Veiled in Smoke

December 16, 2019
Christy Award–winner Green (Between Two Shores) sets this tumultuous, affecting tale against the backdrop of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Meg Townsend’s father, Stephen, hasn’t been the same since he was released from a prison camp during the Civil War. He patrols their roof, determined to protect his family from dangers that only exist in his mind. Hiram Sloane is Stephen’s only friend, who also acts as a benevolent uncle to Meg and her sister, Sylvie. When the fire strikes, the family’s home and bookstore are destroyed, Meg’s hands get badly burned, and Hiram is found murdered and Stephen is charged with the crime. Meg is devastated when her father is committed to an asylum, where he is diagnosed with “Soldier’s Heart” (today known as PTSD). Soon Meg enlists the help of Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce to help her discover the truth about her father’s involvement in Hiram’s murder. Meanwhile, Sylvie develops feelings for Hiram’s grandnephew Jasper Davenport, who shows the suddenly homeless sisters nothing but kindness. As Nate and Meg become closer and Jasper appears to be hiding a dark past, Green engagingly weaves subtle faith elements into the mystery and romance. Fans of Lisa Wingate will enjoy this.

February 1, 2020
Meg Townsend is a gifted artist who sells her paintings in the family bookstore in Chicago run by her sister, Sylvie. Their father, Stephen, who suffers from soldier's heart (PTSD) after being held in a prisoner of war camp, Andersonville, during the Civil War, spends the nights patrolling their roof and his days mapping out Andersonville n their yard. They come in contact with Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce when he writes a series of articles about war heroes. When the Great Fire sweeps through Chicago, their home and business are destroyed, and the girls become separated from their father. When they find Stephen days later, he is accused of murdering a family friend, Hiram Sloane, and is sentenced to the Cook County Insane Asylum. Meg asks for Nate's help in clearing her father's name, while Sylvie develops feelings for Hiram's nephew, Jasper, who may know more than he's telling about his uncle's death. History, mystery, romance, and faith combine in the first book in the Christy Award-winning Green's Windy City Saga. Recommend to readers who enjoy Lisa Wingate and Elizabeth Camden.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)