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Well-known author Annie Barnes always has related to Grace Metalious, who wrote the controversial bestseller PEYTON PLACE in the 1950s. PEYTON PLACE is even said to have been based on Annie's own hometown, Middle River.
When Annie's mother dies with Parkinson-like symptoms and her sister Phoebe begins exhibiting similar symptoms, Annie returns to Middle River to look into the cause and to deal with her guilt for not helping her mother during her illness.
Her first step is to meet with Tom, the doctor who appears to have bungled her mother's medical care. Surprisingly, they connect over the medical mystery. Tom and Annie also discuss the fact that Middle River residents appear to have much more illness than average. Both suspect that there's an environmental cause, quite possibly from the Northwood Paper Mill, owned by the most powerful family in town, the Meades. To complicate matters, Annie detests Aidan Meade after a disastrous teenage romance with him.
Tom suspects the residents are suffering from mercury poisoning. Can Annie prove that the patients actually have been exposed? Since mercury can lie dormant in humans for long periods, and the mill no longer uses mercury, Annie must delve into the town's past. The townsfolk are in an uproar. They are sure Annie is there to write about their secrets, as they believe Grace Metalious did years ago. James, the older Meade brother, confronts Annie, asking if she is writing about his family's mill. Yet he seems somewhat mysteriously concerned over the death of Annie's mother.
Time passes, and Phoebe worsens. Can Annie unlock the town's mystery in time to help her sister, and so many others who are also ill? And if the problem is the mill, will Annie's family forgive her for jeopardizing their livelihoods? Soon, she has yet another puzzle: Who is the anonymous emailer offering to give her information about the mill?
This well-written story constantly held my interest. The characters are believable and likeable, and the plot is brisk. There's a bit of juicy romance and a lot of fascinating mystery. There's even somewhat of a ghost story, as Annie is haunted by the opinionated Grace Metalious. All this, plus some heartwarming family interaction, adds up to a very enjoyable read.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
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