Bone House by Betsy Tobin

This source presents excerpts from "Bone House: A Novel" by Betsy Tobin, published in 2000. The story, told from a first-person perspective by a young woman, revolves around the mysterious death of Dora, a strong, independent woman known as the "great-bellied woman" and a midwife. The narrative explores the villager's reactions to Dora's death, the investigation into her demise by a magistrate, and the impact on Dora's son, Long Boy, and the narrator's own mother. The excerpts also touch upon the narrator's personal history, her dreams, and her relationship with her mistress at the Great House, hinting at deeper secrets and a search for truth within a community steeped in suspicion and fear.