The rose arbor: a novel

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date
[2024]
Language
English

Description

An investigation into a girl’s disappearance uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II in a haunting novel of suspense by the bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Paris Assignment.

London: 1968. Liz Houghton is languishing as an obituary writer at a London newspaper when a young girl’s disappearance captivates the city. If Liz can break the story, it’s her way into the newsroom. She already has a scoop: her best friend, Marisa, is a police officer assigned to the case.

Liz follows Marisa to Dorset, where they make another disturbing discovery. Over two decades earlier, three girls disappeared while evacuating from London. One was found murdered in the woods near a train line. The other two were never seen again.

As Liz digs deeper, she finds herself drawn to the village of Tydeham, which was requisitioned by the military during the war and left in ruins. After all these years, what could possibly link the missing girls to this abandoned village? And why does a place Liz has never seen before seem so strangely familiar?

More Details

ISBN
9781662504228
9781662504211

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Published Reviews

Library Journal Review

Bowen ("Royal Spyness" series) skillfully crafts a new historical mystery, featuring Liz Houghton, a newspaper reporter in 1968 London, and her flatmate Marisa, a police officer. Little Lucy Fareham vanishes from a park, and the case is assigned to Marisa and her partner Jones. A sighting of Lucy is reported in Weymouth, and Liz tags along with Marisa, hoping to land a career-advancing scoop. Jones is haunted by the unsolved cases of three little girls evacuated from London to Dorset during World War II--two still missing and one found murdered. Liz and Marisa search for Lucy in the deserted village of Tydeham, destroyed by a 1943 military operation. Unexpectedly, Liz dredges up memories of Tydeham from early childhood, leading her to explore the ruined Bennington Manor, where she meets James Bennington and experiences a shocking flashback in the rose arbor. Liz, James, and Marisa uncover more clues to the missing girls--and to Liz's childhood memories--while racing to find Lucy in time to save her. VERDICT Bowen is adept at writing mysteries filled with intriguing clues, satisfying solutions, expertly captured historical settings, and a little romance. A must-add to popular mystery collections.--Barbara Clark-Greene

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Library Journal Reviews

Bowen ("Royal Spyness" series) skillfully crafts a new historical mystery, featuring Liz Houghton, a newspaper reporter in 1968 London, and her flatmate Marisa, a police officer. Little Lucy Fareham vanishes from a park, and the case is assigned to Marisa and her partner Jones. A sighting of Lucy is reported in Weymouth, and Liz tags along with Marisa, hoping to land a career-advancing scoop. Jones is haunted by the unsolved cases of three little girls evacuated from London to Dorset during World War II—two still missing and one found murdered. Liz and Marisa search for Lucy in the deserted village of Tydeham, destroyed by a 1943 military operation. Unexpectedly, Liz dredges up memories of Tydeham from early childhood, leading her to explore the ruined Bennington Manor, where she meets James Bennington and experiences a shocking flashback in the rose arbor. Liz, James, and Marisa uncover more clues to the missing girls—and to Liz's childhood memories—while racing to find Lucy in time to save her. VERDICT Bowen is adept at writing mysteries filled with intriguing clues, satisfying solutions, expertly captured historical settings, and a little romance. A must-add to popular mystery collections.—Barbara Clark-Greene

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