Read for the TBR 2008 Reading Challenge.
Cordelia Underwood or the Marvelous Beginnings of the Moosepath League is a fun historical adventure/mystery/very slight romance set in my home state. The story is engaging, as a Mainer, watching the action move from my hometown (Portland) up the coast, through Bangor and into the woods of Millinocket (the only location in the book I’ve not visited) is just tons of fun. You can tell the author did his research by the care he uses with his locations.
Cordelia Underwood is a young woman living in Portland, who suddenly finds herself the heiress to some land her uncle, a sea captain, owned in the woods of Maine. Her family’s adventure while visiting this land is central to the story.
Also central to the story is Tobias Walton, a genial older gentleman, returning to close up the family home after the death of his aunt. He’s not been back to Maine in years, and finds a great deal more adventure than he bargained for.
There are a number of characters introduced in the story, and since this is the first book of a trilogy, I’m sure there are more opportunities to get to know them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and will definitely try to get my hands on the next two. The book seemed well received by critics, but I’d be interested to get the reaction of a regular non-Maine native, just so I can try to sort out how much of my enjoyment was location based, and how much was story based.