research at the library. To Minerva, the tales of the dead are far more intriguing than the living, and she writes down their stories based on her findings and a bit of imagination.
But sometimes, she gets the facts wrong, and lately, the dead have been visiting her to make corrections, making her question her sanity. On top of this worrisome complication, a new man moves into town with his six-year-old son, and even with her discouragement, they take a liking to Minerva and try to include her in their lives. Can these two strangers interest her in the world of the living?
Set in 1950s Paducah, Kentucky, this novel is full of small-town charm and quirky characters. Cantankerous Minerva is endearing despite her ways, and the supporting characters are funny and memorable. The vignettes about the town’s past residents provide another emotional layer to the story, as some had tragic lives, and the ghosts have many issues left to resolve. Humorous and heartwarming, this is perfect for fans of found family stories. As a debut novelist, the author is off to a strong start, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for readers next.
