In this Book
- Faithful Unto Death
- Book
- 2011
- Published by: University of Michigan Press
Benzonia, Michigan, 1894: a sleepy Congregationalist community, dedicated to the education of hardworking and virtuous young people of both sexes and all races. Anna Spencer Thacker is the daughter of missionaries, a faithful wife, and mother of five, pious to a fault. She is suddenly stricken with a mysterious ailment that soon proves fatal. Was it truly an unfortunate illness? Or was it murder---or suicide?
Taking a true story of a murder in her own family, Becky Thacker has crafted a historical mystery novel whose cast of characters rapidly builds, including William Henry Thacker as deputy sheriff, deacon in his church, a kind man . . . but perhaps just a trifle too fond of the attractive young housekeeper; and Charlotte Spencer, the pretty missionary sister, almost saintly in her efforts to bring Jesus to the Armenians in the mountains of Turkey, though a bit prone to exaggeration. She could be a suspect---or the next target.
The children are Roy, 19: musical, a good student, but a little too wild for Benzonia; Ralph, 17: trying to shoulder the responsibilities of farm and family; and Lottie, 14: a talented young artist trying to take care of young Will and Josie. Faithful Unto Death provides a window into the daily lives of small-town Michiganders at the turn of the century wrapped up in a riveting whodunit.
Cover image by Hemera/Thinkstock
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- p. v
- Death in the North Woods
- pp. 3-5
- "A Little Dolly"
- pp. 8-15
- As the Twig Is Bent
- pp. 16-17
- The Hired Boy
- pp. 18-22
- A Student of the Fairer Sex
- pp. 23-29
- Brainard and "the Benzie Boys"
- pp. 34-35
- Shall We Gather at the River?
- pp. 36-38
- A Mormon Husband
- pp. 39-48
- Henry Makes Up His Mind
- pp. 49-53
- Riding One and Leading the Other
- pp. 54-56
- To Be a Missionary
- pp. 57-60
- Henry and Anna
- p. 61
- Leroy Ferry Arrives
- pp. 62-64
- Leroy amongst the Angels
- pp. 65-66
- They Just Keep On Coming
- pp. 67-68
- A Full House
- pp. 69-71
- Arcadian Interlude
- p. 72
- Elvira Rejoins David
- p. 73
- Charlotte, the Belle of the Ball
- pp. 74-77
- Those Dreadful Sundays
- pp. 78-79
- Works and Days
- pp. 80-81
- How They Grew
- pp. 82-84
- The Massacre
- p. 85
- Overwhelmed
- pp. 86-88
- A Much-Needed Rest
- pp. 90-92
- A Man of Your Position
- pp. 98-104
- Charlotte Changes Her Will
- pp. 105-111
- And Anna in the Middle
- pp. 112-115
- Poisonous Words
- pp. 116-120
- Prayers to No Avail
- pp. 121-122
- "He's Trying to Poison Me as Well"
- pp. 123-124
- Exeunt Charlotte
- pp. 125-127
- "Make Mother Better if It Be Thy Will"
- pp. 128-132
- The Widower
- p. 135
- Brainard Capitulates
- pp. 136-137
- Sheriff Chandler Pays a Call
- pp. 138-139
- The Children
- pp. 140-142
- Henry's Trial
- pp. 143-157
- The Scandal, ad Nauseum
- pp. 158-163
- The Verdict
- pp. 164-166
- A Nestful of Orphans
- pp. 167-170
- The Shipwreck
- pp. 171-172
- Appealing to a Higher Court
- pp. 173-175
- A Note among the "Skellingtons"
- pp. 176-183
- More Than a Brother
- pp. 184-186
- Conflicting Depositions
- pp. 187-194
- Sheriff Judas
- pp. 195-196
- Premature Burial
- p. 197
- A Stormy-Weather Friend
- pp. 198-199
- The Retrial
- pp. 200-219
- Henry Comes Home
- pp. 220-222
- Missionary to the End
- p. 223
- Orphans No More
- pp. 224-226
- Another Shock for Benzonia
- pp. 227-230
- "It's Impossible"
- pp. 231-234
- "Faithful Unto Death"
- pp. 235-237
- The Auctioneer
- pp. 238-245
- The Road South and East
- pp. 246-247
- New Neighbors
- p. 248
- Death in Hadjin
- pp. 249-252
- Ralph's News
- p. 254
- Hattie and Ralph Get a Parcel
- pp. 255-258
- Charlotte Spencer's Journal
- pp. 259-263
- It Is Finished
- pp. 264-267
- The Next Generation
- pp. 268-270
Additional Information
Copyright
2011