Flying Solo

 Linda Holmes is the author of Flying Solo, a fictional novel set in Maine. In this story Great Aunt Dot has died. Niece Laurie decides she will leave her home in Seattle to empty Dot's house and all of her many, many belongings. Dot died at age 90 after traveling the world and bringing home trinkets and treasures. Dot has way too many books and an entire closet of Polaroid photos. Some items are kept for certain family members but things must be handled by Laurie. Laurie finds important letters used as book marks. She finds a carved wooden wood duck at the bottom of the cedar chest. Laurie wants to get to the bottom of why Aunt Dot kept this duck in this cedar chest. The whole story takes place over a month in Maine. Soon Laurie will head back to her house and her life in Seattle. In the process of handling Dot's estate, Laurie comes to know and love her aunt even more than she did before. This story is not literature but it was a pleasant distraction to read it.