Professor Garth Hellyer is interviewing residents at the Clarkson's Home for the Longevity Project, helping seek out the oldest living person. The director of Clarkson's leads him to Marged Brice, a woman with an intriguing story- but is it the truth? Marged Brice claims to be 134 years old and has a birth certificate and journals she shares with Garth. Is Marged truly 134 years old with a ghostly/mythological companion? Will Garth believe her and her tale about PERDITA?

Marged's story is a fascinating one. PERDITA isn't exactly what I imagined it to be from the description as the supernatural aspects regarding PERDITA are not at the forefront of the tale. Instead, Marged's life and loves take center stage as we eventually come to realize what PERDITA symbolizes to her. PERDITA ultimately leaves us with more questions than answers but the journey is well worth it.

PERDITA seamlessly weaves back and forth between past and present as Garth reads Marged's diaries dating back to the 1800s. Hilary Scharper does a marvelous job at depicting the scenery as the past comes vividly alive. My only regret is that I wanted to stay immersed in the time period, whether past or present, as both aspects are so well done! Readers who enjoy strong character development will appreciate the nuances of PERDITA.

Book Summary

Marged Brice is 134 years old. She'd be ready to go, if it wasn't for Perdita . . .

The Georgian Bay lighthouse's single eye keeps watch over storm and calm, and Marged grew up in its shadow, learning the language of the wind and the trees. There's blustery beauty there, where sea and sky incite each other to mischief... or worse...

Garth Hellyer of the Longevity Project doesn't believe Marged was a girl coming of age in the 1890s, but reading her diaries in the same wild and unpredictable location where she wrote them might be enough to cast doubt on his common sense.

Everyone knows about death. It's life that's much more mysterious...