Born of Gilded Mountains

June 1, 2024
Mercy Windsor always knew she had a home in her pen pal's mountainside community, but after leaving Hollywood in 1948, Mercy's reunion with Rusty Bright is lackluster. Gone is the charismatic young letter writer who encouraged Mercy with gumption and sincerity. Instead, Rusty is a woman hardened by grief and resentment. In an effort to restore their bond, Mercy insists that she and Rusty follow the trail of clues from a secret pact of generations past that promises treasure. But the search for the missing rail car and its mail bag will bring more than answers to the people of Mercy Peak. Born of Gilded Mountains is a historical inspirational novel that uses letters, screenplays, newspaper articles, and interview notes amidst the narration to reveal a story of friendship, grief, and healing. Dykes (All the Lost Places, 2022) is an expert in guiding readers through her unique blend of literary complexity, time hops, and a treasure-hunt trajectory. From Rocky Mountain trams and majestic waterfalls to the underworld of mines, the theme of being a light in the darkness is persistent and uplifting.

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Starred review from July 26, 2024

Due to a mail mix-up, Marybeth Spatts, from the coal mines of North Carolina, and Rusty Bright, from the mineral-rich San Juan Mountains of Colorado, become accidental pen pals and fast friends on the cusp of the Great Depression. Kindred spirits on the page, the girls vow to one day find the lost treasure that will save Rusty's Colorado town of Mercy Peak from extinction. When Marybeth finally visits Colorado in person, however, all her dreams change. A chance role in the last silent film catapults her to stardom, and she becomes Hollywood's latest darling, who can do no wrong--until she's locked out of the studio under mysterious circumstances. A return to Mercy Peak reveals that the Galloping Goose mail train disappeared the same day Marybeth left, and the infamous locomotive may hold the key to both riches and restored friendship. VERDICT Dykes (Whose Waves These Are) doles out just enough clues to keep pages turning in this sweeping historical mystery where each character is fully developed, similar to the novels of Chris Fabry or Stephanie Landsem.--Christine Barth

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