The Orphan Collector: A Novel By Ellen Marie Wiseman
In this compelling sneak peek, Ellen Marie Wiseman unveils her haunting new novel set during WWI and the Spanish Influenza pandemic. The story intertwines the lives of two women, 13-year-old German immigrant Pia Lange and grieving mother Bernice Groves.
Amidst the anti-German sentiment of 1918 Philadelphia, Pia yearns to escape the crowded streets and the shadows of war. The deadly Spanish influenza further threatens the city, pushing Pia to venture out for supplies, leaving her infant twin brothers vulnerable.
Bernice, grappling with grief over her lost baby, becomes fixated on a sinister mission to transform orphaned and immigrant children into what she deems "true Americans." Pia's journey through the somber neighborhoods takes an unexpected turn, with consequences that will alter her family forever.
As Pia seeks justice for her brothers, Bernice's dark plot unfolds. The narrative weaves suspense and poignancy, exploring themes of loyalty, loss, and the lengths individuals go to survive amid historic turmoil. Ellen Marie Wiseman's evocative storytelling promises a gripping tale of resilience and the quest for justice against a backdrop of pandemic and war. ππ