JayneB Reviews / Book Reviews19th century / addiction / Artist / epistolary / female friendship / found family / Gilded Age / Historical fiction / New York City / Nova Scotia / Womens-Fiction2 Comments

A thirty-year-old mother of two and wife of a prominent Brooklyn ship broker registers at the Queen Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, using a false name. Two weeks later she is buried in the local cemetery. Or is she?

Without family or friends, health or hope, Sadie Walford arrives already contemplating a drastic next step. But she hasn’t counted on the likes of Eleanor, the hotel’s no-nonsense bookkeeper, or Maggie, the annoyingly helpful head maid, who both have other ideas.

A chance encounter with a thief sets events in motion, and Sadie will be forced to choose: What is she willing to do to conceal her past, preserve her freedom, and claim the life she desires?

Inspired by actual events, this epistolary tale of heartbreak, healing, and hope unfolds through journal entries, letters, recollections and accounts. Set in Halifax, Manhattan, and on Long Island during the Gilded Age, Mrs. Walford is a story of found family, love delayed, and the power of friendship in turbulent times.

CW/TW – addiction, treatment of addiction, hints of possible domestic violence

Dear Ms. Tyedmers, 

I wasn’t quite sure what I’d get with this novel but I was intrigued enough to want to find out. The part about it being inspired by actual events must have not registered with me so discovering that after finishing it was a nice surprise. But I love what you’ve done with the bones of Sadie’s story.

The “or is she?” part of the blurb goes ahead and gives away part of the story but whet my appetite to discover how this was all going to play out and what was behind Sadie’s actions. The truth is somewhat sad at first but as the book progressed, I got caught up in Sadie’s story, how she ended up in Halifax, and what happened next. 

Readers need to be ready for a fairly large cast of characters but, not to fear, they are slowly introduced. But it still took me a little while to remember them all and be ready to switch narrators each chapter. At times tenses and POV also change though after finishing the book, I can now see why one character’s “entries” are so different. Just … keep reading. The novel is described and I’ve tagged it as epistolary but in reality it’s a combination of letters, diary entries, written recollections, and newspaper clippings. It all comes together and flows and I sucked it down in two days. 

The background given to Sadie to explain her actions and the changes in her life are heartbreaking but also, I would imagine, not that uncommon in that day and age

What comes to bedevil Sadie was all too easily obtainable and the actions of her husband all too believable. Men can always find a way to relieve themselves of an unwanted or embarrassing wife. 

Female friendship is the backbone of the story. All these characters spring to life and I easily imagined them moving in and through each other’s lives. There are some nice and honorable men, too, but it’s the women who tell this story, stand by each other – well, mainly, and give each other the help needed. 

Patience is needed when starting the book. It will all come together and make sense. Also the timeline shifts throughout so be ready for that. Space is given to describing details in Sadie’s life and I feel like I got a great view of Gilded Age and also working class, NYC and Halifax. I think some readers might question a few of the family choices that Sadie makes but remember this was an age when men still held most of the cards and she (probably rightly) feared for her safety. I think she does what she does based on love. It is certainly an unusual book but, I think, will reward those who decide to try it. B  

~Jayne     

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