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The Forgotten Life of Sarah Grady
Inspired by True Events…
To all the world it appeared that Sarah Grady had everything—wealth, a handsome successful husband, and an esteemed place in society. She was beautiful, poised, and well-educated. But undervalued and overlooked in her restrictive 1910’s society, Sarah needed more. Ultimately however, this search for fulfillment brought only greater turmoil and destruction into her life. Hidden away for over a century, secrets about Sarah's double life are revealed through Sarah’s actual love letters found within the attic of the Grady’s grand 1910 estate, built in the once thriving Midwestern town of Decatur, Illinois. Chronicled through real letters written by her lover, a prominent New York businessman and friend of President Wilson, and delivered through the eyes of Sarah, this novel provides a rare glimpse into the nefarious side of upper class society during the tempest of World War I. Over one hundred year later, the mystery surrounding Sarah’s fate is finally unraveled in " The Forgotten Life of Sarah Grady ", a novel based on real people and events. Sarah’s story is continued in Mary Lynn’s sequel novel, “ Sarah’s It’s In The Stars ”…
To all the world it appeared that Sarah Grady had everything—wealth, a handsome successful husband, and an esteemed place in society. She was beautiful, poised, and well-educated. But undervalued and overlooked in her restrictive 1910’s society, Sarah needed more. Ultimately however, this search for fulfillment brought only greater turmoil and destruction into her life. Hidden away for over a century, secrets about Sarah's double life are revealed through Sarah’s actual love letters found within the attic of the Grady’s grand 1910 estate, built in the once thriving Midwestern town of Decatur, Illinois. Chronicled through real letters written by her lover, a prominent New York businessman and friend of President Wilson, and delivered through the eyes of Sarah, this novel provides a rare glimpse into the nefarious side of upper class society during the tempest of World War I. Over one hundred year later, the mystery surrounding Sarah’s fate is finally unraveled in " The Forgotten Life of Sarah Grady ", a novel based on real people and events. Sarah’s story is continued in Mary Lynn’s sequel novel, “ Sarah’s It’s In The Stars ”…
- GenresBook Club
340 pages, Paperback
Published September 13, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 25, 2021
Great read
The book is based on a socialite who lived in Decatur Illinois where they majority of the book is based. Decatur is my hometown. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book though the subject was self destructive in the end. The book was a real page turner keeping me entertained the entire time.
The book is based on a socialite who lived in Decatur Illinois where they majority of the book is based. Decatur is my hometown. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book though the subject was self destructive in the end. The book was a real page turner keeping me entertained the entire time.
December 21, 2020
2.5 Stars
I understand this is a work of historical fiction, but I really wish there was some information about which parts were real and which were fictional.
As far as the story, I'm not sure I understand why the author felt Sarah's story needed to be written. I felt she was a very selfish person who felt victimized by everyone and everything. Nothing was ever her fault. It seems she felt entitled to do whatever she wanted and it didn't matter who was affected by her actions.
I found it somewhat strange when the author would suddenly and briefly change perspectives. The overwhelming majority of the book is told from Sarah's point of view, but it would occasionally switch without warning to tell us William's or Ed's thoughts right in the middle of everything, then go back to Sarah's in the next paragraph.
Being local to Decatur, Illinois, it was kind of neat to recognize landmarks mentioned in the book. I'm not really familiar with Millikin Place other than the Millikin Homestead (the house they fashioned into a hospital in the book). I'm interested in going to check out the area when the weather gets nicer. I was saddened to learn that William had Sam's gravestone removed. I was already planning to go and see it as well.
Outside of the story, I had a VERY difficult time getting past the numerous simple errors. Proofreading is your friend. Know the difference between a brazier (a grill) and a brassiere (a bra), and the difference between prospective (likely) and perspective (a point of view). And, for goodness' sake, learn to properly use commas and quotation marks! It was incredibly distracting to me as a reader.
I understand this is a work of historical fiction, but I really wish there was some information about which parts were real and which were fictional.
As far as the story, I'm not sure I understand why the author felt Sarah's story needed to be written. I felt she was a very selfish person who felt victimized by everyone and everything. Nothing was ever her fault. It seems she felt entitled to do whatever she wanted and it didn't matter who was affected by her actions.
I found it somewhat strange when the author would suddenly and briefly change perspectives. The overwhelming majority of the book is told from Sarah's point of view, but it would occasionally switch without warning to tell us William's or Ed's thoughts right in the middle of everything, then go back to Sarah's in the next paragraph.
Being local to Decatur, Illinois, it was kind of neat to recognize landmarks mentioned in the book. I'm not really familiar with Millikin Place other than the Millikin Homestead (the house they fashioned into a hospital in the book). I'm interested in going to check out the area when the weather gets nicer. I was saddened to learn that William had Sam's gravestone removed. I was already planning to go and see it as well.
Outside of the story, I had a VERY difficult time getting past the numerous simple errors. Proofreading is your friend. Know the difference between a brazier (a grill) and a brassiere (a bra), and the difference between prospective (likely) and perspective (a point of view). And, for goodness' sake, learn to properly use commas and quotation marks! It was incredibly distracting to me as a reader.
June 12, 2017
I have lived in or near Decatur, Illinois for the past 30+ years, so I know my rating is higher because I find the setting so fascinating. With that caveat in ming, it is still a well crafted story. I agree with a previous reviewer that some more time could have been taken for editing, but I didn't find it distracting from the enjoyment of the story. If you live in Central Illinois, I highly recommend the novel, if not--it is still an intriguing story crafted from real letters found in a local home.
February 23, 2026
February 2026, I think Rachael picked it
This was WILD. First of all, if I bought an old mansion, I would go hunting for a stock pile of money too but I would also be DELIGHTED to instead find a collection of love letters from an affair. And What an Affair it was! I appreciate Mary so much for piecing this together and doing the legwork to fill in the gaps.
Honestly, I would also be a little nutty as an intelligent, attractive female out of my era where I can think and do and whatever on my own. If my husband tried to tell me what clubs to be in and what dresses to wear... oh boy.
Poor Sarah really lost her shit, and her story just evaporated. It's sad we don't know for sure what happened to her. And there's no surviving relatives to exhume the grave and see what we get. Or even surviving relatives to care. But, after I finished this, I went back and forth, did she kill herself right at her sons grave when William took out the monument... or, more likely, did ole Bill kill her and used the digging up of the monument as a cover for just burying her body there with her son? I seriously think this dude got away with murder.
But, Sarah Grady has a helluva story for her era. She's a college educated woman, marries and builds a business with husband, he cheats. His mom takes custody of their child. She finds another husband who is career obsessed and helps him climb the ranks. Influential in society, but bored out of her mind. Meets the love of her life who is her husband's friend and business partner and also married with kids. They have a heated affair for a few years. Her son dies in WW1 from Influenza, she loses it. completely off the rails. Tries to get divorced and makes a spectacle of herself because lover doesn't want to dive right in. Then divorce is finalized and she disappears. Absolutely insane. And in a town I grew up in.
This was WILD. First of all, if I bought an old mansion, I would go hunting for a stock pile of money too but I would also be DELIGHTED to instead find a collection of love letters from an affair. And What an Affair it was! I appreciate Mary so much for piecing this together and doing the legwork to fill in the gaps.
Honestly, I would also be a little nutty as an intelligent, attractive female out of my era where I can think and do and whatever on my own. If my husband tried to tell me what clubs to be in and what dresses to wear... oh boy.
Poor Sarah really lost her shit, and her story just evaporated. It's sad we don't know for sure what happened to her. And there's no surviving relatives to exhume the grave and see what we get. Or even surviving relatives to care. But, after I finished this, I went back and forth, did she kill herself right at her sons grave when William took out the monument... or, more likely, did ole Bill kill her and used the digging up of the monument as a cover for just burying her body there with her son? I seriously think this dude got away with murder.
But, Sarah Grady has a helluva story for her era. She's a college educated woman, marries and builds a business with husband, he cheats. His mom takes custody of their child. She finds another husband who is career obsessed and helps him climb the ranks. Influential in society, but bored out of her mind. Meets the love of her life who is her husband's friend and business partner and also married with kids. They have a heated affair for a few years. Her son dies in WW1 from Influenza, she loses it. completely off the rails. Tries to get divorced and makes a spectacle of herself because lover doesn't want to dive right in. Then divorce is finalized and she disappears. Absolutely insane. And in a town I grew up in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2026
If you’re coming to this book, it’s ironically not for spelling, grammar, a cohesive story or full blown hot and heavy romance.
You’re coming to this book to remember the forgotten life of Sarah Grady.
Truly getting to the last 30 pages felt like an eternity, sometimes smooth but often times choppy. Putting into perspective that this woman is not a writer by trade made this book more digestible. The skill/ability/dedication to decipher found letters and then research each player is really impressive. Then you write the lives of those players, a huge task!
This book is worth it all for the last 30 pages. A glimpse into history in what would have only been a 60 minute case.
Potential spoiler - By the end of the book, it was not where I saw it going at all. Sarah was clearly abused and not every ending is happy. History might have forgotten about her contributions had this box of love letters not been found. I hope that Sarah is buried with her son after all.
You’re coming to this book to remember the forgotten life of Sarah Grady.
Truly getting to the last 30 pages felt like an eternity, sometimes smooth but often times choppy. Putting into perspective that this woman is not a writer by trade made this book more digestible. The skill/ability/dedication to decipher found letters and then research each player is really impressive. Then you write the lives of those players, a huge task!
This book is worth it all for the last 30 pages. A glimpse into history in what would have only been a 60 minute case.
Potential spoiler - By the end of the book, it was not where I saw it going at all. Sarah was clearly abused and not every ending is happy. History might have forgotten about her contributions had this box of love letters not been found. I hope that Sarah is buried with her son after all.
May 26, 2025
I agree with another critic who gave a higher rating simply, because I live in Forsyth. It was interesting to learn about local history. I’m sure it was quite a task to bring the letters to life, especially for someone who is not a trained author. I can look beyond the grammatical errors in the book to enjoy Sarah’s story laced with the author’s creativity. The end was a bit unexpected. Overall, I would recommend to anyone living in Illinois. I learned some things I would have not known otherwise. It made me angry learning how Decatur had a small role in the beginnings of the Republican Party, yet that was something I was never taught in school despite going to school an hour and thirty minutes away.
November 24, 2018
The Forgotten Life of Sarah Grady is an interesting story based on letters discovered in her Decatur, IL home from the early 1900s.
Sarah has a long-distance affair/relationship with her husband's friend, a fellow businessman. Her high society life enables her to meet up with him at lavish resorts or while on shopping trips and even business trips with her husband.
Sarah lived during an intriguing time in American history, and she participated in some of the more intense events and initiatives of the time. She was ahead of her time in many ways.
The writing wasn't spectacular but the story was engaging enough.
Sarah has a long-distance affair/relationship with her husband's friend, a fellow businessman. Her high society life enables her to meet up with him at lavish resorts or while on shopping trips and even business trips with her husband.
Sarah lived during an intriguing time in American history, and she participated in some of the more intense events and initiatives of the time. She was ahead of her time in many ways.
The writing wasn't spectacular but the story was engaging enough.
November 20, 2020
Well written fictionalized account of one of Decatur's prestigious socialites from 1915 to the early 1920s. After the author and her husband purchased the former Grady home, they uncovered a box of letters revealing the affair Sarah had with one of her husband's associates. These letters and the research into the Grady's flesh out this novel. Getting a glimpse into Decatur during this time period was of interest. The characters were well drawn and district, albeit very flawed. All that said, it is hard for me to enjoy a book void of any main characters that I can relate to or admire. I did like Sarah's horse, Midnight. And her son, Sam.
January 3, 2025
Decatur Native
I enjoyed reading a bit of history about Decatur, IL. Of course, I know much of the story line was based on the letter and addition research. It would be nice to know the facts and their references to be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction.
Are you willing to write a reference book?
I enjoyed reading a bit of history about Decatur, IL. Of course, I know much of the story line was based on the letter and addition research. It would be nice to know the facts and their references to be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction.
Are you willing to write a reference book?
May 20, 2018
Good story and history of turn of century. Ending seemed weak.
November 23, 2024
This book intrigued me because I currently live in a town right next to Decatur. I enjoyed learning the history of the town and about Sarah.
February 23, 2017
"I had the honor and privilege of being the first to read this fictional tale based on historical fact. I couldn’t put it down and read it in two days.
Set in Decatur, Illinois, it is based on 450 love letters written before 1919 and found hidden in the author’s newly purchased home at 3 Millikin Place over 50 years ago.
Mary Lynn has crafted an intriguing novel. Her training as a historian is not overtly present in the book but the author did years of research to ensure that the details are historically accurate. Woodrow Wilson, who was US president from 1913-1921 was personally known to the letter writer and is mentioned in his letters. The characters are affected by World War I and the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic as well as the changing role of women and the beginning of the flapper era.
Perhaps the full story of Sarah Grady will never be known but this novel gives us a peek into the life of an exceptional but conflicted woman of the era."-Maureen McGee
Set in Decatur, Illinois, it is based on 450 love letters written before 1919 and found hidden in the author’s newly purchased home at 3 Millikin Place over 50 years ago.
Mary Lynn has crafted an intriguing novel. Her training as a historian is not overtly present in the book but the author did years of research to ensure that the details are historically accurate. Woodrow Wilson, who was US president from 1913-1921 was personally known to the letter writer and is mentioned in his letters. The characters are affected by World War I and the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic as well as the changing role of women and the beginning of the flapper era.
Perhaps the full story of Sarah Grady will never be known but this novel gives us a peek into the life of an exceptional but conflicted woman of the era."-Maureen McGee
January 15, 2024
This was a book recommended to me by the wonderful women working in the Local History room of the Decatur Public Library. Admittedly, this book took awhile to get attached too. As a transplanted-local of Decatur, Illinois for the past 13 years, I did respect reading about this town from the perspective of 20th Century citizens who helped put this place on the map. Reading about the people who were name-dropped in this book was fascinating. I am a woman who supports other women. Every time Sarah changed her mind about what was best for her, I was able to follow her thinking, empathetically. I, too, craved a happy ending for her. Trying to remain supportive of her in this book was utterly exhausting. Just when you think she might stick to a plan, BAM, she makes some questionable choices. I couldn't have imagined anything that happened in the last 25-50% of the book. Thank you for the wonderful story!
October 26, 2016
An interesting premise, the author brought this historically based story to life but it could have used some more time for editing. There were compositional and grammatical errors. SPOILER And while this story does not have a happy ending, which I didn't have a problem with, it does seem incomplete and I was left unsatisfied but I suppose we're meant to feel that way because that's how the author felt trying to connect the dots or a century old love story. Although, I'm not convinced grave divining is a real thing.
January 4, 2024
Just read for the 2nd time to refresh my memory before reading the 2nd book "Sarah's Legacy". This book held my attention, and Im glad I gave it a second look as there was many details I had forgotten.
December 30, 2016
The saying is correct: truth is stranger than fiction! This is a wonderful read. And the ending.....wow
October 26, 2016
The fact that this novel is based on real letters (found in the attic of a grand Midwestern residence), individuals, and locations--and remarkably, that this novel includes many images of such correspondence, persons, and locations--makes this historical fiction all the more compelling. Mary Lynn has composed an intriguing account of a love affair amidst the high society of World War I Era, while also developing a vivacious, yet conflicted protagonist, Mrs. Sarah Grady. This novel includes first-hand accounts of meetings with Woodrow Wilson, the trauma of World War I, the Spanish Flu epidemic, and the plight of suffragettes in the early Twentieth Century; all delivered so directly that it is impossible to stop reading until you know the plight of the main character.
Love this book, and the real people that I have come know through these characters!!
(I got a signed copy through The Forgotten Life of Sarah Grady Facebook Page.)
Love this book, and the real people that I have come know through these characters!!
(I got a signed copy through The Forgotten Life of Sarah Grady Facebook Page.)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews