A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz

What would you do to get what you want? Author Laura Amy Schlitz takes a sweet and unique perspective on this question in her debut novel A Drowned Maiden’s Hair, which gets its title from an old folk song.

Orphaned Maud Flynn is neither pretty nor desirable enough to interest foster parents, so she compensates by being talented at mischief-making. She, therefore, is as surprised as anybody when Hyacinth Hawthorne, a visitor to the Barbary Asylum hears Maud singing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” while locked in the outhouse for misbehaving and immediately decides to adopt her. Captivated by her new caretaker, Maud vows to be as angelic as possible, and does not even complain when she is bossed around by Hyacinth’s sisters Judith and Victoria and told to stay out of sight in the house’s attic. Soon, she learns that the Hawthorne women are involved in a mysterious moneymaking scheme and need Maud’s help. Expert at creating fake séances, they plan to convince a rich, grieving woman that they can contact her drowned daughter – with Maud acting as the girl’s ghost. As Maud struggles to please the Hawthornes, she becomes increasingly unsure about her future with the sisters. When, she wonders, will she know that her love for them is returned? And what will she do to secure that love?

          Featuring a deliciously creepy setting, A Drowned Maiden’s Hair combines historically sound details of a popular scam of the early 20^th century with the excitement of a ghost story. Schlitz incorporates thought-provoking themes regarding the ethicality of lying in order to please another person, as well as the true nature of happiness. The author is especially adept at revealing each character’s motivations to ensure that their actions are always believable. Both haunting and heartwarming, Maud’s tale of loneliness and love is well worth reading.