Hilda Johansson, a young servant in 1900 South Bend, is gutsy, clever and determined to solve a murder so that an innocent person doesn't get blamed. Dams makes her and the Indiana city come alive with meticulous research involving Notre Dame, Swedish Lutherans and even Decoration Day parades. Hilda lets nothing stand in her way, not even her well-meaning sisters and her "young man", Patrick. With her fellow servant, Norah, at her side, Hilda gets to the bottom of the crimes with a few surprises along the way. I enjoy Dorothy Martin, Jeanne Dams' other series character, but I like Hilda even more. I could see her coronet braids and hear her Swedish accent - that's what good writing is all about.