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Dec 17, 2017
Molly is coping with a miscarriage and the impending loss of Bridie, her ward. Bridie's father and brother have survived the building of the Panama Canal and are planning to reclaim Bridie and return to Ireland. Molly has been helping her mother-in-law recover from an illness, while Daniel has been helping the founder of the Secret Service with investigations. Mrs. Sullivan has taken in an orphan named Ivy as a maid, and is apparently planning to educate her as she did Bridie. Christmas was supposed to be spent with Mrs. Sullivan, but she receives an invitation to spend Christmas with an old friend. Molly's friends, Gus and Sid, are going to be away. It looks like a small Christmas with just Molly, Daniel, and Liam, their son, and Bridie. Then suddenly Daniel's mother's friend invites all of the Sullivans. When they arrive, however, there is a strained atmosphere. It is revealed that the daughter of the household disappeared on Christmas Eve ten years previously. Molly offers to investigate and persuades Daniel to help. The recruiting of helpers includes Gus and Sid, who it turns out are at a nearby inn. The family secrets that are uncovered do not contribute to a jolly Christmas, but the details of daily life and Christmas in the early 1900s are very well done. This is definitely a cozy mystery suitable for a comforting Christmas read.