Mary Louise

Mary Louise introduces readers to Mary Louise Burrows, a remarkably mature fifteen-year-old attending a boarding school. Her world is turned upside down when her cherished grandfather faces a grave accusation of treason against the United States. Despite her youth, Mary Louise takes the lead in investigating the matter, demonstrating courage and resourcefulness. The story follows her as she gathers allies, including a federal agent and his investigator daughter, to meticulously piece together clues and expose the real culprits. It is a tale of family loyalty, justice, and the power of determination, suitable for middle-grade readers who enjoy mysteries and strong female characters.

The title character is Mary Louise Burrows. In this first book of the series, she is a fifteen-year-old girl with unusual maturity (though the other girls in her boarding school find her somewhat priggish). She is suddenly confronted with the fact that her beloved grandfather is suspected of no less a crime than treason against the United States. With the help of old and new friends of Mary Louise, her grandfather's innocence is revealed and the truth is uncovered. The novel features a federal agent named John O'Gorman; he is assisted by his daughter Josie, a young woman he has himself trained to function as an investigator.