The Finder of Lost Things
Winter 1590. Blanche Wainfleet is known as a finder of lost things. Utilizing her strong deductive skills, she must now discover who murdered her sister Alison. She’ll do whatever it takes to find out what happened, even send herself to prison to infiltrate a group of Catholics captured during a recent raid at the house of Lady Otley. After the queen pardons all imprisoned women, Blanche is asked to become Lady Otley’s companion, a position left vacant after Alison’s suspicious death. There Blanche poses as a woman interested in converting while attempting to uncover the last days of her sister’s life.
There are many ways to set the historical stage. Emerson has a great sense of vernacular and brings out her characters through period-authentic words and sensibility. The thoughtful sentence construction was a delightful way to welcome me into this time and place. The plot has a good amount of tension, as Blanche is often in dangerous situations trying to unmask a killer. The mystery is multilayered, and unexpected obstacles keep readers guessing until the end. This story is women-led, from Blanche to Lady Otley to the servants and a few others encountered along the way. Conversely, Blanche’s husband and one priest are the only male characters with depth; otherwise, the men feel a bit stereotypical. Overall, an enjoyable period mystery packed with religious tension and danger lurking at every turn.
