The Mystery of Mary

Written by Grace Livingston Hill

Narrated by Karen Commins

When Tryon Dunham’s train after work arrived at the station late, he had no idea that the course of his life is about to change forever.

He needs to hurry home and change clothes for an evening dinner party, so he decides to walk along the tracks to save time. A beautiful, well-dressed young woman overtakes him and begs his protection from mysterious pursuers and a threatened evil that she refuses to explain.

Is she a criminal? Could she be an escaped lunatic? Has she been kidnapped? Whatever the source of her terror, Dunham immediately decides to trust and help her. In the brief time they are together, he learns she is well-educated and musically gifted, but not much else.

He gives her money and arranges her train ticket to Chicago but then regrets not going with her. He keeps thinking about her and finally decides to travel to Chicago and search for her even though he doesn’t know her last name.

Meanwhile, Mary has further adventures in Chicago to keep her identity unknown and her presence hidden so her pursuers can’t find her. Will Tryon be reunited with Mary, discover the cause of her peril, and deliver her from harm?

Grace Livingston Hill was a prolific and well-loved author early in the 20th century. Publisher’s Weekly summarized this 1912 book as a “bright and wholesome mystery story”, while fans then and now swoon over the old-fashioned sweet romance between Tryon and Mary.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Big Happy Family
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798985216110

Grace Livingston Hill

Grace Livingston Hill was an early–twentieth century novelist who wrote both under her real name and the pseudonym Marcia Macdonald. She wrote more than one hundred novels and numerous short stories. She was born in Wellsville, New York, in 1865 to Marcia Macdonald Livingston and her husband, Rev. Charles Montgomery Livingston. Hill’s writing career began as a child in the 1870s, writing short stories for her aunt’s weekly children’s publication, The Pansy. She continued writing into adulthood as a means to support her two children after her first husband died. Hill died in 1947 in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

Reviews for The Mystery of Mary

[Donna Larson Christian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the second time I`ve heard this book and don`t ever get tired of her writing. Thank you, and thank you too for sure a good job of reading it to the world.

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The title of this story pretty much sums up the story line. Mary is a mystery lady and Tryon Dunham is trying to find out who she is and why she is running away. You won't find out until the very end. It is not a long book, so you can read it quickly.The mystery woman appears out of nowhere as Tryon is walking away from the train station. She tells him she is in danger and asks for his help to see her to safety. Much happens before Tryon finally puts her on a train to Chicago, without learning her name or what she is running from. Tyron just cannot forget this woman he has called Mary, so after many months he sets out for Chicago on business, but is also determined to find Mary and make sure she is safe. Meanwhile Mary has to find a job, which she has never had to do in her life, and live a life of obscurity. (When you find out why at the end, you will understand her great dilemma.) As you know Tryon and Mary will finally meet, the truth will come out, the damsel in distress will be rescued and love will blossom. But it was interesting to read and especially to learn the evil plan that was meant for Mary.

[reneh-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A romance with some aspects of mystery. I liked it very much when I read it. After reading a biography of Grace, I wondered if this is the kind of author for me. Still, I liked this book very much, so who knows.
I can stongly recommend this book.