The Missing Formula: Madge Sterling Series, #1

"The Missing Formula" by Mildred A. Wirt is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Madge Sterling, a resourceful girl who enjoys summers at her uncle's fishing lodge. When she learns about the struggles faced by her reclusive neighbor, Anne Fairaday, following her father's death and the mysterious disappearance of an important formula, Madge becomes determined to help uncover the truth. At the start of the narrative, Madge is at Loon Lake, where she expresses concern about Anne, who is alone on Stewart Island. After roweing across the lake to check on her, Madge encounters Anne during a dangerous storm, rescuing her from a capsized canoe. As they develop a friendship, Anne reveals the significance of her father's unfinished research and a potentially valuable formula he failed to document before his death. This opening sets the stage for a blend of adventure, the search for hidden knowledge, and the challenges posed by unsavory characters, all while establishing a rich sense of place and camaraderie between the central figures.