When my husband and I first moved to Annapolis, Maryland and bought that big house on Prince George Street, I swore it would be my “terminal house” – the last time I’d leave it would be horizontal and feet first. Recently, though, Paul had been hinting that he’d like to find a weekend retreat, someplace where he could escape the constant on-call demands of his students at the nearby U.S. Naval Academy. He’d found the perfect place, too, in Elizabethtown, a bucolic seaside community on Maryland’s eastern shore. Sadly, the deal on our dream home on the Chesapeake Bay fell through because of some barely legal real estate shenanigans, so we bought a fixer-upper instead.
The ink was barely dry on the contract when I happened to run into my former boss, Fran, at The High Spot café. Fran told me about a cache of historic records dating back to the 1840s that had been discovered in the basement of the county courthouse. No use denying that I didn’t have any experience with historic records – I’d actually worked for the woman! – so I volunteered to help her sort and organize them. I was up to my elbows in moldy leather-bound volumes when Paul telephoned:
“You’re needed at the cottage, Hannah,” my husband said. “Rusty’s got the tile laid in the bathroom, but it seems we have a decision to make about the grout.”
“What’s to decide?” I asked. “Grout is grout.”
“You might think so, my dear, but I’m holding a color chart in my hands right now. There’s white, of course, but we’ve also got pure white, antique white, linen white . . .”
“Darling,” I interrupted, “White is white. Pick one.”
“Then there’s canvas, cinnamon, and silver,” Paul continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “Mauve, rose, wheat, cocoa, cayenne, smoke, cadet blue and something called Navajo.”
“Navajo? What kind of a color is Navajo?”
“Kind of a warm beige. But you can see why I need you here.”
“Paul . . .” I began, thinking about the mountains of refuse we still had to dispose of in the courthouse basement.
“I’m leaning toward evergreen myself, maybe black,” he continued.
I had to laugh. “I’m sure. But you’re right, we’re going to have to live with the grout for a long time. Tell Rusty I’ll be home in about twenty minutes.”
I was addicted to those make-over shows on TV like Love It or List It and The Property Brothers, so it sounded so familiar – with a house renovation, there’s always something requiring your time, or your checkbook!
Rusty is our contractor’s son and it was he who made the horrific discovery a few hours later that changed everything — the mummified body of an infant hidden in the rubble of our chimney.
It didn’t take long for the shocking news to spread around town. Then Rusty was run off the road on his motorcycle and I began to suspect that there was something about the discovery that had put his life in danger. I began searching the old courthouse records, researching the history of our cottage, trying to find a connection between Rusty and the tiny, decades-old body and gradually, dark secrets from Maryland’s past began to ooze out. It wasn’t until we attended a Fourth of July picnic where Rusty’s mother was murdered that I knew there was something hidden in those records that somebody with either money or influence or both didn’t want made public.
It’s all over now, of course. We know who the baby was … but nothing in Elizabethtown will ever be the same. I’ve written the story down. I’m calling it “Daughter of Ashes” from a poem by Carl Sandburg about the aftermath of war.
Oh daughter of ashes and mother of blood,
Child of the hair let down, and tears,
Child of the cross in the south
And the star in the north . . .
Out of the storm let us have one star.
The poem gives me goosebumps, and I know my story will give you goosebumps, too.
Hannah Ives
You can read more about Hannah in Daughter Of Ashes, the 14th book in the “Hannah Ives” mystery series, published by Severn House Publishers. The first book in the series is Sing It To Her Bones.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on Friday, September 18 for the chance to win a print copy of Daughter Of Ashes. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
Meet the author
Marcia Talley is the author of DAUGHTER OF ASHES and thirteen previous novels featuring Maryland sleuth, Hannah Ives. A winner of the Malice Domestic grant and an Agatha Award nominee for Best 
First Novel, Ms. Talley won an Agatha and an Anthony Award for her short story “Too Many Cooks” and an Agatha Award for her short story “Driven to Distraction.” She is the editor of two mystery collaborations, and her short stories have been published in more than a dozen magazines and anthologies. She divides her time between Annapolis, Maryland and a quaint cottage in the Bahamas.
Of Daughter of Ashes Booklist says, “The books are full of joy and sadness, of brilliant light and terrifying shadow. Fans of the series will be well pleased, and readers who haven’t met Hannah should do so promptly.”
Visit Marcia at www.marciatalley.com
Oh my goodness! Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
This no doubt will be a great read and I like that there is a backlist!
Another series I left behind..catch up time.
Okay….. Now I want read everything Marcia Talley has written. She’s new to me. Might as well start here.
Sounds like a great read. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of Daughter Of Ashes.
This sounds like a book I want to read. Thanks for introducing me to a new writer and this series.
What an interesting story! Somehow I have missed this series, and I will be reading it soon! Thanks Dru and Marcia for the opportunity to win a copy.:)
This is a new series for me. I’m not sure if it is my cup of tea but the only way to find out is to check it out. robeader53@yahoo.com
So happy to meet all of you new readers! Thanks, Dru, for introducing us. If anyone has any questions about Hannah or the books, I’ll be sticking around today, popping in from time to time to say “hello.”
Wow! I have got to put this on my wish list. I know grout, I know what color navajo, I love those TV shows. Will definitely read this one. Thank you for the chance!
Having just finished remodeling two bathrooms, replacing the kitchen floor, and remodeling my craft room closet – I know about all of those “little” decisions that are so important. Sounds like a fun read.
thanks.
We remodeled our kitchen and I’m not sure we made the right decision on the grout! LOL. I just LOVE those makeover shows on HGTV. Jonathan and Drew, the Property Brothers can come visit me ANY TIME!!
It is a super read! Marcia’s books just get better and better, so well written and a wonderfully crafted mystery.
Enjoy!
I love the Hannah Ives series and can not wait to read this latest book.
This sounds very fast paced and interesting despite grout. I want to read this series.
Grout can be very sexy! LOL.
I’ve been reading this series from the beginning. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of the newest title in the series.
Thank you, Elaine!! Hope you enjoy this one, too.
Would love to win a copy of this book!
I’ve read every one since “Sing It To Her Bones” and there’s a place on my bookshelf reserved just for “Daughter of Ashes!” Marcia…You’re the best!!
Wow, sounds like a great read, would love to win, ty for the chance
This sounds like such a good story, thanks for the giveaway.
Congratulations, Marcia, on your latest Hannah and the super review in Booklist magazine. Can’t wait to read this one.
What an enthralling and fascinating novel. Thanks.
I can’t wait to learn the latest of Hannah and Paul! Hannah’s adventures happen so naturally that I find myself wondering why such things never happen to me. Consequently, after reading DAUGHTER OF ASHES I may decide to never redo my kitchen!
Wow! I need to find out who the infant is and what else happens in the story!
I have read and enjoyed all of your previous books. Really looking forward to reading this new one!
Oh, my. This does sound tantalizing.
I’d follow YOU and Hannah Ives anywhere!
I first U S Naval Academy as my dad taught Gunnery there and then old house, raised in a 1919 house my stepdad built in Napa. Next the colors of white as my son has a small construction company.I need this book.
Wow, a great intro!
I just got back — through TERRIBLE Washington beltway traffic — from a Sisters in Crime / Mystery Writers of America picnic and was amazed to see all these wonderful comments! Thank you, all.
I enjoyed the write up. I would like to be included in this giveaway. It sounds like a great read,
I just saw one of those TV renovation shows which takes place in TX, and I had to chuckle about the grout. I also love to research and cannot believe I’ve not come across the other 13 in the series. I’m at the library now and will check the shelves before I leave.
Oh my… You just wrote the perfect cliffhanger of a tease. Now I absolutely have to read Daughter of Ashes.
So happy to meet all of you! Judy D. if the library doesn’t have the books, please ask for them. Always nice when there’s a waiting list. LOL.
I’m so intrigued by this vignette. Now I feel like I have to get the book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
That was enough about the book to make me wonder how it will end. Going to have to have this one out.
This book has a very good plot that would make you want to read it in one night because it sounds so good.
This is a new-to-me author/series….
Thank you for the giveaway…..
contest is closed.