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Edith and the Mysterious Stranger

Linda Weaver Clarke
American Book Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781589824690
Reviewed by Allison King for RebeccasReads (6/08)

Edith and the Mysterious Stranger is the second book of the Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho series and is loosely based on the life of the author’s great-great grandparents Gilbert and Sarah Weaver. This story begins in 1904, 7 years after the end of the first book, and Melinda is in the ‘family way’ with the couple's second child. She is having a difficult pregnancy and is told to stay off her feet as much as possible. Her cousin Edith, who is a nurse in Salt Lake City, decides to visit her parents in Idaho and help her cousin Melinda through her pregnancy.

Edith is very independent, opinionated and ‘spunky’, a name she does not like to be called. She has been unlucky in love and has had a hard time finding the kind of man who fits the ‘list’ of qualities she has for dating. Two men find a way to slowly break through to her, and each is completely different in the way they lead their lives. Henry is a school administrator, educated and polite, but he believes a woman’s place is in the home. Joseph is a cowhand, self-educated, plays the guitar, and doesn’t even come close to matching Edith’s list.  A third ‘mystery’ man enters the picture when Edith begins receiving romantic notes, which sweeps her off her feet. She must now make a decision whether to follow her ‘list’ or follow her heart.

In the meantime, Gilbert, Melinda’s husband, has a cattle drive planned that will take him away from her for days. He hires some new men to help, not aware that two of these men are outlaws and cattle rustlers. One of the men, David, is just starting out as an outlaw and feels he has no other direction for his life to go. He soon finds himself falling for the boss’s 16-year-old daughter and questioning what he is getting himself into. He feels pulled to the life of an outlaw, but being befriended and cared for by Gilbert’s family, makes him start to think about a better life he could make for himself.

I really enjoyed the first book (Melinda & the Wild West) and was looking forward to reading this new book. The book is such a mix of genres (Wild West, outlaws, romance, independent women, Christian, mystery), that any age of reader should enjoy this book. I can’t wait to read the third book, coming out this summer!

“Edith and the Mysterious Stranger” pulls you in to the lives of the people of Bear Lake, Idaho. Linda Weaver Clarke has created a story with strong characters, love of family, outlaws and mystery that will have you captivated from start to finish.

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