Father's Secret

November 22, 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas. Isn't it time we all knew what really happened?"With the carefully researched history of Newport architecture and society, Markwith has crafted a compelling mystery that evokes the political and social drama of 1960s New England. A quick pace and likable protagonists make this paranormal treasure hunt a delightful summer escape." — Kirkus ReviewsBuilt in 1900 and designed by period architect Francis Vinton Hoppin (the designer of author Edith Wharton's mansion, The Mount, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's historic Hyde Park, NY retreat), Newport, Rhode Island's Armsea Hall stood as a familiar landmark to boaters frequenting Narragansett Bay until its 1969 demolition.Renamed Annandale Farm in later years, this real-life, 15-acre oceanfront landmark serves as the setting for a mystery that begins in 1964 — the year following President John F. Kennedy's assassination. A then 14 year-old Eddie Sutton moves into the 40-room mansion, along with his father, his wannabe-socialite stepmom, and his Down syndrome, younger sister, Franny (whom Eddie eventually discovers is gifted with psychic talents).Livingston, the family's long-tenured butler, is also on hand, and it isn't long before Eddie, Livingston, and two teenaged locals (with whom Eddie forms a sleuthing bond) find themselves trying to solve the murder of the estate's caretaker. The elderly groundskeeper’s body is found in the greenhouse shortly after Eddie's eccentric Aunt Julia (his father’s twin sister) arrives from New York City for the summer season. It’s only a matter of time before clues and paranormal happenings begin to reveal that the mansion is not only haunted; but could be directly connected to JFK’s 1963 murder in Dallas.Making matters worse, a visit Eddie pays to the Newport Historical Society produces evidence that his family has past ties to the estate; and it becomes alarmingly clear that Eddie’s father and his eccentric aunt could both be directly involved in the plot to assassinate the former president.Set in trendy Newport, RI at the real-life oceanfront estate that Jack & Jackie Kennedy would never get to enjoy, Father's Secret is a paranormal mystery with a new twist on history from author Peter George Markwith (includes black & white estate photos from the author's private family collection).

From the Back Cover

A quick pace and likable protagonists make this paranormal treasure hunt a delightful summer escape." — Kirkus Reviews. Annandale Farm's Armsea Hall located in fashionable Newport, Rhode Island, once held the unique distinction of becoming the nation's Summer White House...until Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Less than a year following JFK's assassination, 14 year-old Eddie Sutton moves into the 40-room mansion, along with his father, stepmother and younger sister, Franny. On the day of their arrival, a series of paranormal incidents begins, with Down syndrome Franny serving as the conduit to a troubled specter's cause. Adding to the intrigue, Eddie's unconventional Aunt Julia shows up for an extended visit from New York City...and the mansion's caretaker is soon found murdered in the greenhouse. Collaborating with two teenage friends and the family's devoted butler, Eddie launches into a freeform investigation that picks up steam during a visit to the Newport Historical Society. As the secrets of the mansion and the members of Eddie's family converge, the collective power proves potent enough to alter the course of history, and change the fortunes of Eddie's family, and his future, forever. Although the characters and plot of this mystery are fictional, Annandale Farm enjoys intriguing real-world history. In 1963, President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy signed a lease on the 15 acre, oceanfront estate whose perimeter once adjoined Hammersmith Farm - home of the First Lady's mother and stepfather. The lease, along with plans for turning the house and grounds over to the Department of Interior for use as a permanent Summer White House were scrapped following JFK's assassination. Several years later, the mansion was demolished. No new structure has ever been built on the original site of the historic Newport cottage, and the reasons behind its untimely demolition remain a riddle.

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