The Mesmerist
In 1894 Minneapolis, Bethany House, a home for unwed mothers, unexpectedly receives a new “inmate.” Like most of the girls there, hers is a sad case but, beyond that, something about her just seems odd. She seems to be without coherent speech and is given the name “Faith” by the staff. Most of the girls also have pseudonyms for a variety of reasons. Faith has arrived at a particularly frightening time as the city is experiencing a number of murders under mysterious circumstances. Faith’s sometimes outlandish mannerisms, along with her pitiful few words in communicating, cause many of her housemates to become convinced she may be some type of sorceress.
Faith’s roommate, May, a bit more stable and mature than many of the others, begins an effort to determine further knowledge on Faith’s origins. This task is daunting as more murders continue, with some having possible ties to Bethany House. As May delves deeper into Faith’s case, she uncovers even darker and more threatening secrets.
This historical crime novel, based loosely on actual events, is intricate and intelligently written and proceeds through its pages with increasing suspense and tension. The general circumstances of that time and place are well described and show how many women found themselves at Bethany House. Fair warning – men do not come off well here. The best are portrayed as clueless and ignorant, while the worst are sociopathic monsters. In this cautionary tale and distant mirror of today’s burgeoning human trafficking crisis, one character, speaking about Minneapolis, states “Every day this city grows more and more wicked.” At book’s end, the reader may wonder who the real “mesmerist” was. Recommended.
