This was an unusual mystery. I found it a bit slow at first and somewhat confusing but about a third of the way in it got very interesting. A good read.

The Unveiling of Polly Forrest is the first book by Charlotte Whitney that I have read and what a grand mystery it was. I like how the story was put together and kept you guessing and the writing style made the story more interesting. The characters are unique and had a lot of depth, which helped make them more realistic. A definite attention grabber that is intriguing, all the way to the end.

The Unveiling of Polly Forest is a historical mystery set during the Great Depression. It tells the story of a woman who is accused of murdering her husband. The story was very interesting because we wonder throughout the book if Polly Forrest was the actual murderer. I find Polly to be very complex, and it was fascinating to see who she truly was. The only thing I did not like about this book was that it was told from three different perspectives. I thought it should have been dually narrated by Polly or her sister. Still, the story had many twists and turns. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. I recommend this for fans of Karen White, Wendy Webb, and Lauren Willig.

Rich in historical detail, this was a very engaging mystery.
Many thanks to Lake William Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure how this story was going to go, but I enjoyed the journey. As the mystery unfolded, Polly was front and center as a suspect. Each page further into the book led to clues pointing to her, but more suspects cropped up. The ending surprised me as it was not how I thought the mystery would reveal. I also enjoyed the romance between Polly and Zeb, leading to a happier life, as well as the world created by this author. The story was a bit long, but I recommend it.

I received a copy through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

I found this book very enjoyable. I liked t he characters and the story that unfolded. I read the whole thing over a matter of a couple of days.

I loved this book! It kept me guessing until the end; one of those books that you can't put down. Can't wait for he next book from this author!

Charlotte Whitney penned a riveting tale set in rural Michigan during the Great Depression. It provides incredible details of farm life during a difficult time in American history.

Polly wears many veils during this story. She is often pretty, pampered, princess Polly in her younger years. When she faces the decision to return East with her mother to care for her aging grandmother, she opts for a hasty marriage to the older, seemingly wealthy, Sam. But, life is not what she expected and the veils are slowly removed to show many other sides of poor, panicked, practical, and perturbed Polly.

The story is told from three viewpoints; Polly, her older sister Sarah, and Sarah's husband Wes, a Methodist minister. You might even consider the letters Polly and Sarah write to be unreliable narrators of the events. 

The children and locals in the area create richness and add details that bring the story to life. There are so many layers to Polly and the story. They are slowly peeled away to reveal threads of the story that touch on spousal abuse, infidelity, counterfeiting, mobsters, spiritual issues, and of course sibling rivalry.

The story was very well-written, as I expected from Ms. Whitney. It grabbed my attention in the opening pages and held it until the satisfying end.  I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, mysteries, and characters with depth and flaws.

A wonderful Depression era historical mystery! love reading historical mysteries, especially those set in the 1930s, so I was excited to read this book. It was a can't-put-down, fabulous read! The characters were so well written, and the storyline kept me turning the page and excited to see what came next. This is an excellent read for anyone who is looking for a mystery that has an intricate and amazingly written storyline!

"The Unveiling of Polly Forrest" takes us to a farming community in Michigan in 1934. Two sisters live next door to each other: practical and somewhat sanctimonious Sarah and much younger, head-in-the-clouds Polly. Sarah is married to the local Methodist minister and does her best to be a good preacher’s wife. If she once had dreams, they were crushed by the harsh reality of the Great Depression and the need to take care of her husband and their three children. Polly recently married a local farmer after a whirlwind courtship and settled in next door. Despite the general apathy and scarcity, Polly would rather replace her farm chores with more creative pursuits, such as making beautiful hats, sketching, or riding her horse Ginger.

When Polly’s husband Sam suddenly dies in a bizarre farm accident, tongues start wagging and fingers start pointing. Was his death the result of an unfortunate coincidence, or did his young widow have a hand in his demise? The local sheriff wants to leave no stone unturned, but when members of the White House Police show up on Polly’s doorstep, it seems that the mystery runs deeper than the small rural community.

The story is told through three alternating first-person points of view: Sarah, her husband Wesley, and Polly herself. The decision to show Polly’s point of view through her letters to her mother for the first half of the book is a wonderful strategy. Tension builds as the reader anticipates to hear more directly from Polly, and this is granted in the second half of the book. In order to untangle the mystery, it is crucial to get to know the characters better, and piecing together the character of Sam, whose death takes place immediately at the beginning, is one of the greatest challenges.

The values of the two sisters clash, and it is apparent there has been unresolved resentment between them since they were children. Wesley attempts to mediate and be a sobering presence, but he has his own flaws and lessons to learn as he tries to position himself in relation to the two women. It is fascinating to see how the mother of the two sisters only has a limited influence when it comes to resolving matters – signifying the women will have to grow up and do this on their own. The two sides are presented in a balanced way, and it is easy to see where each of the sisters is coming from and to feel for them. Polly in particular is a complex character, and the story is in a sense her coming-of-age story. She has to work on finding her place in the world and building an identity for herself that allows her to exist in the society she inhabits while staying true to herself.

The mystery of Sam’s death runs parallel with the characters’ struggles and as the investigation unfolds, new details emerge and suspicion shifts from one person to the next. All this is set against the stunning backdrop of rural Michigan and the Great Depression, described in enough detail to allow the reader to truly see the characters as real people. Small details such as what they ate, what they wore, and how they did their chores are masterfully incorporated into the story and enrich the experience.

"The Unveiling of Polly Forrest" is both a meticulous and spellbinding character study, as well as a superbly executed mystery thriller. The author captures the essence of a place and time in history and breathes life into her characters in a way that makes them leap out of the page with all the vigor and credibility of real people.

The Unveiling of Polly Forrest is a historical mystery that was released on March 15, 2022 by author Charlotte Whitney. It takes place in rural Michigan in 1934 during the Great Depression. These were hard times when people were so poor, their biggest worries were keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table. This story is told in 3 points of view, Pollys, her sister Sarah’s and Sarah’s husband, Reverend Wesley Johnson. Right in the beginning, Pollys husband is killed in a terrible accident. Is Polly to blame? In the beginning, she is made out to be not such a nice person. Her sister thinks she’s selfish and self-absorbed. As the story plays out, Polly matures and really surprises people. The story surrounds a crime involving Pollys husband and a counterfeiting ring. It has quite a surprising twist to it that I did not see coming. But in the end, the evil get their comeuppance and I was very pleased with the way it all came together. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries and historical fiction. The fact that the chapters were all very short was also a plus in my opinion. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I obtained off the Read Now section to read and review. I’m giving this a 4 star rating!

I received a free reader’s copy of “ The Unveiling of Polly Forrest” through Net Galley in return for an honest review.
When I finished reading Unveiling, my first thought was, “ Well , that was a different sort of mystery and a very enjoyable one.”
It can be summarize as Murder comes to “ The Waltons” , and I mean that in a good way.
Anything more than a quick summary of the plot would be ruinous to the enjoyment of the book for other readers, so with that in mind here is that summary.
The story is set in rural Michigan of the Depression , when things were tough and gettin tougher for everyone, but especially so for small farmers. Two sisters, Sarah, who is married to the local minister lives in the neighboring farm to her younger sister, Polly, and her much older husband Sam. Sarah, fourteen years older than Polly, still takes a bossy , older sister attitude toward Polly, criticizing her carefree, even careless ways, all while envying them. Polly and Sarah’s interactions usually end in sisterly squabbles.
Then one day tragedy strikes. Polly runs screaming g to Sarah’s house. Sam is dead, apparently gored to death by their bull who has somehow gotten loose from the corral. Suspicion falls upon Polly. She was known to be flirty, even after church on Sundays. When most women wore shabby , patched dress, Polly managed looked almost chic in her homemade dresses. And there was insurance money on Sam, lots of money for Depression times. Even Sarah’s minister husband, who sees good in everyone, begins to have doubts. Could Sam’s death have been murder.?
The rest of the story unfolds in alternating chapters , one of Sarah’s viewpoints, the next of Polly’s, with that of the minister husband for leavening. The author manages to differentiate her characters thoughts and feelings. All three of her main characters come alive on the pages , as they cope with suspicion, fear, and the struggles of poor farmers in hard times. The depictions of Depression days ring true. Reminiscent of the writing of Kirsten Hannah, this book reaches out to tug the heart while at the same time giving the reader a good murder mystery.
Enjoyable reading for all readers. No bad language. An exciting climax . No contrived twists

I found this book very enthralling. At times the writing was a bit childish but overall the story and characters were interesting.
Thanks for my arc in exchange for an honest review

This book is historical fiction which takes place in rural Michigan in 1934 during the Great Depression. The story is told from the POVs of Sarah Wolcott Johnson, her husband Wesley Johnson who is a methodist minister, and her sister Polly Forrest who has just lost her husband Sam in a terrible farm accident. A police investigation ensues to look into whether or not Sam's death was an accident.

I really enjoyed this book. It's well-written with interesting characters and a really different story. The story is presented almost in the form of the main characters' journals and it was very easy to imagine the hardships of those years. It's hard to realize that a telephone, indoor plumbing, and electricity were considered out of most people's reach at that time although I remember the days when we didn't have a telephone. None of the characters were especially likeable but I think I'd be pretty cranky too living such a hardscrabble life. It was great to watch Polly mature as time passed. Very unusual for me but I managed to guess the true circumstances of Sam's death.

TW: I know how upsetting many people find animal deaths so you should be aware it happens in this book. It's not really graphic though and you shouldn't miss out on this great book because of it.

My thanks to Lake William Press via Netgalley and the author, Charlotte Whitney, for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Unveiling of Polly Forrest by Charlotte Whitney is a unique story told through three viewpoints about life during the Great Depression. Polly is a young woman faced with moving or marrying. She quickly courts and marries Sam, who turns out to be not all he seems. He is abusive and ugly towards her, leaving her to feel as if she has no idea how to be a wife. When he dies in a horrible farm death, she feels relief and hope. However, the police seem to think she may have been responsible for his death. Add in some counterfeiters and White House police and things get even crazier. Told from Polly's viewpoint, as well as her sister and brother in law, it is an engaging story that will keep you on your toes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This book was fun to read because not only did it take you back in time to a specific period (1930s Depression-era Middle America), but it had an unexpected mystery. I didn't know how the book would end and found it to be fun to slowly figure out.

I can't say I loved any of the characters but I do think there was a deeper message of "you never know what someone else is going through" throughout the book. The writing was overall good but found the author to repeat herself at times and sometimes the dialogue was lacking. However, the multiple perspectives wasn't confusing and actually made the mystery more puzzling.

Polly Forrest lives on a farm in rural Michigan with her husband, Sam. Wes and Sarah, her sister and brother-in-law, live on the next farm over. Polly and Sarah live so close that Polly can see Sarah every day, and Sarah can watch over Polly at all times.
Polly hears a blood-curdling scream during a visit with Sarah and Wes. When they get back to the farm, they find Sam mauled beyond recognition by a bull. Now how did that beast escape its pen? Maybe Polly wanted Sam dead? Would anyone else have killed Sam? Or was it just an accident?
In order for Polly to live her life the best she can, she must work hard to clear her name and regain control of her life.

I absolutely adored this book. It's told from three different viewpoints with not one of the people very likeable at first, at least to me, until they grow on you. It's told during the depression era and the research is impeccable, not only for that time period, but also from a farming community point of view during that struggling time. There is also a little suspense running through the entire book. I really recommend this very highly. It is such an enjoyable read.

4 Stars!

I'm not a huge historical fiction buff, so I am always surprised when I get sucked into a historical fiction novel.

I enjoyed the Depression era Michigan farm setting. I loved the characters and their many flaws - Polly, the young selfish widow, Sarah - the self righteous older sister, Wes - the reverend. I found the mystery enjoyable and wanted to keep reading to find out more. I also really appreciate the clever title that ties into the running theme of the story and the fact that Polly makes hats with veils.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Lake William Press, and Charlotte Whitney for providing me with an ARC.

This was an enjoyable read, thrilling in parts with suspense to keep me guessing until the very end. I loved the start and the ending although I felt it did lag, just a little from time to time in the middle. I loved that Polly wasn't an easy character to get to know, we were given snippets of information from time to time and it was left up to us to make up our own minds about her and whether she was guilty or not. I did enjoy this book though and look forward to reading more from Charlotte Whitney.