May 28, 1872
M. Wilcox
Rancho de Las Flores
Los Angeles, California

My Dearest Sister Carrie;

I would normally wait until Sunday to send you my usual missive, however, your gift of that lovely, flowered lawn arrived last Saturday morning, and I have just now realized that I forgot to thank you for it in Sunday’s letter. My deepest apologies, darling sister. I am profoundly grateful that you think so kindly of me in spite of such dreadful forgetfulness.

I am equally grateful for the lawn. I will have it made into a tea gown at the first opportunity, although I gravely fear that such an opportunity will not occur for some time yet. The measles in the pueblo continue to occupy the larger part of my time, in addition to the usual diseases and accidents and what-have-you. Such is the life of a doctor, and you may not remind me that I went to great lengths to become one.

The good news is that only three of the children on the rancho have become ill. Ignacio and Lupe are both fully recovered, and Sofia is on her way back to good health, as well. A further blessing is that neither Adrianna nor Elias have gotten the measles. They are both so young, I would fear for a bad outcome in their case.

Elena continues to be quite a help to me. Indeed, she is becoming a most excellent physician in her own right. We must find a way to get her into a medical college.

Since my last letter, I have been having a most vexing time. I believe I have mentioned my dear friend Lavina Gaines’ expected inheritance. Alas, her greedy scoundrel of a brother convinced Judge Widney to put it into a trust until such time as the brother is willing to hand it over. That Lavina is unmarried would make that a reasonable request (never mind that Lavina is eminently sensible and fully able to manage her share of her father’s estate on her own). However, even His Honor questioned Mr. Timothy’s desire to keep the trust without providing for a time when it would be handed over. Unfortunately, Mr. Timothy’s argument was that if he handed it over upon Lavina’s marriage, it would make Lavina prey to all manner of fortune hunters. His Honor had to agree, as indeed it would. None of them, of course, gave any consideration to the fact that Lavina is perfectly capable of recognizing a fortune hunter for what he is and dismissing such.

I was also quite put out this afternoon, when another of our judges, Judge Gresham, summoned me to his presence when he could have quite easily invited me to his chambers or made his request in a note. An Indian woman seems to have died, and His Honor wishes me to examine her before the inquest. That he dismisses the poor woman out of hand leaves me quite certain His Honor will have little confidence in the results of my examination, and we both know that I shall not be allowed to testify, as I am a mere woman.

My dear Carrie, it is such a burden to be of our fair sex! I know well that you feel the same aggravations that I do, which is why I seek the solace of your company, even if only by pen and ink. I have no idea how we are going to achieve suffrage any time soon. I am glad to read that you are continuing your activities on behalf of securing votes for women. Please let me know what I can do.

The vineyard is doing quite well, with the angelica grapes both fruiting and flowering. I expect a good harvest. There does not appear to be any other news of significant interest. I will write again on Sunday, as usual. In the meantime, I remain

Your loving sister;
Maddie

Death of an Heiress, An Old Los Angeles Mystery #4
Genre: Historical
Release: June 2022
Purchase Link

When the unmentionable stalks the pueblo

It starts when the inheritance that Lavina Gaines was to receive is stolen by her brother Timothy. Then an old Indian healing woman is murdered. Winemaker and physician Maddie Wilcox wants to find the person responsible for Mama Jane’s death, but is also occupied with another killer – the measles.

When Lavina’s friend Julia Carson dies trying to rid herself of a pregnancy, Lavina asks Maddie’s help finding the man responsible for Julia’s child. Soon after, Lavina is killed and her murder bears an uncanny resemblance to that of Mama Jane’s. The only motive Maddie can find involves Julia’s death, which is not the sort of thing one talks about. Not only that, Lavina’s nether garments are missing.

It’s a difficult challenge, but Maddie rises to it, searching among the many men of the pueblo, including some of her dearest friends.

How does a proper lady in 1872 get the answers she needs to stop a killer determined to stop her first?

Meet the author
Anne Louise Bannon has made not one, but two careers out of her passion for storytelling. Both a novelist and a journalist, she has an insatiable curiosity. In addition to her mystery novels, she has written a nonfiction book about poisons, freelanced for such diverse publications as the Los Angeles Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Backstage West, and edits the wine blog OddBallGrape.com. On the fiction side, she writes a romantic serial, The Old Los Angeles mystery series, the Kathy and Freddy 1920s mystery series, and the Operation Quickline series of romances with espionage intrusions. Her most recent title is the stand alone Rage Issues. She and her husband live in Southern California with an assortment of critters. Visit her website at annelouisebannon.com.

All comments are welcomed.