I awoke the other day to an eerie keening of the wind and believed the ocean had delivered a storm to our shores here on Aquidneck Island. Although the sudden nature of the storm puzzled me—there hadn’t been the slightest indication the previous night—I turned over and tried to go back to sleep. But the winds had other ideas and kept sending up cries to echo beneath the eaves of my house, yanking me from sleep each time my eyes fell closed.
I padded my way downstairs to discover the other inhabitants of Gull Manor, my seaside home, awake as well. These included Nanny, my housekeeper and surrogate grandmother; Katie, our maid-of-all work who came to Gull Manor after deplorable circumstances led to her dismissal from employment at The Breakers a year ago; and a temporary guest, Stella, bruised and demoralized the night she turned up on my doorstep, but determined to forge a better life for herself away from the sailors, dockhands, and, yes, wealthy men of lewd tastes who mistreated her. We had all been roused from our beds by the same noisy squall—and yet were baffled by the blue skies that greeted us when we opened our curtains. Were we all hearing things? Dreaming the same dream?
But there was little time to ponder. We had the day’s food to prepare and laundry to wash. Barney, my aging roan hack, needed tending. And I had articles to write, for though I’m part Vanderbilt by heritage, none of the family fortune has trickled down to me. I have my home and a modest annuity left to me by my great aunt Sadie—a Newporter through and through and something of a suffragette—and I have my independence, which I treasure. But remaining independent means, much to my Vanderbilt relatives’ chagrin, that I must work, and so I write articles for the Newport Observer, being one of few women in a man’s profession, even if my employer believes female reporters should concentrate on balls, fashions, and other society news. Humph. I have proved him wrong a time or two.
But I would write no articles that morning. I was on my way from the morning room to the front door to see if the morning paper had come when the elusive storm once more kicked up with a mournful wail that crawled inside me until I trembled. Determined to get to the bottom of whatever strange weather phenomenon this was, I hurried to the front door and tossed it open, ready for the blustery onslaught…only to fall to my knees in shock.
Here was no storm, no oddity of nature, but a baby, swaddled, tucked into a basket, and left, red faced with crying, on my doorstep.
Who is he? Who left him? And most pressing of all, is there a connection between this poor mite and the man I later discovered was found dead—shot—not two miles from my house? If so, is the child himself in danger?
These are the questions I must answer, dear readers, and I ask you for your help. Accompany me during my search, which will take me to Mrs. Astor’s Beechwood estate for a Season opening gala; to the New York Yacht Club, the hospital, the Point section of Newport, a lonely railroad track, and a grand steamer anchored in the harbor. Together we’ll ask questions, we’ll poke about, and we will prevail. We must. A tiny, precious individual is depending on us.
You can read more about Emma in Murder at Beechwood, the third book in the “Gilded Newport” mystery series, published by Kensington. The first two books in the series are Murder at the Breakers and Murder at Marble House.
About Murder At Beechwood
For Newport, Rhode Island’s high society, the summer of 1896 brings lawn parties, sailboat races. . .and murder.Having turned down the proposal of Derrick Andrews, Emma Cross has no imminent plans for matrimony—let alone motherhood. But when she discovers an infant left on her doorstep, she naturally takes the child into her care. Using her influence as a cousin to the Vanderbilts and a society page reporter for the Newport Observer, Emma launches a discreet search for the baby’s mother.
One of her first stops is a lawn party at Mrs. Caroline Astor’s Beechwood estate. But an idyllic summer’s day is soon clouded by tragedy. During a sailboat race, textile magnate Virgil Monroe falls overboard. There are prompt accusations of foul play—and even Derrick Andrews falls under suspicion. Deepening the intrigue, a telltale slip of lace may link the abandoned child to the drowned man. But as Emma navigates dark undercurrents of scandalous indiscretions and violent passions, she’ll need to watch her step to ensure that no one lowers the boom on her. . .
Giveaway: Tell me, what is the oddest, most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you? Was it a positive experience, or not so much? Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on June 1 to be entered in a drawing to win either a signed print copy (U.S. only) or an Audible edition (open to all) of my previous book, Murder At Marble House. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the Author
Alyssa Maxwell is the author of the Gilded Newport Mysteries and, beginning January 2016, A Lady and 
Lady’s Maid Mysteries, beginning with Murder Most Malicious set in England in 1918. She lives in South Florida in the current year, but confesses to spending most of her time in the Victorian, Edwardian, and post WWI eras. In addition to fantasizing about wearing Worth gowns and strolling manor house gardens, she loves to watch BBC and other period productions and sip tea in the afternoons. she positively loves writing historical mysteries, and is currently working on the fourth Gilded Newport Mystery, Murder At Rough Point. You can learn more about Alyssa and her books at www.alyssamaxwell.com, and friend her on Facebook.
After coming in from the yard, dusting myself off, I took my sweatshirt off and a small snake fell on the floor. Shocking to say the least. It was just a garter snake, who was gently placed back outside. But my heart took quite awhile to settle. I would love to accompany you on your search! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
I can’t think of anything that would fit you quirky, but I would love to read this series. Thank you.
I didn’t mean quirky, I meant criteria.
one time, our very large dog was across the street in the park, i looked out the window, and saw him about to get in a fight with another dog, i REALLY didn’t want him to! i called him, and he ignored me, all of a sudden, in real life, truly, he went up in the air off of the ground in the other direction of the dog!
i was shocked (but glad!) and the other dog looked at both of us like “Flying dogs!? i’m out of here!” when our dog had his feet back on the ground, he shook himself, gave me a nasty look, and came back in the house! he didn’t ignore me as much after that!
woofmew@aol.com
That is so funny….
I was on holiday, the first time in this city when I said I wanted to see museum but had no idea the name or where about. We asked every shop keeper, no one knew what I was talking about. We got in the car, I told my friend turn right here, go this way and that. Said there would be a town greens area. Then we see the greens and across the way is a NEW museum that is under construction in an old church . There was a man out side we talked to him, the museum was not opening for another week, there was no sign , he ended up taking us on a tour of what was there and talked for over hour. It was wonderful
I collect vintage girls series books (Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton, etc) and once when we were in a bookstore in Indianapolis, I was thrilled to find two shelves of old Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books with beautiful dust jackets for only $5 each. I bought every one that they had! They were perfect and beautiful and way under priced. Many I already had at home and was able to resell them on eBay. Very positive experience, like a dream come true.
When I was a teenager, we lived in a small town and there was a wooded area behind my house. One day we look out the window (to the backyard) and saw a bison running across (just off our property) heading Northeast. (Where we lived, bison was not common.) We all stood there a little stunned and wondering if we just saw the huge animal. In minute or two, we saw a pickup truck chasing the bison. (It looked like a bumpy ride.)
A few minutes later, we saw the bison running back across again (back the way it came) as it was being followed by the truck!
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Before my husband and I got together I lived in a mobile home. The local wild momma cat decided to take up residence underneath one spring and she gave birth to about 3 kittens. So I would hear them meow through out the night. One morning I awoke to some weird noises coming from my front door when I got there I found an adorable bright blue eyed kitten sitting on my porch. Fast asleep. I don’t know if it was meant to be there or if the momma kitty was wanting me to have this little guy. Took him inside and took care of him for a few months before I had to give him up (due to health and finances) but he was the sweetest little kitty I’ve ever seen. Never did know what happened to the other two kittens or the momma cat.
A friend from England on vacation was going to Disneyland for the first time. I lived nearby and told her I would go too and “try” to meet her, but we did not specify time or landmark. Within minutes of my entering the park, we spotted each other. Like magic.
I cannot wait to read this one. I have just started this series and I love it!!
Thanks for introducing me to this!
My neighbor introduced me to her cousin who was “the perfect guy for me.” He was much older than those I had dated in the past, he was in the middle of his THIRD divorce, and he lived in another state. We were engaged three weeks later. We’ve been married 19 years.
I haven’t read this series – yet! However, after reading the above comments I have decided 1) I have lived a VERY boring life, and 2) you have MANY great ideas for future stories!
Behind the house is 10 miles of desert. In the evenings love to walk there. The beauty and serenity eases the cares of the day, they just melt away as one enjoys the beauty of the sunset. And one appreciates the artistry of their Creator.
Good morning, all, and thank you Dru Ann for hosting me today on your wonderful blog. I believe I asked a very good question, because the answers here are fascinating. Snakes, flying dogs, bison, unlikely happy coincidences… Life is indeed often stranger than fiction. Thank you to all who have commented so far.
One day many years ago I went for a long walk and encountered an old neighbor with whom had lost touch. That day I had a feeling that I would meet someone. This was meaningful and long lasting.
Many years ago, my first husband was ill in the hospital. All of a sudden a little wind blew through our hollyhocks and made the strangest most mournful sound I have ever heard. Just a few minutes later I got a call that my husband had passed. I have never been able to plant a hollyhock since—they just give me shivers.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Many years ago my sister and I stopped at a gas station. We waited for the attendant for a long time and finally a guy came out and said the other guy will be right out. We waited some more and suddenly it hit me. I told my sister we should go check on the guy. We found him tied up in the back room. He was shaking and said the guy had a gun. We were very lucky the guy didn’t shoot us because we were able to identify him.
My husband (boyfriend at the time) put something on my finger but wouldn’t let me look at it. He asked me if I would marry him. Not knowing what he had put on my finger I was a little hesitant – hoped it was a ring but it felt different than a ring. I said yes and I got to look at this beautiful diamond ring. He did good.
thanks.
I love this series , it’s very well written and always keeps me guessing ! My most unexpected event would have to be running into my best friend out of the blue after losing touch for a couple of years. We realized after seeing each other again we didn’t want to be just friends any more, one year later we were married, and that was 15 years ago ! kathambre@yahoo.com
I see several comments about meeting significant others. A friend of mine years ago told me I would “just love” her boyfriend’s roommate. She meant it in the most general way, but turned out we fell in love immediately and married a year later. That was almost 34 years ago.
It would have to be the family vacation we took when our three boys were young. We decided to rent a cabin in a campground in Northern Ohio. We were trying to figure out what to do for dinner one night and ended up going to a buffet place about 10 minutes away. Just as we sat down for dinner after going to buffet the lights went out and it turned black outside. Then sirens started and staff said for everyone to get away from windows and go to the bathrooms for cover that a Tornado was coming:( After 20 minutes huddled and scared we were able to come out. The Tornado had just missed us. We felt very blessed. Then we went back to our cabin to find it under a huge tree! The campground had been hit. So our vacation became a helping trip. We began helping everyone dig out of various locations from tents, RV’s and cabins. Everyone survived due to great planning with the park and shelters. This was a vacation that we will never forget!
Certainly not odd but totally unexpected was the surprise birthday party my children orchestrated for me four years ago. It definitely took me completely by surprise when I walked into the room filled with family and friends!
I love this series! I can’t think of any really good story, but, one more than one occasion, we have run into people we haven’t seen in years while travelling far from home. A little weird every time it happens.
First of all, I would like to wish Alyssa all the best with her release of Murder at Beechwood. The first two books in this series are phenomenal and I am sure that you will find Murder at Beechwood every bit as wonderful.
As to an unusual experience, I have had a few, but one that I just cannot ever forget was a few years ago in our new condo where we moved after retiring, I was in bed reading and my husband was in the living room watching television and reading as well. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw movement but dismissed it a few times UNTIL I saw what was moving. It was a squirrel that had come in the house while we were either bringing in groceries or unloading the car with my husband’s wood for a project and had slipped into our bedroom unnoticed until almost midnight that night. I calmly (at first) said to my husband to please come in to the bedroom and bring a broom and he surely could not figure that out. So, without trying to get the squirrel all crazed, I said, there is a squirrel or something sitting on the bureau staring at me. Obviously, he thought I had fallen asleep and was dreaming, but sad to say it was all too real. He finally ran into the bedroom and closed the door behind him, being the most important decision of all so we could contain this little speed demon in one room and the bathroom and the closet!!!! Needless to say, we finally met the challenge of getting the squirrel out of the house and by 3:30 a.m. as. we finally managed to get him out of the closet where he/she had run (in addition to being behind every piece of furniture, on every window sill, the sink, and more too), by draping a big beach towel over it in a lasso type fling of the towel and then scooping it up and bringing it outside (after many attempts I might add). Do you know how much “residue” a squirrel can leave in a room and on the tops of your clothes while he or she is climbing them?? The answer: A LOT. I wanted to hire professional cleaners for this job but instead just got to work at 3:30 a.m. putting all the clothes into the laundry and then cleaning and sanitizing every wet spot and every “solid” drop in the room. I used a medical mask to do this as I just had no idea how toxic this squirrel was. I never got any sleep that night but at least we were not chasing it around other rooms for days and the little guy/girl was returned safely to the outside where it belonged. But let me tell you, after seeing a squirrel that could honestly “fly” I don’t ever want a repeat of that situation ever again. When anyone mentions “flying squirrels” I can relate really well to that term. 🙂
Cynthia B
OMG… Straight out of “Christmas Vacation”. But I can’t imagine how scary that was for you and for the poor squirrel.
One of my close encounters with an animal happened recently. Barbara, above, mentioned a snake sneaking into the house on her clothes. I was sitting on our deck only a few months ago, minding my own business reading, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a long black snake slithering out from behind the barbecue in my direction, only a few feet away. I yelped, we both freaked out, and he turned around and darted away. But he tried to slither back out a couple more times. I was horrified. I do not like snakes!
Would love to read this
Looks good!
Most unexpected thing was last year when I won a kindle. Was thrilled.
Thank you guys for writing about your odd and/or unexpected experiences. The most recent unexpected for me is being nominated to an Anthony Award for this blog.
Unexpected, maybe, but so well deserved, and couldn’t have happened to a nicer person!
Not very odd, but definitely a unexpected marvelous surprise. I was teaching a delightful fourth-grade class partnering with another teacher for many reading and writing activities. She arranged for my class to through me a bridal shower. I always thought myself an observant teacher, but never caught on; signs, decorations, a beautiful cake, and little gifts all secretly popped up after lunch. I cried and the kids were thrilled it really was a surprise. It sure made me question what else these little ones had done under the radar.
When I was in my 20’s I worked for the City of Columubs Ohio. I worked in the business office and ran the mail to all the departments in the building by the back elevator. Well….. ( I have been watching the tv show “Stalker” recently and love it… but it brought back memories of those day working at the city when they had to call in a detective to catch a guy that was stalking me. He would call and make lewd comments and say he was going to get me. He would tell me what I had on and so on. He even called my home. But after they posted a plain clothes detective in the office next to mine …. It all stopped. They think it was someone from inside the building. This was an unexpected mystery in my life.
That’s so frightening! I’m glad the police took it seriously and whoever it was finally left you alone.
Also congratulations for being nominated. I am sure you are very excited.
Im sorry to say nothing weird type/like comes to me right now but I sure would love to read this book, ty for the chance
When I was in high school (many years ago) I saw 2 snakes fighting with each other up on the hill by our house. I was freaked out! I ran into the house and prayed they wouldn’t end up on the porch.
I think my freakiest happening was probably years ago. When I was in a dance recital. My tap routine called for me to play a besotted cowboy who followed behind and repeated the steps of the pretty cowgirl. The cowgirl forgot to take her place on stage and I froze. Who knows what would have happened if the teacher hadn’t chased that girl ll back on stage. Traumatic at the time, but I overcame it. The whole thing seems awfully small today.
While living in Kansas I took a beginning genealogy class with a new friend, Laurel. The class included creating a family tree and we both chose the maternal side of our family. One night, as we compared our ‘trees’, we discovered that both of our mothers had lived in Pierre South Dakota and were close in age. Even though Laurel’s mother had moved to another state when she was in junior high, we wondered if our two mothers might have been aware of each other. We both contacted our mothers and, much to our surprise, we discovered that they were not only aware of each other, they had been good friends who walked to school together almost daily. Who knew that over 30 years later their daughters would meet and become friends as well. What a great memory and it certainly proved to me that it’s a small world!
A friend and I were hiking up a mountain in the woods, and I told her to go ahead, as I am a slow hiker. A few minutes later, I was coming up to a curve in the path with a huge tree obscuring the view around the curve, when a huge rabbit suddenly rounded the curve toward me. We looked at each other for a split second; we both jumped; I let out a tiny screech, and he bounded back behind the tree. I calmed down quickly, and said in a soft voice, “It’s okay little one”. He tentatively hopped around the tree and looked at me, then started hopping toward me at a fast pace, down the middle of the path. It was the strangest thing, He came straight at me, on the two foot wide path, instead of going off to the side. I was just starting to think he might be rabid and about to attack me, when he simply passed me by, so close that he almost touched my boot. He was the largest rabbit I’d ever seen. When I caught up to my friend, she said he had passed her right on the path and had scared her as well.
I went through the garage to go to my mailbox and when I passed under the garage door something fell onto my head. I was going through a rough time and was so distracted I payed little attention and continued to the front of my house to get the mail. I looked through it for a couple of minutes and went to head back into the house through the garage when I remembered something had fallen onto my head. I put my head down and shook it and a lizard fell onto the ground and ran. It was black like a salamander and quite big. How it stayed on my head without moving is beyond me. When it’s hot they sometimes sit on the rungs of our garage door. When we put it up they fall off. Needless to say I gasped. Fortunately I didn’t get into my car and drive off somewhere. It would have been like one of those GEICO commercials!!
I’d love to find out where that baby came from in your book.
Lauigl [at] carolina [dot] rr [dot] com
If I don’t win it I’m buying it for sure.
The most unexpected event to happen to me was 7 years ago, when I was diagnosed with a kidney disease…
It was definitely a negative, as my whole ‘food-style’ had to be changed….
But the positive was 2 years later, I had a kidney transplant & 5 years later, I’m healthy & eating again…..
Thank you for this giveaway……LOVE this cover!!!!
The most unusual thing that happened to me was being stalked by someone when I worked for a city. He left me notes, presents, and kept coming around my apartment. He finally left me alone when I made an appointment with him and had two burly police officers sitting with me at the appointment.
The most unusual thing that happened to me is that one day I answered the phone and the caller said “You’ve won a trip to the BVI and I didn’t say anything so they repeated it and then said Peggy are you there. I then said yes they said don’t you remember that you signed up for this contest do you remember where you signed up from. I answered No I don’t but then I believed them that we had won the trip. I had to heart to tell them that I was a person who signed up for any contest that i saw. I always believed you can’t win unless you sign up so in grocery stores etc. i sign up. Well we went on the trip and it was the trip of a lifetime although we were so lucky that we didn’t have to pay anything as we went years ago with hardly any money. The trip was right after my husband went back to work so needless to say it was a time that we went 4 mo without a paycheck. So glad I answered the phone and didn’t let the machine pick up!
Woke up one muggy afternoon in summer from a nap to see leaves being churned up outside the window — and my husband watching on the porch. TORNADO! I got my daughter and the animals downstairs. Silly men. LOL Although they called it “straight line winds” it sure made a mess in our yard and around the ‘hood – trees torn up from the roots, huge branches down, and our cars and houses covered with leaf bits. We had to hose everything down. Took days to clean up.
I LOVE that photo of Alyssa! This series is great, love it!
I have loved reading these stories!
The most unexpected thing that happened to me was being diagnosed with cancer. While that is negative in one sense, it did bring a lot of positive into my life and for that I am very thankful. Looking forward to reading this book!
Positive. My former Ohio next door neighbor, Fred, married one of my best California high school friends, Cathy. And I did not have a thing to do with it. They met all by themselves in California. What a surprise, coincidence and small world indeed! They live in Florida now but spent many years working for our government in Saudi Arabia. Judy D.
Can’t think of anything at the moment. I love to read mysteries.
Gosh I have a lot of odd things happen. I got proposed to by a Mormon Missionary. I gave a lecture at a Museum and came home with 500 antique post cards gifted me by someone attending among many. Thanks for the chance of a giveaway.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I grew up in upstate NY in an area that had many dairy farms. I lived in a residential neighborhood but not too far from fields used my the farmers. One morning my mom opened the living room drapes and found a cow looking back at her. A bunch of cows got out of a broken area of the fence and wandered around.
Thanks for the chance to win.
scarletbegonia5858@gmail.com
I have a pocket sized rosary that my mom gave me several years ago. I keep it in my purse, so it gets jostled quite a bit and it separated at one of the beads. I don’t take it out often so I don’t know how much time passed, but when I looked at it again, it was back together. It has happened a few times since. The experience brings a sense of peace like I have never felt before.
Thanks for the chance!
A widow . I left for a 2 day trip and on the way home on the third day coming over the mountain after doing a side trip to see the sites I came back in range for my phone and realized I had all These voice mails. low and behold They were calls from the Sheriff’s Office and they had put out a BOLO for me my crazy male neighbor had told them I was missing..I was so embarrassed and upset and began laughing as I am 66 years old and not used to telling anyone my business. I told them , no I am fine and I am NOT missing and not kidnapped etc…He is no longer speaking and no I did not and never have and never will date him..Had not been dating anyone…Ha ha ha boy was I embarrassed then I got tickled at my age to be reported missing. Just wild widow on a short trip.
Would love to win Murder at Beechwood.📖📚. Thanks for the chance.
Looks like a great read
Thanks for everyone commenting on their experiences.
Contest is closed.