The Lumber Baron's Wife

By Lynn Austin

When the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873. After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she'd leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy--a friend of her husband, John--offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town, where John's skills as a doctor are sorely needed, Hannah reluctantly agrees. There, she meets Kate, Henry's spirited, much younger wife. Kate's sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town's elite, and when she begins confiding in Hannah, it's clear her marriage is not what it seems . . . and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present day. Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home--built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife--Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum. While volunteering with the restoration, she stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy's disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth--one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

Standalone historical fiction about marriage, grief, and the power of female friendships from the author of All My Secrets and Long Way HomeA richly layered Christian women's fiction novel with elements of mystery, perfect for fans of Martha Hall Kelly, Kristy Cambron, and Susan MeissnerIncludes discussion questions for book clubs

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1496476395
• ISBN13: 9781496476395
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Riveting and engrossing!!!

This is a review for The Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin. I was given an ARC in return for my own opinion. Normally I do not enjoy dual time books, but this one hooked me from the beginning. I rate it 5 stars, because I really enjoyed this story! It's a fictional story set in the lumber boom in Michigan back in 1873 when the lumber barons were stripping the forests bare thinking there was a limitless supply, but didn't realize the damage logging would do to the ecosystem, nor also how dangerous it was for the men working that lumber! In 1873 -This story follows a young woman, 18 year old Katie, who started out in very humble beginnings, let herself be swept off her feet by a much older, and much richer, lumber baron named Henry Abernathy. Katie is uncultured, so Henry introduces her to the local doctor's wife Hannah, the wife of Henry's friend, to help refine her so she can rub noses with high society, and not embarrass him. Katie is hungry for love & friendship, so she trusts Henry's decisions. Henry had convinced the doctor and his wife to settle in Michigan because of the high need of medical attention in the lumber town. Hannah has recently lost her three children to childhood sickness, and has stopped living because of it. So when Hannah's husband is offered a job in a new town in Michigan, Hannah decides to go, even though life doesn't seem to matter much to her. She is introduced to Katie, who instantly wants to be best friends, but Hannah, although reluctant at first, agrees to help tutor Katie, and begins to open her heart again through their friendship. As their friendship develops over time, Hannah notices things aren't right, but Katie just denies them, so she doesn't push, but later she regrets that decision! Present day, Ashley and her husband David are house hunting in the same Michigan town Katie & Hannah lived, and their realtor shows them the house Henry Abernathy had built for Hannah & the doctor back then, and that they lived in till the doctor retired. Ashley grew up moving from place to place because her dad was in the army, and she wanted the first house that she & David would buy together, to be the home where she can put down roots in. David grew up believing his father abandoned him and his family, and he believes that they need to be financially stable, which in his eyes, will lead to peace and happiness. So David takes a job in Michigan, and they move there. While looking for the perfect house, both have different ideas of what that looks like: David wants modern, but Ashley wants a house that feels like home! They are shown the doctor's former house, and even though its really old, Ashley immediately loves it, but David wants no part of it! The battle begins, but Ashley wins, so the doctor's house it is. Moving into that house, their realtor tells Ashley about the town legend of the unsolved disappearance of Katie Abernathy, and about the restoration project of their old mansion. Ashley is intrigued, and goes over to see it immediately, where she meets the project leader Freida, and eventually becomes a part the team who are restoring the old mansion. Through her developing friendships with Frieda & the community, and doing her part to help restore a beautiful old mansion, and through Katie's story, and God's love & grace, Ashley and David both truly find their home!

Riveting and Compelling!

A gorgeous historical house with a mysterious legacy, set in a white pine logging town in Michigan, holds secrets that bind three women from the past and from the present in this captivating dual timeline novel of God's deep and unfathomable love. In the past Hannah and her doctor husband John move to Michigan in hopes of a new beginning after losing their 3 children to tragedy, at the request of John's war buddy, Lumber Baron Henry Abernathy. Hannah is tasked with teaching Henry's young wife how to behave in polite society, but she believes her aching heart has little to give. In the present-day Ashley and her new husband David, struggle to find a home and common ground that they previously thought was so plentiful. Ashley is drawn to investigating the history behind the Abernathy home after being invited to join the community in reviving a once stately historical mansion. Hannah had everything until tragedy took it away, now starting over putting up with the childish antics of Kate Abernathy is the last thing that she thinks she needs. I liked how Hannah was patient with Kate, kindly showing her the correct way to things are done even if it was begrudgingly at first. Kate and Hannah are very different, but I liked how they found common ground and purpose in helping others. Hannah was probably my favorite character, not your typical protagonist, grieving and struggling to trust God, while putting one foot in front of the other and doing the next thing in front of her. I admired how John was tender, supportive of and patient with her. Ashley in the present day is faced with a different set of challenges, but I liked her willingness and passion for the project. Despite their differences, Ashley and David have a deep love for each other. Freida is a spry older woman who brought her community to them, welcoming them with open arms, offering friendship and no condemnation. A riveting read, that walks the line between 2 timelines, with complex characters against the ruthless and once beautiful white pines of Michigan. The book does a great job of drawing you into the lives of three very different women, unwinding their lives and delving into their relationships, revealing a beautiful and shining truth. Compelling and memorable. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Must Read for all who love Christian Historical Fiction

Lynn Austin has done it again! She has taken me back in time and wrapped my heart around the characters in the book. To quote Hannah from the book: “Birth and death, sorrow and joy, suffering and peace came tangled together in this precarious dance of life.” Austin has long been one of my favorite authors in the way she gives me a well-researched glimpse of history. This novel is a must-read for everyone who loves Christian historical fiction!