Patti Callahan Henry’s latest novel, The Story She Left Behind, is a captivating blend of mystery, historical fiction, and emotional depth. Known for her meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Henry delivers yet another memorable narrative that intertwines personal histories with the allure of unsolved puzzles.
Among Henry’s notable works are The Secret Book of Flora Lea, Surviving Savannah, and Becoming Mrs. Lewis, each showcasing her exceptional talent for bringing history to life. With The Story She Left Behind, she takes readers on an unforgettable journey, inspired by a real-life literary mystery that has baffled the world for decades.
The novel opens in Bluffton, South Carolina, in 1927, with the enigmatic departure of Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, a young mother and writer. At the heart of the story’s mystery is Bronwyn’s sudden disappearance and the manuscript she took with her. The gripping first paragraph sets the tone for what is to come:
“It is two o’clock in the morning when she leaves everyone she loves. At the edge of the May River, she unties the ropes of the Chris-Craft from the cleats of the weathered dock and steps into the boat. In the velvet quiet, a new moon cowers behind its dark cloak; the stars flare as bright as the fire that is sending her away.”
As the story unfolds, we fast-forward 25 years to 1952, where we meet Clara Harrington, Bronwyn’s daughter. Clara was just eight years old when her mother disappeared without a trace, and she has spent her life searching for answers. Now a young mother herself, Clara is still haunted by the mystery of her mother’s sudden vanishing. Everyone believes Bronwyn drowned, taking her manuscript with her, but Clara never stopped hoping for a different truth.
Clara’s search takes an unexpected turn when she receives a mysterious phone call from a man in London who claims to have found her mother’s manuscript. Skeptical at first, Clara’s doubts are all but erased when the caller describes a satchel that had vanished with Bronwyn years earlier. Determined to find out the truth, Clara, along with her daughter Wynnie, travels to London, only to arrive during the infamous Great Smog of 1952, a disaster that claimed thousands of lives. Due to Wynnie’s severe asthma, they are forced to leave the city for the safer, more serene Lake District, where their quest for answers continues.
Henry’s rich narrative takes readers on a journey through both personal and historical mysteries. Clara’s pursuit of the truth about her mother’s disappearance leads her through suspenseful twists, as she grapples with unanswered questions: Where did Bronwyn go? Is she alive? What prompted her to leave her family so abruptly? Along the way, romance weaves into the narrative, adding another layer of complexity to Clara’s emotional journey.
The novel draws inspiration from the real-life disappearance of Barbara Newhall Follett, a literary prodigy who vanished in 1939 at the age of 25. Follett, who had published her first novel at age eight and even created her own language, mysteriously disappeared, taking with her a dictionary she had compiled. Her case remains one of the 20th century’s most enduring literary mysteries. Henry uses this intriguing story as a foundation for her fictional character, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, shifting the setting from New England to the Lowcountry but maintaining the essence of the disappearance and the unanswered questions surrounding it.
The Story She Left Behind is a gripping tale that will have readers eagerly turning pages, seeking the resolution to a mystery that spans generations. Henry’s ability to blend historical facts with compelling fiction ensures that this novel will be another standout in her impressive literary career.
