The House of a Thousand Candles

by Meredith Nicholson
This book is one of the few books I have reviewed that I would recommend for both men and women. It is part mystery, part suspense with a bit of romance thrown in.
When John Marshal Glenarm dies, his grandson John Glenarm, who is more commonly referred to as Jack, comes home from Naples to hear the reading of the will. Jack is the narrator of the story and up until the death of his grandfather he basically is a adventurer who goes to places like Africa on a safari. His grandfather's will is a strange one; he must stay in his grandfather' partly unfinished house in Indiana for a year. If he does not agree to the terms of the will then his grandfather's house and fortune will go to Marian Devereux, a niece of one of his grandfather's friends, Sister Theresa. Furthermore he cannot marry the said Marian Devereux or the money will go to the school Sister Theresa runs.
If that sounds contrived; it is. But that is the fun of this story, it is not in the least likely to happen and surprisingly modern. So Jack goes to live in the house so aptly named, "The House of a Thousand Candles." The only other person in the house is the butler, Bates, who is slightly odd. The very first day Jack nearly gets shot at dinner and here where things get exciting. There are a few gun fights, secret passages galore and all sorts of strange things. Oh, a battle occurs in the library with Jack, his friend Larry, and the minister of the St. Agatha's school defending the house from invaders. The main point of the story is that someone wants him to not meet the terms of the will and he has to find out who.
If you like mystery of adventure I would recommend this book.
Reviewed by Elizabeth