Small Bones

Grant, Vicki. Small Bones. 2015. 256p. ISBN 978-1-459806535. Available at FIC GRA on the library shelves.

Dorothy Blythe is an orphan. She was left on the doorsteps of the Benevolent Home in Hope, Ontario as a newborn. Unfortunately, a fire destroys the orphanage and her life there and she must leave Hope. At seventeen, all she has with her are two items from her past: A fine oversize coat with initials embroidered inside, and a small silver spoon with a coat of arms on it.

On the train taking her East, Dot meets a strange boy, and all of her savings are stolen. Finding herself penniless in Buckminster, where the coat was manufactured, she reluctantly accepts a ride from Eddy, the boy she met on the train. He takes her to the Dunbrae Arms where she takes a job as a seamstress. Dot hopes that her meager clues will reveal her past, but as she gets closer to Eddy and to unraveling the events that took place seventeen years ago, life at the Dunbrae Arms may become very dangerous.

Taking place in 1964, Dot is motivated to discover who she really is. Her relationship with Eddy is rocky but real, and both the main characters and the supporting casts are well rounded and fully developed. The setting is fascinating, and the dynamics of small town resort life are well explored. Fans of romance and mystery will appreciate this book. Shattered Glass is also part of this series.