Just a few weeks before, the entire town was destroyed by a fire that ravaged the countryside. The people of Hinckley are trying to put the town back together, but the lives of those who live there will never be the same. Could the mysterious hermit be someone who survived the fire? Ellie Jean hopes it’s her mother, Nora, who disappeared into the smoke after throwing Ellie to safety on the train. Josef is praying that it’s Maggie, his wife and mother of the infant he is now caring for on his own. Arla is afraid it may be her daughter, Rakel. If it is, will she reveal Arla’s secret?
Veil of Fire is Schalesky’s fifth book. The story finds it’s basis in history. A fire leveled Hinckley, Minnesota as well as five other towns in September 1894. It was one of the worst fires in history and destroyed 400 square miles, killing over 400 people in only four hours time. After Hinckley, MN was rebuilt, rumors spread of a strange hermit living in the hills outside of town. No one ever discovered if there was any truth to these rumors.
The writing keeps you on the edge of your seat, guessing what might be around the corner. The characters are well developed and yet you don’t know them well enough to decipher who the mystery man might be.
