As Paul begins his research, it becomes evident that Dr. Hollingsworth’s life is intimately connected with the lives of Silas Baker and his family. Baker was a self-made entrepreneur who was responsible for the prosperity of the area during his lifetime.

Nora Ryan, the curator of the local museum, warns Paul that although much of the information he needs about Hollingsworth will be found through researching the Baker family history, any attempt to publicize the lives of the members of the Baker family will be met with violent opposition.

Although somewhat taken aback by the outright resistance of Ms. Ryan and her colleagues, Paul is determined to fulfill his contract. Not only will he make a substantial amount of money if his book is successful, but his name will be established as a reputable researcher, which could lead to other prestigious and lucrative deals.

Katie’s Will is told in the increasingly popular method of presenting two story lines concurrently. In this case, the present day research of Paul Fischer is the subject of one story, while the story of Silas Baker, his family, and the Hollingsworth family is the subject of the other plot.

While the Baker-Hollingsworth family histories are virtually unknown to Paul, the reader gets a first hand account through the development of the secondary plot. From this perspective, there really is no mystery involved. Katie’s Will does not develop the sense of foreboding that holds interest and creates excitement.

Mr. Mitcheltree’s strong suit does seem to be character development. The characters in Katie’s Will are all well fleshed out and believable. Both the physical environment of a rugged life situation, and the emotional environment created by the interaction of the various characters’ personalities are the subject of intense scrutiny by the author. While, I don’t necessarily agree with the author’s belief that the personalities of children mirror those of their parents, in the scenario that he has created, this assumption seems to be a valid one. A reader looking for the perfect hero will not find him here. All the characters in both story lines have some major hang ups in their personalities.

Although the setting is rural Oregon and recognizable as such, the events could easily have taken place in any number of places. Little attempt is made to describe the local terrain so that the reader gets a distinct impression of what this part of the United States is like.

Those readers who enjoy historical novels will probably find this book a delight. One gets the flavor of an earlier time, interspersed with comments by present day characters as they view that same time frame.

--Andy Plonka