The Second Life of Mirielle West; A Haunting Historical Novel Perfect for Book Clubs

The Second Life of Mirielle West – A Gripping Tale of Courage, Isolation, and Reinvention

In 1920s Louisiana and Los Angeles, the dazzling world of a silent film star’s wife is shattered when she is forcibly quarantined at the Carville Leper Home. Inspired by the true story of America’s only leprosy colony, this compelling novel illuminates a little-known chapter of history, resonating with fans of Fiona Davis, Tracey Lange, and Marie Benedict.

Mirielle West, a glamorous socialite married to a Hollywood star, is abruptly torn from her privileged life after a doctor notices a suspicious pale patch on her skin. Instantly branded a leper, she is whisked away to Carville, Louisiana—hundreds of miles from home—where patients lose not only their health but also their civil rights, identities, and dignity. Stripped of her name to shield her family from scandal, Mirielle arrives at Carville expecting a temporary exile. But as she soon discovers, those sent here are prisoners more than patients, with no cure in sight.

As she grapples with stigma, isolation, and experimental treatments, Mirielle must forge a new sense of self in a place designed to erase her. Can she find purpose and resilience in a world that has cast her aside?

Drawing from her background as a registered nurse, Amanda Skenandore brings historical and medical authenticity to this unforgettable story of survival and self-discovery. The Second Life of Mirielle West is not just a novel about the Roaring ‘20s—it’s a powerful reflection on a public health crisis of the past, made all the more poignant by today’s own struggles with disease and isolation.