The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin
One of my favorite reads lately has been Lynn Austin’s dual-time novel, The Lumber Baron’s Wife.
In the late 1800s, Hannah and her physician husband, John, accept an invitation from lumber baron Henry Abernathy to move to northern Michigan. Still reeling from the loss of her three children, Hannah wrestles with grief, bitterness, and questions about God’s goodness.
Henry’s wife, Kate, is one of the strongest secondary characters I’ve encountered in a novel. She longs to find her place in a world of wealth and high society that never feels like home. Early in the story, we learn that Kate’s disappearance was never solved, making every chapter of her story impossible to put down.
In the present day, Ashley follows her husband to the same community, where she joins a team restoring the lumber baron’s mansion. As she uncovers pieces of the past, she’s drawn into the mystery surrounding Kate Abernathy’s disappearance.
The story is filled with twists and turns. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Lynn Austin revealed the truth. I never would have guessed the ending, yet once it was revealed, it felt completely right.
This novel shines a light on people with hidden wounds, quiet sacrifices, and impossible choices that few will ever fully understand. Those often overlooked by the world.
Yet God overlooks none of it. Instead he sees the hidden pain and breathes his healing into the situation. That truth is the heartbeat of this story.
These characters—and the hope woven through their lives—will stay with me for a long time.