Faith trusts her father so strongly. She also believes that she has a dual nature--part of her is "good," being the submissive woman that she should be at her time. But she also craves knowledge, and she has a scientific mind. But this is the 1860s/1870s, and that desire is not admired or promoted. Faith's family has been run out of town amid scandal, and they are now on a tiny island. Soon after, her father dies. Faith believes it was murder, but no one seems to believe her. Can she prove it?

Faith is a delightfully prickly character. She has some wonderful moments, and some that will make you cringe. I think this books does a good job of making you feel what it would be like to live in that time period, and I liked the discussion of religion and science.