Where There's a Will

"Where There's a Will" by Mary Roberts Rinehart is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book revolves around the lives and relationships of the staff and guests at Hope Springs Sanatorium, particularly focusing on the spirited spring-house girl named Minnie Waters as she navigates intrigue, duty, and the unexpected arrival of a new owner. The opening of the story introduces us to Minnie as she reflects on her life at Hope Springs, where she has dedicated fourteen years to serving guests and tending to their needs. Following the death of the old doctor who managed the sanatorium, Minnie grapples with her responsibilities and the future of the place she considers home. Key players like Miss Patty Jennings, a frequent guest entangled in royal romance, and Mr. Richard Carter, the doctor's grandson who is expected to take charge of the establishment, begin to emerge. As excitement builds around new developments—including Miss Patty's engagement and intriguing secrets in the air—the stage is set for a mix of drama and humor, showcasing Minnie's bold personality and her connections to the unfolding storylines. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Roberts Rinehart was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie. Rinehart published her first mystery novel The Circular Staircase in 1908, which introduced the "had I but known" narrative style. Rinehart is also considered the earliest known source of the phrase "the butler did it", in her novel The Door (1930), although the exact phrase does not appear in her work and the plot device had been used prior to that time. She also worked to tell the stories and experiences of front line soldiers during World War I, one of the first women to travel to the Belgian front lines.