There’s a lot more to a house than the bricks and mortar, and no one knows that better than author Kathleen Brunelle.

The Old Rochester Regional High School English teacher's book “Cape Cod’s Highfield and Tanglewood: A Tale of Two Cottages” explores the stories of the people who lived in two iconic Falmouth homes.

Through several years of research, Brunelle uncovered everything from the family tragedies of original owners to a notorious peddler of health tonics.

“I love the idea of researching and bringing the history together,” said Brunelle.

Her previous book, “Bellamy's Bride: The Search for Maria Hallett of Cape Cod,” explored the legend of a young woman betrothed to the pirate Sam Bellamy.

Choosing “Highfield and Tanglewood,” was a little more personal for Brunelle. A native of Cape Cod, her grandparents moved from New Bedford to be caretakers of the two homes.

Although Tanglewood was torn down in the 1970s, Brunelle, now a resident of Fairhaven, grew up hearing tales of both houses.

“It is it’s own little world,” she said.

Pierson Beebe, one of seven siblings, built Highfield Hall in 1876 and moved in with his family.

Called the “Lords of the Hill,” Brunelle said the family and their fancy home were regarded with some animosity.

However, she said, “They’re symbolic of Falmouth.”

Pierson’s brother J. Arthur built a house adjacent to the family home called Tanglewood.

“He was the only brother to marry,” said Brunelle. “He seemed to me to be the most human of the bunch.”

J. Arthur’s life was marred by tragedy. His eldest son graduated from Harvard Medical School and mysteriously committed suicide soon after. Following the death of his wife from natural causes, his daughter took her own life. Another son was committed to a mental institution.

The women of the houses, who have received less attention than the Beebe men, were also of interest to Brunelle.

“There really wasn’t a lot of information on the Beebe sisters, so I had a really good and an interesting time trying to find out information,” said Brunelle, who combed through letters and journals left by the women.

In the 1930s, after the Beebe family had sold the homes, a woman named Helen Randle was associated with Highfield.

“She was this peddler of health restoratives. She would pack houses with her lectures. She said she treated Ghandi and presidents,” said Brunelle.

Randle’s promise to bring money to the town drew in the men of Falmouth; however, deception was never far from the fraudulent “doctor”. Her claim that she owned half of Highfield and was married to its owner, whose wife was still living, eventually landed her in jail.

“She was married to more than one man at the same time. The last I find her is in an attempt to kidnap her daughter,” said Brunelle. “She is a book in and of herself.”

Such unusual characters are part of what keeps Brunelle interested in finding the next story. Brunelle said she's always doing research, though summers are when she gets the most writing done.

“I’m always working on things. I always have book ideas,” she said. “Next time I think I’d like to go for an old ghost story.”