A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz

The story opens with 11-year old Maud Flynn singing in the outhouse of the Barbary Asylum for Female Orphans. Attracted by her beautiful voice and small size, elderly Hyacinth Hawthorne adopts Maud and takes her home to the other old maid Hawthorne sisters. Soon Maud learns that she will be expected to participate in the family business of duping the bereaved through sham seances. At first Maud has little problem with this arrangement, eager as she is for Hyacinth's love and approval. Later, she meets a wealthy victim of her deception and begins to feel guilty. A near-tragic fire reveals who really loves "plain, clever, and bad" Maud, and the happy ending is assured. As promised in the title, melodramatic touches abound, but so do charming turns of phrase. The strong, likeable heroine and the remorseless villainess and their story are well worth the time it takes to read the 389 pages.