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Go, Lovely Rose
They find Mrs. Henshaw at the bottom of the cellar stairs with her neck broken. Everyone assumes she has fallen. But when Rose’s sister appears on the scene, she immediately begins to cry murder. And she’s right!
Young Hartley is the obvious suspect. Mrs. Henshaw had been his and his sister Rachel’s housekeeper for many years, and there was no love lost between any of them. In fact, no one in town really liked Rose Henshaw. Her ex-husband, Francie, certainly knew how evil she could be—she ruined his life. The rest of them were simply afraid of her: young Dr. Craig, the newcomer in town; and Bix, Hartley’s teenage girlfriend; her father, Hugh Bovard, editor of the local paper; and his shattered wife, Althea, still mourning the loss of her son.
They all hated Rose Henshaw for one reason or another—but who hated her enough to push her down the stairs?
Young Hartley is the obvious suspect. Mrs. Henshaw had been his and his sister Rachel’s housekeeper for many years, and there was no love lost between any of them. In fact, no one in town really liked Rose Henshaw. Her ex-husband, Francie, certainly knew how evil she could be—she ruined his life. The rest of them were simply afraid of her: young Dr. Craig, the newcomer in town; and Bix, Hartley’s teenage girlfriend; her father, Hugh Bovard, editor of the local paper; and his shattered wife, Althea, still mourning the loss of her son.
They all hated Rose Henshaw for one reason or another—but who hated her enough to push her down the stairs?
- GenresMystery
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1954
2 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Jean Potts
46 books7 followersJean Potts was born on November 17, 1910, in St. Paul, Nebraska. After she graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Potts became first a teacher and then a journalist, later moving to New York, which she fell in love with during a brief visit. It was there that Potts started her writing career, beginning with a mainstream novel Someone to Remember in 1943 and stories for magazines like Collier s, McCall s, Cosmopolitan and Redbook. After the success of her first mystery novel, Go, Lovely Rose (which won the Edgar Award in 1954), Potts concentrated on crime fiction, eventually writing fourteen mystery novels, translated into over seven languages. Though never made, The Evil Wish (an Edgar runner-up in 1963) was optioned for a film with Barbara Stanwyck and Sir Ralph Richardson. Potts died in New York City on November 10, 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2025
This was the first I've heard of Jean Potts, and this was her first mystery novel from 1954. She very much captured the vagaries of small town life and the feel of what's called "domestic suspense," focusing as much on friend, family, and acquaintance relationships as the plot and mystery. There's enough action to keep it interesting, a sorta strong female lead, a bit of fumbling romance, some realistic themes, but most of the space deals with how the various characters fit together as a dark past rears its ugly head. Potts should be better known today, as other resurrected female writers from the 50's such as Margaret Millar, Craig Rice, and Charlotte Armstrong. No, they're not that well known either. Go, Lovely Rose is also a progression from their predecessors such as Mary Roberts Rinehart and Mignon Eberhart. Entertaining though carefully and deliberately paced -- it wasn't a quick read. With just enough realism to give it verisimilitude. The title is from a 1645 poem by Edmund Waller about "the fleeting nature of beauty and encouraging the recipient to seize the day and not hide her charms," which has a double-edged meaning in terms of the story.
January 8, 2019
Even though this book was published in 1961, it, to me, encompasses everything that is horrifying to modern audiences about the fifties -- okay, maybe there’s not enough racism to fully cover everything awful, but it certainly puts in a good effort.
All this awfulness is presented in the format of a murder mystery. Mrs. Henshaw, a woman no one liked, is found dead at the bottom of some stairs. Mrs. Henshaw had been “housekeeper” (with a suggestion of something more sinister underneath) to Rachel, our heroine’s, father. After the death, which may or may not be accidental, Rachel comes home to look after her brother, who people are already eyeing with suspicion.
In addition to the mystery, there’s a tepid romance between Rachel and a young doctor, Dr. Craig, who comes to her aid. Rachel’s brother, Hartley, has a peppy, tomboyish girlfriend called “Bix” that adds zip to the adventure -- if you’ve read/watched enough 50’s fiction, you’ll know the type. During the course of Rachel’s investigation, old friends and mysterious strangers become entangled in the mystery, and more than one long-buried skeleton is uncovered.
My issue with this book is not with the writing (which isn’t bad) or even the mystery itself, but with the social ideology that underpins it -- which is horrifying. Now, keep in mind, I like period writing -- a lot. I’m willing to roll with just about anything, but a story that hinges on the serious moral conviction that a child born with mental/physical impairments is a burden on their family and society, and should be disposed of -- any way possible -- is just not a story I can immerse myself in, let alone enjoy.
I think we, as a society, like to forget that there was a time, not so long ago, when the USA compelled the sterilization of mentally disabled people. I know I don’t like to dwell on it. This book encapsulates the mentality that championed those laws. It is sobering and awful, and it completely overwhelmed the mystery aspect of this book for me.
In conclusion, Go, Lovely Rose is worth the read for those curious about some of the bleaker aspects and attitudes of the first half of the twentieth century. But, if my experience is anything to go by, it will be an uncomfortable read for just about everyone else.
All this awfulness is presented in the format of a murder mystery. Mrs. Henshaw, a woman no one liked, is found dead at the bottom of some stairs. Mrs. Henshaw had been “housekeeper” (with a suggestion of something more sinister underneath) to Rachel, our heroine’s, father. After the death, which may or may not be accidental, Rachel comes home to look after her brother, who people are already eyeing with suspicion.
In addition to the mystery, there’s a tepid romance between Rachel and a young doctor, Dr. Craig, who comes to her aid. Rachel’s brother, Hartley, has a peppy, tomboyish girlfriend called “Bix” that adds zip to the adventure -- if you’ve read/watched enough 50’s fiction, you’ll know the type. During the course of Rachel’s investigation, old friends and mysterious strangers become entangled in the mystery, and more than one long-buried skeleton is uncovered.
My issue with this book is not with the writing (which isn’t bad) or even the mystery itself, but with the social ideology that underpins it -- which is horrifying. Now, keep in mind, I like period writing -- a lot. I’m willing to roll with just about anything, but a story that hinges on the serious moral conviction that a child born with mental/physical impairments is a burden on their family and society, and should be disposed of -- any way possible -- is just not a story I can immerse myself in, let alone enjoy.
I think we, as a society, like to forget that there was a time, not so long ago, when the USA compelled the sterilization of mentally disabled people. I know I don’t like to dwell on it. This book encapsulates the mentality that championed those laws. It is sobering and awful, and it completely overwhelmed the mystery aspect of this book for me.
In conclusion, Go, Lovely Rose is worth the read for those curious about some of the bleaker aspects and attitudes of the first half of the twentieth century. But, if my experience is anything to go by, it will be an uncomfortable read for just about everyone else.
April 2, 2022
I am wavering between a 4 and a 5 so I will make it a 4.5 for now. Very good book, with an ending that totally took me by surprise.
July 14, 2010
You know what? I really liked Jean Potts. I liked her characterization, I liked her dialog, I liked her plotting, I especially liked the fact that everyone on earth hated the victim, that mean old b.i.t.c.h. I was all ready to give this book a big ole thumbs-up.
The only thing I really didn't like is that Potts, even more than the men of her era, was one of those 1950s women writers who had to make sure everyone knew she didn't think highly of women. For the record, Potts, a perfectly innocent young woman with a crush on her boss and a perfectly normal pair of large young breasts is not "asking for it in more ways than one."
Stupid.
The only thing I really didn't like is that Potts, even more than the men of her era, was one of those 1950s women writers who had to make sure everyone knew she didn't think highly of women. For the record, Potts, a perfectly innocent young woman with a crush on her boss and a perfectly normal pair of large young breasts is not "asking for it in more ways than one."
Stupid.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews