The Inheritors

by Jane D. Abbott

The will of old Josh Trevett requires his heirs to spend the summer together on the farm. The cherished homestead would be inherited by whichever of the heirs wished to live there.
Jennie Todd eagerly left her unsatisfying career for a country refuge, while her vivacious young niece, Cindy, daughter of the family's black sheep, looked forward to a reunion there with her father. And Hester, Jenny's older sister, arriving with her daughter Enid, harbored a rankling disappointment that impelled her to protect her claim to the property.
Another heir, the handsome artist who had been old Josh's last companion, was already in residence. Gary Norbeck was a stranger to them all, his past a matter of rumor and speculation. Suspicion fell on him when some of the money old Josh had left went missing.
For each one, the turning point came unexpectedly, in a moment of crisis that led to a new understanding of the ties of kinship and responsibilities of love.

Genres: Fiction

254 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Jane Ludlow Drake Abbott (1879-1962) was an American author who began her career writing for adolescent girls, and went on to write adult romance. Born in Buffalo, New York, to a family involved in the shipbuilding industry of the Great Lakes region, she was educated at Cornell University, and married Buffalo attorney Frank A. Abbott. Most of her twenty juvenile titles were published under the name Jane D. Abbott, although a few were released under the name Jane Abbott. Her adult titles were all released under the name Jane Abbott.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When old Jehosophat Trevett leaves a will dividing his property equally amongst his nephew and two nieces, on the condition that they live together for three months on his farm outside of the small village of Killbuck, he sets in motion events that will bring together a family long estranged. The eldest, Mrs. Hester Wilmer, ashamed of her humble roots, leads a life of social pretension in Buffalo, and only comes in order to spite her social club, be revenged on her husband and daughter, and claim the entire inheritance for herself. She brings with her Enid, the daughter who never seems to appreciate the many social benefits her mother has worked so hard to see that she enjoys. Tommy Todd, the middle child, long since sunk into a life of crime, is unable to come, but his long-time friend Dan Dooley brings his innocent nineteen-year-old daughter, Cindy. The youngest child, Miss Jennie Todd, desperately unhappy in her life as a Housemother at a girls' school near Cleveland, jumps at the chance to get away and be (as she imagines) by herself. Thrown into this mix is Gary Norbeck, the young artist who had been living on Josh Trevett's property, and who inherited an acre of his woodland, and Wickford Middleton, Killbuck's only lawyer, and the executor of the Trevett estate...

Published in 1953, The Inheritors is the seventh of Jane Abbott's books that I have read, and the first that is intended for adult readers, rather than children or adolescents. Although there were aspects of it that felt rather dated - in particular, the social climbing concerns of Hester - for the most part I thought that the personal and familial issues raised by Abbott in her story felt quite contemporary. Some of the developments were easy to spot - I predicted one of the two romances from the first chapter - but others came as something of a surprise. I fully expected all of the characters to come to a better understanding of themselves and each other, and while for the most part this was true, there were some notable exceptions. Hester never accepts Cindy as her niece, for instance. My personal favorite, of the characters, was Jennie, and I really enjoyed watching her unfold and grow in her new environment. I also appreciated the sections from Hester's perspective, because while I didn't find her a sympathetic figure, I thought Abbott captured her internal struggles quite well. I was reminded, while reading, of her The Young Dalfreys , which displayed some of the same psychological insight into the characters. All in all, I found this an enjoyable read, and would certainly read more of Abbott's adult output.

[Joanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of an old fashioned story, but very enjoyable. A good summer read!

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 1953, but I enjoyed it. The plot was interesting and the characters entertaining.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book I inherited from my grandmother. A group of disparate relatives have to live in the house to be able to take part in the inheritance. A decent read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good character development as always. I enjoy her formula. She developed her characters to get you invested in the story then the last half of the book hits you with drama. Unlike modern books, romance is not graphic but developed through friendship and relationships. Only criticism is that the painter's character line needed more development.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my tbr pile for YEARS. For some reason I thought it would be boring and just kept putting it off. When I finally picked it up, I loved it. Sure it’s a little slow paced, no huge drama, but the simple characters pull you in. I loved how they each found something at Old Josh’s farm. Not all good. Sweet ending.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book! I loved all of the characters except one. And that character was just so full of bad intent that I couldn't wait to see her get her karma in spades. But, alas, she left the story just before it ended and I was sorely disappointed.