Publication Date: April 15, 2025
A clever young woman, a contested will, and an estate that does not easily give up its secrets.
It is 1901 when clockmaker and tinker Sydney Forrester receives a most unusual inheritance. Blakely House, the island estate of an estranged uncle she’s never met, seems almost alive, revealing and hiding its secrets at will. It is filled with remarkable inventions, including an intriguing unfinished automaton Sydney is itching to get her skilled hands on.
The estate is also home to a number of peculiar people—including two men intent on removing this interloper from the island. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle’s death, the late master’s nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.
Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate’s butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master’s brilliance as well as his property—or someone else will.
A female inventor captivates readers with a quirky story exploring the benefits of taking chances.
Sydney Forrester stands out from other early 20th century women because of her interest in fixing things. She’s the perfect narrator for Joanna Davidson Politano’s The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House.
The storyline features a definite whimsical tone as Sydney embarks upon a journey to claim a piece of property inherited from a relative she had never met. What unfolds is an adventure full of mystery. The author provides a backdrop shrouded in atmosphere.
The property she is set to inherit is a tinkerer’s dream, full of unusual gadgets obviously created by someone with brilliant skills. However, Sydney’s plans are thwarted by an interesting plot twist.
The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House offers a respite from traditional mysteries by delivering a colorful romp featuring a memorable main character.
Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, A Midnight Dance, The Lost Melody, and The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.
