Mary Louise Solves a Mystery by L. Frank Baum

Mary Louise Solves a Mystery opens with a wrenching deathbed farewell, as young Alora "Lory" is told by her dying mother, Tony Seaver, that her long-absent father, Jason Jones, is finally coming to claim her. What follows is a story of grief, suspicion, and hard-won trust, as Mary Louise enters Alora's troubled world and begins to sense that the adults around her are hiding far more than they reveal. When Dr. Anstruther summons Jason to his wife's bedside, the man's delay, demand for money, and shabby unease only deepen the mystery—especially when Antoinette dies at the instant of reunion. Set against the lively backdrop of Dorfield, a modern small town full of sharp-witted conversation and close community ties, the novel blends family drama with amateur sleuthing. Mary Louise's return brings warmth and disruption, while Peter and Hannah Conant, their spirited niece Irene, and Colonel Hathaway all weigh in on Jason's character and the new arrangements. As Alora grows closer to Irene and clashes with her father's self-interest, clues about his motives, secret investments, and fascination with aeroplanes suggest that the truth is still unfolding. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.