It is more fun to read this page after you have read the book!

Maine seems made for mystery! Old houses, historic inns, mysterious islands, ocean fogs, and tales of treasure abound.

A Mystery in Maine

There are many real places which inspired A Mystery in Maine. Don't look for an exact fit with the story, however. The real places gave me ideas. My imagination supplied the rest!

I visited Burnt Island Lighthouse in Boothbay Harbor a few years ago. It is a living history museum, with summer tours and educational opportunities. The buildings have been beautifully restored and redecorated to 1950, while nature trails established along the rocky shore appeal to the outdoor enthusiast. As soon as I saw this beautiful place, I immediately knew it had to be part of my story.

"Sunset Point" was based on a beautiful spot on Deer Isle -- the Edgar Tennis Preserve. And yes, there really is a cemetery there! The gravestone with the ship was something I made up, however.

The Holt House, built in 1815, is now a museum run by the Blue Hill Historical Society. The house contains furniture and clothing, quilts, photographs, and more, from the last three centuries. One item in particular fascinated me -- a mysterious rug with pictures. This became the rebus rug in my story.

The tiny Chase Emerson Memorial Library in the town of Deer Isle gave me the idea for the library in Stone Harbor. The library in Spencer was inspired by the beautiful library on the town green in Castine.

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Background about The Mystery of the Ancient Coins

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