Riddle of the Prairie Bride

American Girl History Mysteries

By: Kathryn Reiss

Narrated by: Ruth Ann Phimister

The Kansas prairie in 1878 is the setting for this mystery about a girl who gets a new stepmother—a woman who may not be what she appears

Ida Kate Deming lives on the Kansas prairie with her father. Once a lonely outpost, Hays City is now a bustling town where the twelve-year-old impatiently awaits the arrival of papa’s mail-order bride. Ida Kate lost her beloved mother when she was ten. Now someone new will share their lives, along with the seemingly endless chores. And the best part is, Ida Kate will have a new mother and a new little brother, as well. But when Caroline Fairchild steps off the train, she doesn’t look at all the way she described herself in her letters. Instead of being tall and thin, she’s short. And her hair is the wrong color. And she definitely isn’t allergic to cats.

As Ida Kate races to uncover the truth before her father marries Caroline, a blizzard endangers her new family, and Ida Kate has to figure out where her true loyalties lie.

©2001 Laurie Halse Anderson (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

Fun Mystery!

I believe it was an apt depiction of the era, and the unfortunate plight of single females after the war...and why many became 'mail order brides'. Not wanting to give anything away, I'll just say it was a clean, fun mystery.

Absolutely Loved this historical mystery

The main character Ida Kate Deming is a very likable, young, responsible girl who takes over her mothers responsiblities after her mother has died. I loved the era references as poor Ida spent two whole days in the week to get the washing and ironing done for herself and her father.
The story starts 2 years down the track after Ida Kate's mother's death and Ida Kate's father puts a ad in a newspaper for a wife (refered to as a mail order bride) as a number of women reply. The mystery revloeves around the woman that Ida Kate's father chooses arrives and slowly Ida starts to believe she is an imposter and not the woman they have been corresponding with.
The story is heart felt, well paced, educational in its historical context, the reader is easy to listen to and the mystery unfolds to a pleasant ending.
Can't wait now to listen to another American Girl Mystery. Highly Recommended as my favourite audio book yet.