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The Rose Arbor
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.
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 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?
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 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?
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
7279 people are currently reading
16246 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Bowen
123 books9,556 followersI'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.
I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.
My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.
I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries
Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law
I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.
My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.
I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries
Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,187 reviews
August 15, 2024
EXCERPT: 'So what is your theory, Inspector?' Liz asked. 'You must have handled cases as perplexing as this before.'
She was unprepared for the look of distress that crossed his face. 'I have,' he said. They paused waiting for him to say more. Then he took a deep breath. 'I was put on a similar case when I was a young copper in the war years. Actually, several cases. Three little girls. All from London being evacuated to the country. One was found, murdered, in a wood near the train line. But the other two simply vanished. Gone without a trace. It was wartime. Everything was chaotic, you know. People getting bombed, moving in with relatives, sending their kids to be evacuated. That's what these girls were you know. Sent off to be evacuated to the country, and that's the last their parents saw of them.'
ABOUT 'THE ROSE ARBOR': 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 source - 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?
MY THOUGHTS: Written over a dual timeline - 1943 and 1968 - The Rose Arbor is an intriguing, multi-layered mystery that kept me absorbed throughout.
The author has based Tydeham on a real village on the south coast of England. 'A small, unimposing place, one main street, only a few residents - which is why it was chosen for invasion practice.' Imagine an abandoned village, the houses merely shells overgrown with creepers, a place where you can hear the wind whistle through the gaps in the buildings. A place that was once home to families, where the shouts and laughter of children rang out as they played; a place where people were content with their lives; a place where people had hopes and dreams which were shattered by their forced evacuation with only the possessions they could carry onto the trucks. A community left shattered and scattered, and not only physically.
Rhys Bowen has crafted a story full of mystery, suspense, strange coincidences and feelings of deja vu. The setting is eerie, the characters well rounded and diverse. Liz, particularly, is an excellent character. She is determined, resourceful and extremely adept at ignoring the orders of her superiors.
There are a number of surprises in The Rose Arbor that took my breath away - maybe one too many coincidences, but hey - it's fiction! This is my first book by Rhys Bowen. I was completely absorbed by this mystery and it won't be my last read by this author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#TheRoseArbor #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Rose Arbor for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
She was unprepared for the look of distress that crossed his face. 'I have,' he said. They paused waiting for him to say more. Then he took a deep breath. 'I was put on a similar case when I was a young copper in the war years. Actually, several cases. Three little girls. All from London being evacuated to the country. One was found, murdered, in a wood near the train line. But the other two simply vanished. Gone without a trace. It was wartime. Everything was chaotic, you know. People getting bombed, moving in with relatives, sending their kids to be evacuated. That's what these girls were you know. Sent off to be evacuated to the country, and that's the last their parents saw of them.'
ABOUT 'THE ROSE ARBOR': 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 source - 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?
MY THOUGHTS: Written over a dual timeline - 1943 and 1968 - The Rose Arbor is an intriguing, multi-layered mystery that kept me absorbed throughout.
The author has based Tydeham on a real village on the south coast of England. 'A small, unimposing place, one main street, only a few residents - which is why it was chosen for invasion practice.' Imagine an abandoned village, the houses merely shells overgrown with creepers, a place where you can hear the wind whistle through the gaps in the buildings. A place that was once home to families, where the shouts and laughter of children rang out as they played; a place where people were content with their lives; a place where people had hopes and dreams which were shattered by their forced evacuation with only the possessions they could carry onto the trucks. A community left shattered and scattered, and not only physically.
Rhys Bowen has crafted a story full of mystery, suspense, strange coincidences and feelings of deja vu. The setting is eerie, the characters well rounded and diverse. Liz, particularly, is an excellent character. She is determined, resourceful and extremely adept at ignoring the orders of her superiors.
There are a number of surprises in The Rose Arbor that took my breath away - maybe one too many coincidences, but hey - it's fiction! This is my first book by Rhys Bowen. I was completely absorbed by this mystery and it won't be my last read by this author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#TheRoseArbor #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Rose Arbor for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
July 3, 2024
Liz Houghton is an obituary writer at the Daily Express, a London newspaper, it’s not her dream job and when a young girl Lucy Fareham goes missing and she thinks this could be her chance for a big scoop. Liz wants to be a news reporter, her best friend Marisa and flat mate is a police officer, she follows Marisa to Dorset and just happens to be staying at the same guest house as her and Detective Inspector Jones.
They discover twenty five years ago three young girls went missing, evacuees from London and one was found murdered by a train line. The two other girls haven’t been seen since, Liz explores all of the possible scenarios, could the cases be linked, is anything similar in the girl’s disappearances, and could it be the work of a serial killer?
Liz uncovers during the Second World War, the village of Tydeham, in Dorset was requisitioned by the military, to be used for D-Day preparations and it’s now an abandoned ruins. Could the girls have stayed in the village prior to everyone leaving, or could it have been used later to hide them and even their remains? Liz, Marisa and Detective Inspector Jones get permission from the army and visit Tydeham, they discover the villagers and owner of the land and main house called Tydeham Grange were given two weeks notice to leave, they thought after the war ended they would be able to return and it didn’t happen. Liz is fascinated by Tydeham Grange, when the others return to London she decides to have a better look, she has an odd feeling that she has been there before and she would’ve been a toddler at the time.
There’s nothing like an interesting and well written dual timeline narrative to get your attention, set in 1968 and 1943 and it kept mine for the entire book.
Using a real wartime village on the South Coast of England as her inspiration for The Rose Arbor, Rhys Bowen has created a story-line full of mystery, suspense, secrets, odd coincidences, unanswered questions, eerie feelings, lost memories, and great characters, one being a journalist who joins the dots together and leaves no stone unturned in her search for the truth. Ms. Bowen has composed yet another five star read and I highly recommend The Rose Arbor and her previous book, The Venice Sketchbook.
They discover twenty five years ago three young girls went missing, evacuees from London and one was found murdered by a train line. The two other girls haven’t been seen since, Liz explores all of the possible scenarios, could the cases be linked, is anything similar in the girl’s disappearances, and could it be the work of a serial killer?
Liz uncovers during the Second World War, the village of Tydeham, in Dorset was requisitioned by the military, to be used for D-Day preparations and it’s now an abandoned ruins. Could the girls have stayed in the village prior to everyone leaving, or could it have been used later to hide them and even their remains? Liz, Marisa and Detective Inspector Jones get permission from the army and visit Tydeham, they discover the villagers and owner of the land and main house called Tydeham Grange were given two weeks notice to leave, they thought after the war ended they would be able to return and it didn’t happen. Liz is fascinated by Tydeham Grange, when the others return to London she decides to have a better look, she has an odd feeling that she has been there before and she would’ve been a toddler at the time.
There’s nothing like an interesting and well written dual timeline narrative to get your attention, set in 1968 and 1943 and it kept mine for the entire book.
Using a real wartime village on the South Coast of England as her inspiration for The Rose Arbor, Rhys Bowen has created a story-line full of mystery, suspense, secrets, odd coincidences, unanswered questions, eerie feelings, lost memories, and great characters, one being a journalist who joins the dots together and leaves no stone unturned in her search for the truth. Ms. Bowen has composed yet another five star read and I highly recommend The Rose Arbor and her previous book, The Venice Sketchbook.
August 4, 2024
It was 1943 when the tiny village of Tydeham on the south coast of England, was requisitioned by the military to use as invasion practice. The tenants and owners of the properties were given two weeks to vacate, to move somewhere else with only the belongings they could carry. There was anger and tears, devastation and heartache - but they were told they could return after the war. What they weren't told was that the ammunition used would be live...
In 1968, budding newspaper reporter, Liz Houghton, was investigating three missing children from back in the war years. Her flatmate, Marisa, was a police officer and with a young girl currently missing, Liz wondered if they were connected. Travelling to Devon, she accompanied Marisa and her DI to the small, abandoned village of Tydeham, where she suddenly had memories of having been there before. She knew the name of the old pub and knew the rose arbor in the grounds of the old manor house. What was going on? Liz was determined to find answers - her career at the paper depended on it. But so did some children, both from long ago and one who'd been missing for two weeks.
Based on a true story, The Rose Arbor is an outstanding read by Rhys Bowen, one I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn't put it down, needing to know what was happening. Liz is an excellent character, with determination and grit, as well as being known for not taking orders - pushing her all the way. I think The Rose Arbor would be a great start to a new series! Highly recommended.,
With thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC to read.
In 1968, budding newspaper reporter, Liz Houghton, was investigating three missing children from back in the war years. Her flatmate, Marisa, was a police officer and with a young girl currently missing, Liz wondered if they were connected. Travelling to Devon, she accompanied Marisa and her DI to the small, abandoned village of Tydeham, where she suddenly had memories of having been there before. She knew the name of the old pub and knew the rose arbor in the grounds of the old manor house. What was going on? Liz was determined to find answers - her career at the paper depended on it. But so did some children, both from long ago and one who'd been missing for two weeks.
Based on a true story, The Rose Arbor is an outstanding read by Rhys Bowen, one I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn't put it down, needing to know what was happening. Liz is an excellent character, with determination and grit, as well as being known for not taking orders - pushing her all the way. I think The Rose Arbor would be a great start to a new series! Highly recommended.,
With thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for my digital ARC to read.
August 25, 2024
I was so looking forward to this book and the beginning of the story had such promise. Unfortunately, the pacing began to drag a lot at about 40%. By 70%, the story took a very strange turn that became confusing and convoluted. There were characters with multiple names, too many secrets, too many mysteries that needed to be solved, and sudden conveniences that tied everything up in a tidy bow by the end. I usually love this author's writing, but this was a soap opera far beneath her usual novels. It pains me to say that I cannot recommend it.
August 24, 2024
Rhys Bowen has become a very reliable author for me over the past few years. I have enjoyed reading The Molly Murphy mysteries and a few of her standalone novels. The Rose Arbor was no exception. It was a well written historical fiction mystery that followed a dual timeline. Rhys Bowen never ceases to impress me with her strong female characters that she creates for her books. In The Rose Arbor, Liz Houghton was not only a strong young woman but she was determined, confident, intelligent and capable. I was in awe of her never ending tenacity. She possessed an unrelenting desire to prove that she was not only competent in her role as a newspaper reporter but that she deserved the position that she had been denied. The Rose Arbor took place in both 1968 and in the 1940’s during World War II. It was set in London and in a tiny little fishing village called Tydeham. The Rose Arbor was loosely inspired by actual places and events that existed and occurred during World War II.
Liz Houghton and her flatmate, Marisa had met years ago in school. Marisa had attended the school on a scholarship. The girls came from completely different backgrounds and upbringings but they became loyal and steadfast friends. In 1968, Liz and Marisa had become flatmates despite Liz’s parent’s hope that Liz would remain living in their home. Marisa had followed in her father’s footsteps and had become a police officer and Liz was working for the Dailey Express Newspaper in London. Liz had recently discovered the hard way that uncovering a noteworthy story was not always rewarded. In Liz’s case, it removed her from the role of reporter and placed her in the department that’s sole responsibility was writing obituaries. Not only was Liz’s career aspirations in journalism in a slump but the man that Liz had developed feelings for had followed a job opportunity that led him to Australia. Liz had hoped that she would have heard from him but not a single word came. Her hope for a future with this man was diminishing very fast. On top of all of that, Liz’s mother was suffering from the beginning stages of dementia.
Liz was at a real impasse with everything she was dealing with when she learned that Marisa was going to Dorset to investigate a lead about a missing little girl named Lucy Fareham. Marisa was accompanying Detective Inspector Jones on this investigation. The police department had received a tip that a little girl fitting Lucy Fareham’s description had been sighted in the Dorset area. Liz started to formulate a plan in her head. She knew that if she was able to find little Lucy, she would regain the respect she had lost at the newspaper. After much persuasion, Liz was able to convince Marisa to allow her to follow her to Dorset. When Liz bumped into Marisa and Detective Inspector Jones, Liz and Marisa would act surprised. Liz knew that this was her opportunity to show her supervisor what she was capable of doing. The morning Liz put her plan in action, she called her office and told them that she was sick and not coming into work.
In the early 1940’s, England’s armed forces were searching for the best place to practice their drills for the possibility of an invasion by Germany. The fishing village of Tydeham in Dorset seemed as good a place as any for this purpose. Its inhabitants were given two weeks to pack up their possessions and to find somewhere else to live. The village of Tydeham consisted of a church, schoolhouse, pub, modest cottages and the main house known as Tydeham Grange. There was a total of eight families that resided in Tydeham. In addition, Tydeham was located on the coast and had the land features that the British armed forces were looking for that would replicate the situations that they might face if confronted by the Germans. Before the war started, most of Tydeham’s inhabitants earned their living by fishing. Most of the people who lived in Tydeham, had lived there their entire lives. Some families had lived in Tydeham for generations. Their orders were that they had to evacuate before October 8, 1943. Some of the people of Tydeham went to live with relatives. Others were offered council houses to live in. The people of Tydeham were promised that nothing bad would happen to their homes and that they would be allowed to return once the war ended. Unfortunately, those were empty promises.
After a few days of separately tracking down leads about young Lucy Fareham’s disappearance, Liz convinced Detective Inspector Jones and Marisa to let her accompany them to a place called Tydeham where someone claimed to see a child in the back of a car matching Lucy’s description. The car had been seen headed toward Tydeham. The town of Tydeham was still considered a restricted area. If they wanted to access the town, they would have to get the army’s permission. The army agreed and even provided an escort for DI Jones, Marisa and Liz. As the three were driven to Tydeham, DI Jones told Marisa and Liz about three little girls who had disappeared during World War II years. During the war, many children were evacuated from the city to the countryside. Of the three little girls, two were never found. One of them was found dead near the train tracks. Liz became equally obsessed with solving the fates of these young girls who disappeared during the war as she was with trying to find Lucy. When DI Jones, Marisa and Liz reached Tydeham, what they saw was shocking. The town had been obliterated. Liz immediately felt as if she had been in Tydeham but she knew the possibility was unlikely. She would have been about two years old in 1943. There was something though that was so familiar and yet foreboding at the same time about the town to Liz. After a disappointing outing, Marisa and DI Jones left the next morning. Liz decided to stay on for another day or so. She felt compelled to go back to Tydeham again. When she found herself by Tydeham Grange, the manor house, Liz felt a presence and remembered things that happened there when she was a very young girl. Then someone was standing over her. James Bennington had come out of nowhere and scared her to death. As Liz began to recover from her scare, she turned white as a ghost and began to tremble as she saw a vision of someone that had been buried in the rose garden under the rose arbor. Could Liz’s visions be accurate? What would the local police discover? Would Liz discover a romance with James Bennington?
The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen was suspenseful and kept me guessing as Liz tried to figure out what had happened to young Lucy Fareham. She was determined to also discover what had happened to the three young girls that disappeared during World War II. Their cases had never been solved. Liz knew that DI Jones felt like he failed those three little girls and their families that disappeared during their evacuation. Could she help DI Jones get closure after all the time that had lapsed? I admired Liz’s character and how she grew in confidence and ability over the course of the story. The Rose Arbor was an enjoyable historical fiction mystery that I highly recommend.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Liz Houghton and her flatmate, Marisa had met years ago in school. Marisa had attended the school on a scholarship. The girls came from completely different backgrounds and upbringings but they became loyal and steadfast friends. In 1968, Liz and Marisa had become flatmates despite Liz’s parent’s hope that Liz would remain living in their home. Marisa had followed in her father’s footsteps and had become a police officer and Liz was working for the Dailey Express Newspaper in London. Liz had recently discovered the hard way that uncovering a noteworthy story was not always rewarded. In Liz’s case, it removed her from the role of reporter and placed her in the department that’s sole responsibility was writing obituaries. Not only was Liz’s career aspirations in journalism in a slump but the man that Liz had developed feelings for had followed a job opportunity that led him to Australia. Liz had hoped that she would have heard from him but not a single word came. Her hope for a future with this man was diminishing very fast. On top of all of that, Liz’s mother was suffering from the beginning stages of dementia.
Liz was at a real impasse with everything she was dealing with when she learned that Marisa was going to Dorset to investigate a lead about a missing little girl named Lucy Fareham. Marisa was accompanying Detective Inspector Jones on this investigation. The police department had received a tip that a little girl fitting Lucy Fareham’s description had been sighted in the Dorset area. Liz started to formulate a plan in her head. She knew that if she was able to find little Lucy, she would regain the respect she had lost at the newspaper. After much persuasion, Liz was able to convince Marisa to allow her to follow her to Dorset. When Liz bumped into Marisa and Detective Inspector Jones, Liz and Marisa would act surprised. Liz knew that this was her opportunity to show her supervisor what she was capable of doing. The morning Liz put her plan in action, she called her office and told them that she was sick and not coming into work.
In the early 1940’s, England’s armed forces were searching for the best place to practice their drills for the possibility of an invasion by Germany. The fishing village of Tydeham in Dorset seemed as good a place as any for this purpose. Its inhabitants were given two weeks to pack up their possessions and to find somewhere else to live. The village of Tydeham consisted of a church, schoolhouse, pub, modest cottages and the main house known as Tydeham Grange. There was a total of eight families that resided in Tydeham. In addition, Tydeham was located on the coast and had the land features that the British armed forces were looking for that would replicate the situations that they might face if confronted by the Germans. Before the war started, most of Tydeham’s inhabitants earned their living by fishing. Most of the people who lived in Tydeham, had lived there their entire lives. Some families had lived in Tydeham for generations. Their orders were that they had to evacuate before October 8, 1943. Some of the people of Tydeham went to live with relatives. Others were offered council houses to live in. The people of Tydeham were promised that nothing bad would happen to their homes and that they would be allowed to return once the war ended. Unfortunately, those were empty promises.
After a few days of separately tracking down leads about young Lucy Fareham’s disappearance, Liz convinced Detective Inspector Jones and Marisa to let her accompany them to a place called Tydeham where someone claimed to see a child in the back of a car matching Lucy’s description. The car had been seen headed toward Tydeham. The town of Tydeham was still considered a restricted area. If they wanted to access the town, they would have to get the army’s permission. The army agreed and even provided an escort for DI Jones, Marisa and Liz. As the three were driven to Tydeham, DI Jones told Marisa and Liz about three little girls who had disappeared during World War II years. During the war, many children were evacuated from the city to the countryside. Of the three little girls, two were never found. One of them was found dead near the train tracks. Liz became equally obsessed with solving the fates of these young girls who disappeared during the war as she was with trying to find Lucy. When DI Jones, Marisa and Liz reached Tydeham, what they saw was shocking. The town had been obliterated. Liz immediately felt as if she had been in Tydeham but she knew the possibility was unlikely. She would have been about two years old in 1943. There was something though that was so familiar and yet foreboding at the same time about the town to Liz. After a disappointing outing, Marisa and DI Jones left the next morning. Liz decided to stay on for another day or so. She felt compelled to go back to Tydeham again. When she found herself by Tydeham Grange, the manor house, Liz felt a presence and remembered things that happened there when she was a very young girl. Then someone was standing over her. James Bennington had come out of nowhere and scared her to death. As Liz began to recover from her scare, she turned white as a ghost and began to tremble as she saw a vision of someone that had been buried in the rose garden under the rose arbor. Could Liz’s visions be accurate? What would the local police discover? Would Liz discover a romance with James Bennington?
The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen was suspenseful and kept me guessing as Liz tried to figure out what had happened to young Lucy Fareham. She was determined to also discover what had happened to the three young girls that disappeared during World War II. Their cases had never been solved. Liz knew that DI Jones felt like he failed those three little girls and their families that disappeared during their evacuation. Could she help DI Jones get closure after all the time that had lapsed? I admired Liz’s character and how she grew in confidence and ability over the course of the story. The Rose Arbor was an enjoyable historical fiction mystery that I highly recommend.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 29, 2025
It is 1968 when we meet Liz Houghton, an obituary writer for a London newspaper, who is determined to be much more. When her friend, who is a police officer, is sent to Dorset to check on sightings of a missing child Liz goes with her, hoping to be the one who breaks the story if the child is found. This is a very brief summary of the book which contains much, much more including a fascinating history from WW2 about a deserted village called Tydeham.
This author always writes so well. Her characters are realistic and her stories pull the reader in. I very much enjoyed the historical aspect of this particular book especially as the experiences in the fictional village were based on factual events. A very enjoyable read, highly recommended! Five stars.
This author always writes so well. Her characters are realistic and her stories pull the reader in. I very much enjoyed the historical aspect of this particular book especially as the experiences in the fictional village were based on factual events. A very enjoyable read, highly recommended! Five stars.
June 5, 2025
The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen is a captivating historical mystery that seamlessly blends elements of suspense and World War II-era intrigue. The novel centers on the disappearance of a young girl, which leads obituary writer Liz Houghton and her flatmate, Marissa, a police officer, to a small, deserted village where they uncover mysteries dating back to the 1940s.
Rhys Bowen possesses a talent for crafting compelling historical mysteries with authentic characters. In The Rose Arbor, the interactions between individuals from diverse backgrounds enrich the story. Her writing is clear and straightforward, allowing readers to easily follow the narrative. The pacing is steady, with enough mystery to keep the reader engaged. I didn’t want to put it down, and would be very happy if this were the first book in a series. A girl can hope.
As always, Nicola Barber’s narration was fabulous. I think it was her best work. I can’t recommend the audiobook enough.
Rhys Bowen possesses a talent for crafting compelling historical mysteries with authentic characters. In The Rose Arbor, the interactions between individuals from diverse backgrounds enrich the story. Her writing is clear and straightforward, allowing readers to easily follow the narrative. The pacing is steady, with enough mystery to keep the reader engaged. I didn’t want to put it down, and would be very happy if this were the first book in a series. A girl can hope.
As always, Nicola Barber’s narration was fabulous. I think it was her best work. I can’t recommend the audiobook enough.
August 23, 2024
The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen
Historical fiction, multi-time line.
A child disappears in 1968 and the city is captivated, worrying about their own children’s safety. Liz Haughton is a reporter wasting her skills assigned to Obituaries. Tired of being treated as if she has no skills, Liz follows a friend and police officer to Dorset. They find a history of missing children and Liz is plunged into personal memories and a compelling need to find answers about the ruins of the village of Tydeham.
An intriguing mystery investigation without the benefit of today’s technological advances. It’s also many years into the past and finding the right questions and people to talk to could be like a drop in a bucket of water. Maybe it’s small town or sheer luck, but she finds the first answer which makes her keep following any connections she can find.
Luck or skill? You’ll know the answers before Liz does, but the story is still skillfully crafted and worth reading.
Historical fiction, multi-time line.
A child disappears in 1968 and the city is captivated, worrying about their own children’s safety. Liz Haughton is a reporter wasting her skills assigned to Obituaries. Tired of being treated as if she has no skills, Liz follows a friend and police officer to Dorset. They find a history of missing children and Liz is plunged into personal memories and a compelling need to find answers about the ruins of the village of Tydeham.
An intriguing mystery investigation without the benefit of today’s technological advances. It’s also many years into the past and finding the right questions and people to talk to could be like a drop in a bucket of water. Maybe it’s small town or sheer luck, but she finds the first answer which makes her keep following any connections she can find.
Luck or skill? You’ll know the answers before Liz does, but the story is still skillfully crafted and worth reading.
August 3, 2024
I haven’t read many books by Rhys Bowen, but this one was very intriguing. It is very well written in two time lines. A tale of mystery, suspense and secrets that kept me turning the pages.
1968 London, Liz Houghton is a newspaper reporter, when a young girl goes missing.
This could be her big chance of getting back to the newsroom after being assigned as an obituary writer. Her roommate Melissa is a police officer. If she could just get the scoop she could redeem herself. She follows Melissa to the village Tydeham, which was requisitioned by the military during WWII and left in ruins.
They discover that during this time children were evacuated from this area. Three children also went missing. One was murdered, the other two were never found.
Is there a connection to the current case? While walking through the ruins Liz has memories of being in this village before. But why, she never lived near this place.
She questions her parents but they have no answers. Liz needs to seek the truth.
I love this multilayered story filled with mystery and suspense that kept me guessing. This was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more novels by Rhys Bowen
1968 London, Liz Houghton is a newspaper reporter, when a young girl goes missing.
This could be her big chance of getting back to the newsroom after being assigned as an obituary writer. Her roommate Melissa is a police officer. If she could just get the scoop she could redeem herself. She follows Melissa to the village Tydeham, which was requisitioned by the military during WWII and left in ruins.
They discover that during this time children were evacuated from this area. Three children also went missing. One was murdered, the other two were never found.
Is there a connection to the current case? While walking through the ruins Liz has memories of being in this village before. But why, she never lived near this place.
She questions her parents but they have no answers. Liz needs to seek the truth.
I love this multilayered story filled with mystery and suspense that kept me guessing. This was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more novels by Rhys Bowen
August 21, 2024
I listened to an interview with Rhys Bowen about this book and it sounded interesting. I learned that she is a very prolific writer and has three mystery series and several stand-alone books. This is her most recent stand-alone.
This book has many 5 star reviews. Unfortunately I felt like I read a different book than every one else. I really didn’t find it very interesting. The characters seemed flat and one dimensional and the mystery far too convoluted and unrealistic. The story revolves around Liz Houghton, a twenty something woman living in London with her roommate and best friend Marisa in 1968. She works at her secure if slightly boring job as an obituary writer at a London newspaper. She becomes aware of 3-4 mysteries at the same time and decides to investigate each. It seems as though the author thought one mystery might not be interesting enough so she threw in 3 or 4 more for good measure. To me it was way too many seemingly unrelated mysteries with none of them fully fleshed out. Liz insists she wants to be an independent woman and doesn’t want to take any help from her parents. Yet she blows off her boss at the newspaper and takes over a week of “sick leave” to follow vague clues. She keeps hoping for a “scoop” so she can return to the news room. It became confusing to follow exactly which question she was pursuing at any given time.
The mystery that seemed most interesting to me was the story if Tydeham, a small village requisitioned by the military in WWII but left ruined so the residents couldn’t return. This type of thing actually happened during the war. Then there are the cases of not 1 but 4 missing young girls. One girl went missing a week or so before the story opens and the other three went missing during WWII. None of them are fleshed out well enough for me to care about what happened to them.
The story continues with wild conjectures followed by highly unlikely coincidences. None of it captivated me. I am happy I tried Rhys Bowen but I won’t be looking for any more of her work.
This book has many 5 star reviews. Unfortunately I felt like I read a different book than every one else. I really didn’t find it very interesting. The characters seemed flat and one dimensional and the mystery far too convoluted and unrealistic. The story revolves around Liz Houghton, a twenty something woman living in London with her roommate and best friend Marisa in 1968. She works at her secure if slightly boring job as an obituary writer at a London newspaper. She becomes aware of 3-4 mysteries at the same time and decides to investigate each. It seems as though the author thought one mystery might not be interesting enough so she threw in 3 or 4 more for good measure. To me it was way too many seemingly unrelated mysteries with none of them fully fleshed out. Liz insists she wants to be an independent woman and doesn’t want to take any help from her parents. Yet she blows off her boss at the newspaper and takes over a week of “sick leave” to follow vague clues. She keeps hoping for a “scoop” so she can return to the news room. It became confusing to follow exactly which question she was pursuing at any given time.
The mystery that seemed most interesting to me was the story if Tydeham, a small village requisitioned by the military in WWII but left ruined so the residents couldn’t return. This type of thing actually happened during the war. Then there are the cases of not 1 but 4 missing young girls. One girl went missing a week or so before the story opens and the other three went missing during WWII. None of them are fleshed out well enough for me to care about what happened to them.
The story continues with wild conjectures followed by highly unlikely coincidences. None of it captivated me. I am happy I tried Rhys Bowen but I won’t be looking for any more of her work.
May 28, 2024
In World War II torn Britain, the army commandeered the hamlet of Tydeham. All of the residents had a short period of time to leave their homes, take a few possessions, and relocate. The army promised they would have their homes back, but they were all destroyed by the military operations.
During this time of strife, children were often sent from London to the country to live with other families and keep them safe from the bombing in the city. During this exodus, three little girls went missing. One child was discovered murdered, but the other two were never found.
It is now 1968 and reporter Liz Houghton shares a flat with police detective, Marissa. A child has gone missing and the entire country is searching for her. Liz wonders if this case might have something to do with the earlier ones and her investigation brings her to Tydeham where she has the strange feeling that she has visited there before. And thus, crimes are uncovered, long held secrets revealed.
I have only recently discovered prolific writer Rhys Bowen whose writing I continue to really enjoy. The multiple interrelated story lines raised questions that kept me engrossed and guessing. And just as in life, there were some (very few) questions left unanswered. I loved the historical perspective of both the war years and the late 1960s. History, mystery, and a bit of romance….what more could you ask?
Thanks to #NetGalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for the DRC.
During this time of strife, children were often sent from London to the country to live with other families and keep them safe from the bombing in the city. During this exodus, three little girls went missing. One child was discovered murdered, but the other two were never found.
It is now 1968 and reporter Liz Houghton shares a flat with police detective, Marissa. A child has gone missing and the entire country is searching for her. Liz wonders if this case might have something to do with the earlier ones and her investigation brings her to Tydeham where she has the strange feeling that she has visited there before. And thus, crimes are uncovered, long held secrets revealed.
I have only recently discovered prolific writer Rhys Bowen whose writing I continue to really enjoy. The multiple interrelated story lines raised questions that kept me engrossed and guessing. And just as in life, there were some (very few) questions left unanswered. I loved the historical perspective of both the war years and the late 1960s. History, mystery, and a bit of romance….what more could you ask?
Thanks to #NetGalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for the DRC.
August 19, 2024
Do not waste your time reading this book like I did.
I have read several of this authors, other books, and they’re quite good.
This one was not.
Three different storylines he tried to make it into one story, resulting in a convoluted, choppy and incoherent read.
Tydeham Uk, A small village that the British army took over for war training purposes in 1941
The inhabitants were supposed to be able to come back to their homes after the war unfortunately they couldn’t. The town became a ghost town. Google it it’s interesting
Three missing girls in 1941, A cold case revisited
A missing young girl present day
A young journalist, Liz, unravels all of the mysteries while also finding love. Yeah, right.
I have read several of this authors, other books, and they’re quite good.
This one was not.
Three different storylines he tried to make it into one story, resulting in a convoluted, choppy and incoherent read.
Tydeham Uk, A small village that the British army took over for war training purposes in 1941
The inhabitants were supposed to be able to come back to their homes after the war unfortunately they couldn’t. The town became a ghost town. Google it it’s interesting
Three missing girls in 1941, A cold case revisited
A missing young girl present day
A young journalist, Liz, unravels all of the mysteries while also finding love. Yeah, right.
May 22, 2025
An interesting historical mystery, with a memorable cast of characters and storyline that is easy to follow, in this dual-timeline narrative.
Format: Audiobook from Borrowbox
Audio time: 10hours, 38minutes
Format: Audiobook from Borrowbox
Audio time: 10hours, 38minutes
December 16, 2025
3.5
U „Nijemim ružama“ mi se svidjelo i mjesto i vrijeme radnje. Tako se nekako baš lijepo posložilo. Priča o tajnama, o tome kako uvijek, ako nešto činimo iz ljubavi, ne mora značiti da je opravdano bez obzira na ishod. Porijeklo, koliko je ono bitno za pojedinca? Do kada treba istraživati i pokušati pronaći sve odgovore za koje mislimo da su nam potrebni?
Imamo ovdje dvije paralelne priče povezane specifičnim mjestom koje je vojska u doba Drugog svjetskog rata preuzela i iselila stanovnike. Mjesto koje postoji i čuva baš ovakvu priču je spisateljici dalo ideju za ovu knjigu dok je šetala po njegovoj glavnoj ulici. Ova mi je crtica nastajanja romana dala doslovno utabanu stazu koju sam čitajući mogla „vidjeti“.
Više o utiscima pročitajte klikom na link: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
U „Nijemim ružama“ mi se svidjelo i mjesto i vrijeme radnje. Tako se nekako baš lijepo posložilo. Priča o tajnama, o tome kako uvijek, ako nešto činimo iz ljubavi, ne mora značiti da je opravdano bez obzira na ishod. Porijeklo, koliko je ono bitno za pojedinca? Do kada treba istraživati i pokušati pronaći sve odgovore za koje mislimo da su nam potrebni?
Imamo ovdje dvije paralelne priče povezane specifičnim mjestom koje je vojska u doba Drugog svjetskog rata preuzela i iselila stanovnike. Mjesto koje postoji i čuva baš ovakvu priču je spisateljici dalo ideju za ovu knjigu dok je šetala po njegovoj glavnoj ulici. Ova mi je crtica nastajanja romana dala doslovno utabanu stazu koju sam čitajući mogla „vidjeti“.
Više o utiscima pročitajte klikom na link: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
February 27, 2024
I am a huge fan of Rhys Bowen, and The Rose Arbor did not disappoint. It's definitely a new favorite.
Liz is working her way up as a news reporter in 1968. She was just demoted, her boyfriend has skipped town, and she has helicopter parents. She's trying to make her own way, but it looks bleak.
Then she gets a tipoff about a recent missing girl, and she decides to take the slim chance to report on the story. This opens up a web of carefully crafted lies, and she chases different clues to figure out what happened to three girls who went missing in the war years.
This was well done. We follow Liz as she tries to extract the truth, opening up her own life story and shattering her perfect home life. There are so many questions to be answered, and Liz doesn't give up. Along the way she meets a potential romantic interest who helps her uncover the truth. Will everything be a dead end, and she'll lost her job? Or will she get to the bottom of the mystery and finally find love?
For the most part, the story was credible and compelling. I didn't want to put the book down until I knew what happened! Rhys Bowen is a master of laying out all of the information ahead of time, sprinkling the clues throughout the book, so when it all comes together at the end it makes sense and is satisfying..
Her non-series books usually go back and forth between time periods, which isn't my favorite outline, but this one doesn't. It does have some flashbooks that provide an added layer of depth and mystery.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
Liz is working her way up as a news reporter in 1968. She was just demoted, her boyfriend has skipped town, and she has helicopter parents. She's trying to make her own way, but it looks bleak.
Then she gets a tipoff about a recent missing girl, and she decides to take the slim chance to report on the story. This opens up a web of carefully crafted lies, and she chases different clues to figure out what happened to three girls who went missing in the war years.
This was well done. We follow Liz as she tries to extract the truth, opening up her own life story and shattering her perfect home life. There are so many questions to be answered, and Liz doesn't give up. Along the way she meets a potential romantic interest who helps her uncover the truth. Will everything be a dead end, and she'll lost her job? Or will she get to the bottom of the mystery and finally find love?
For the most part, the story was credible and compelling. I didn't want to put the book down until I knew what happened! Rhys Bowen is a master of laying out all of the information ahead of time, sprinkling the clues throughout the book, so when it all comes together at the end it makes sense and is satisfying..
Her non-series books usually go back and forth between time periods, which isn't my favorite outline, but this one doesn't. It does have some flashbooks that provide an added layer of depth and mystery.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
October 11, 2024
A new-to-me writer who did not disappoint! The Rose Arbor is two stories in one. The first, the search for a kidnapped young girl; the second, the story of three young girls taken while being evacuated from London during World War II, one of which was later found, but the other two never seen again. Is there a connection?
For Liz Houghton, a newspaper reporter in 1968, pursuing answers to both sets of disappearances stirs up a memory it is impossible for her to have—a memory of a woman slain and buried in the coastal village of Tydeham, abandoned during the war and its people displaced. But why does the place hold such a powerful memory for her when she has never been there before—or has she? Is she connected to the death? Is she connected to both sets of disappearances of young girls? The answers will surprise you as they did me, as will the meaning behind the rose arbor!
This a powerful story that reminds us of the power of coincidences and choices in our lives, past and present, and the future they open before us, whether we choose to walk toward them or not. —Or whether we have no choice but to follow where they lead. A great story! An easy five stars and highly recommended.
For Liz Houghton, a newspaper reporter in 1968, pursuing answers to both sets of disappearances stirs up a memory it is impossible for her to have—a memory of a woman slain and buried in the coastal village of Tydeham, abandoned during the war and its people displaced. But why does the place hold such a powerful memory for her when she has never been there before—or has she? Is she connected to the death? Is she connected to both sets of disappearances of young girls? The answers will surprise you as they did me, as will the meaning behind the rose arbor!
This a powerful story that reminds us of the power of coincidences and choices in our lives, past and present, and the future they open before us, whether we choose to walk toward them or not. —Or whether we have no choice but to follow where they lead. A great story! An easy five stars and highly recommended.
August 18, 2024
I found this plot incredibly disappointing, especially considering it was written by one of my favorite authors. There were a ridiculous amount of coincidences and I found it implausible that a newspaper reporter working on her own could solve the mysteries of three missing little girls. Especially the two cold cases that dated back to WWII and Liz did this in the late 1960s in England, when the police could not. Plus there were way too many murders and kidnappings and lies, all connected, to be believable.
September 8, 2024
Started out promising but there was too much going on and too short of a book to wrap everything up. In fact two of the cases have no real conclusion just oh well that's probably what happened. The book follows Liz and her friend Marisa. Liz is a reporter demoted to obituaries after she tried to expose an MP who was a close friend of her boss. Marisa is investigating the case of little Lucy a small girl kidnapped from a local park while with her au pair who was distracted. The case takes them to Tydeham a village abandoned during the war. Sort of like Pripyat in Ukraine the villagers are told they will return after the war only to have the place destroyed and full of UXBs and unsafe for inhabitants. Liz has a weird flashback seeing the rose arbor at the manor house and it leads to a body being uncovered which is the second mystery of this shorter convoluted story. The other three mysteries involve three girls who vanish during evacuation. Rosie, Gloria and Valerie. Valerie's body is found but no one knows how she died or who might killed her but Gloria and Rosie were never heard from again. As I said this started promising, I even had a thought that Liz might've been one of the missing girls and that they might've been hidden in the old manor house. But while the stories have a similar theme they don't really connect and two of the cases don't even have any sort of resolution just a shrug and oh well guess we'll never know which happens in real life but in a fictional mystery readers usually like closure. It was promising but the rushed ending was unsatisfying especially for two of those little girls who don't get any closure at all.
August 27, 2024
Not her best
I’ve read many of Rhys Bowen’s books and always look forward to another. This one though is way off the mark. Really a slow slog, veering in all directions at once with little forward momentum. Not really believable from many perspectives. A disappointment
I’ve read many of Rhys Bowen’s books and always look forward to another. This one though is way off the mark. Really a slow slog, veering in all directions at once with little forward momentum. Not really believable from many perspectives. A disappointment
March 17, 2025
The Rose Arbor is a novel by award-winning, best-selling British-born author, Rhys Bowen. With barely two weeks’ notice, in October 1943, the lord of the manor and tenants of Tydeham are told to pack up and move out: their Dorset village is now under the control of the army, for the purposes of invasion drills. They can only take what will fit in their temporary accommodation, and are given the bare minimum of assistance: there’s a war on, you know! And even the lord is unaware that the army will be using live rounds: there’s nothing of historical significance to be saved, is the army’s attitude.
Twenty-five years later, trying to emerge from the punishment of writing obits for treading on the wrong toes, twenty-seven-year-old Daily Express journalist, Liz Houghton has accompanied, to the chagrin of DI Jones, her best friend DC Marisa Young to Dorset. There’s been a possible sighting of a missing five-year-old, Lucy Fareham that needs to be checked out, and their last potential location is the now-closed village of Tydeham.
DI Jones has shared that he was part of the case of three young girls who went missing during the war. The body of one was found; of the other two, not a trace. Both Liz and Marisa wonder if Lucy’s disappearance could be linked to these cold cases; Jones is dismissive.
Bizarrely, when they arrive in Tydeham, with an army corporal in tow, the place feels familiar to Liz. But she was only two years old when the village was emptied. Her father, a former army brigadier, discounts any possibility that she could ever have been there. Intrigued, Liz decides to revisit the hamlet on her own: perhaps the grave stones will provide a clue.
In the deserted village, she encounters the lord of the manor’s son, an attractive young man scavenging for mementoes for his elderly father. While she’s with him, she experiences a strong feeling of dread, and is convinced that she once witnessed someone being buried near the rose arbor, surely not possible? Is Liz suddenly psychic, or is she going crazy?
What a marvellous piece of historical fiction Bowen gives the reader. The depth of her research is apparent on every page and the attitudes and social mores of each era are particularly well-rendered. Bowen’s characters are appealing and several elements of mystery keep the reader guessing and the pages turning.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
Twenty-five years later, trying to emerge from the punishment of writing obits for treading on the wrong toes, twenty-seven-year-old Daily Express journalist, Liz Houghton has accompanied, to the chagrin of DI Jones, her best friend DC Marisa Young to Dorset. There’s been a possible sighting of a missing five-year-old, Lucy Fareham that needs to be checked out, and their last potential location is the now-closed village of Tydeham.
DI Jones has shared that he was part of the case of three young girls who went missing during the war. The body of one was found; of the other two, not a trace. Both Liz and Marisa wonder if Lucy’s disappearance could be linked to these cold cases; Jones is dismissive.
Bizarrely, when they arrive in Tydeham, with an army corporal in tow, the place feels familiar to Liz. But she was only two years old when the village was emptied. Her father, a former army brigadier, discounts any possibility that she could ever have been there. Intrigued, Liz decides to revisit the hamlet on her own: perhaps the grave stones will provide a clue.
In the deserted village, she encounters the lord of the manor’s son, an attractive young man scavenging for mementoes for his elderly father. While she’s with him, she experiences a strong feeling of dread, and is convinced that she once witnessed someone being buried near the rose arbor, surely not possible? Is Liz suddenly psychic, or is she going crazy?
What a marvellous piece of historical fiction Bowen gives the reader. The depth of her research is apparent on every page and the attitudes and social mores of each era are particularly well-rendered. Bowen’s characters are appealing and several elements of mystery keep the reader guessing and the pages turning.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
August 21, 2024
this was so good and not what I was expecting at all!! It felt like a mix of the nightingale and the lost apothecary with a dash of a thriller. kept me totally entertained and wondering what was about to happen next!
March 5, 2024
The Rose Arbor is a mystery set in 1968.
Demoted London Journalist Liz is keen to help find a missing child. She needs a good scoop to get her back in favour. Liz’s flatmate Marisa works for the police and is on the missing child’s investigating team. She tells Liz that they have a potential sighting of the child in Dorset. Deciding to follow Marisa to Weymouth, Liz worms her way into helping search out some local spots.
They visit the village of Tydeham, now abandoned because the army needed the area to practice for the D-Day landings, two and a half decades earlier. Here Liz has a flashback; she remembers being there.
Forbidden to help further with the current missing child, Liz roots out a cold case; three missing war-time child evacuees, who all got on trains to the west country but never arrived. She hopes that there might be a tenuous link that she can use for a winning article.
The Dorset location appealed to me as a few years ago I visited the real abandoned village of Tyneham which this story is based upon. I liked the mystery elements too, especially those surrounding the missing evacuees. Liz’s own backstory unfolds with a few surprises, while her determination to hunt out details and follow clues made her a likeable character.
Demoted London Journalist Liz is keen to help find a missing child. She needs a good scoop to get her back in favour. Liz’s flatmate Marisa works for the police and is on the missing child’s investigating team. She tells Liz that they have a potential sighting of the child in Dorset. Deciding to follow Marisa to Weymouth, Liz worms her way into helping search out some local spots.
They visit the village of Tydeham, now abandoned because the army needed the area to practice for the D-Day landings, two and a half decades earlier. Here Liz has a flashback; she remembers being there.
Forbidden to help further with the current missing child, Liz roots out a cold case; three missing war-time child evacuees, who all got on trains to the west country but never arrived. She hopes that there might be a tenuous link that she can use for a winning article.
The Dorset location appealed to me as a few years ago I visited the real abandoned village of Tyneham which this story is based upon. I liked the mystery elements too, especially those surrounding the missing evacuees. Liz’s own backstory unfolds with a few surprises, while her determination to hunt out details and follow clues made her a likeable character.
September 6, 2024
Learned a lot. Loved how it weaved several different mysteries together.
July 13, 2024
THE ROSE ARBOR by Rhys Bowen
Thanks to BookBrowse and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC book of this to read.
Loved the beautiful cover art on the jacket of this book and also on the book itself. Really beautifully done.
Female empowerment is important to Rhys Bowen’s characters. I like that she writes of women who’ve been underestimated and bringing them into the spotlight; as she has done with this story of Liz Houghton. London: 1968. Liz has been doing her job perfunctorily as an obit writer at a London newspaper. When a young girl goes missing, Liz already has a scoop because her best friend, Marisa, is a police officer assigned to the case. Liz thinks this could possibly be her break in journalism.
Liz accompanies Marisa to Dorset, where another disturbing discovery is made from over two decades earlier. Three girls disappeared when the military requisitioned the village of Tydeham during the war and left it in ruins. Liz is drawn to this village and isn’t sure why. The place seems strangely familiar though she’s never seen this village. Why is this so? And why after all these years would there be a link to the missing girls here?
A mystery fused in history, with plot twists, romance, family issues, secrets, misogyny, the chaos of the government program that moved children away from unsafe villages/cities, and the sacrifices the citizens endured during wartime. The character descriptions and dialogue felt very authentic to me. This is my first read by Rhys Bowen and enjoyed the narrative and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
Thanks to BookBrowse and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC book of this to read.
Loved the beautiful cover art on the jacket of this book and also on the book itself. Really beautifully done.
Female empowerment is important to Rhys Bowen’s characters. I like that she writes of women who’ve been underestimated and bringing them into the spotlight; as she has done with this story of Liz Houghton. London: 1968. Liz has been doing her job perfunctorily as an obit writer at a London newspaper. When a young girl goes missing, Liz already has a scoop because her best friend, Marisa, is a police officer assigned to the case. Liz thinks this could possibly be her break in journalism.
Liz accompanies Marisa to Dorset, where another disturbing discovery is made from over two decades earlier. Three girls disappeared when the military requisitioned the village of Tydeham during the war and left it in ruins. Liz is drawn to this village and isn’t sure why. The place seems strangely familiar though she’s never seen this village. Why is this so? And why after all these years would there be a link to the missing girls here?
A mystery fused in history, with plot twists, romance, family issues, secrets, misogyny, the chaos of the government program that moved children away from unsafe villages/cities, and the sacrifices the citizens endured during wartime. The character descriptions and dialogue felt very authentic to me. This is my first read by Rhys Bowen and enjoyed the narrative and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
August 12, 2024
I usually enjoy Rhys Bowen’s books, well, mainly the Spyness series , but this was just turgid, so many coincidences, and not a very entertaining read, and no one to really root for, the heroine was vapid, her best friend would have made a far more interesting protagonist. A very generous two stars.
March 15, 2025
3.5 started out a bit like an Agatha mystery. Became a bit silly with too many things in the pot and too many coincidences but kept me reading nonetheless.
May 15, 2025
This was an enjoyable historical mystery with an intrepid reporter demoted to obituaries. I would’ve rated three stars but the end soured it.
October 7, 2024
This book started off really strong and I had high hopes pretty early on that it was going to be amazing. It turns out that it was pretty boring for a majority of the middle, and then had a lot going on at the end. Overall it was slightly above average (maybe 3.5 stars?); I actually really enjoyed the plot and characters, but felt like there was still so much potential that was left out. The “visions” Liz had were so intriguing, but only happened a couple times and at the very beginning, which was a bummer. The writing was also okay but could be confusing. Sometimes the author didn’t specify who was speaking (usually between Liz and Marissa), so I had to decipher who was saying what.
The middle of the story, which was mostly following Liz’s individual investigations, was lackluster at best. I didn’t see any connections between anything as she kept trying to find information, and I had no idea which direction the author was going in. I knew there was some sort of mystery that included her, but it seemed very chaotic once it was put together. The links she did find seemed weak, and I’m still kind of curious as to how she solved everything( it seemed like a lot of coincidences and happenstance). The end had a lot going on and solved a lot of questions, but went so fast! I felt like we were speeding through everything; there was no depth or detail really.
The twists at the end were interesting, and I definitely didn’t see all of them coming, but I felt like the emotion of it all was mostly skipped over! When we find out what her father did, it’s just accepted with little hint of emotions or feelings. Also, no one is really punished for any of their crimes or sins, which was so weird to me. There was no drama to any of the drama! It was like, “oh, this happened, let’s keep moving along.”
The last and biggest issue I had is that the author never answers why Tottie’s book was found in The Bennington’s home. It seemed like that was going to be another branch of the mystery, but it never came up again!
All in all it was an okay read, but I definitely expected more from how strong it started out, so I finished it feeling disappointed.
The middle of the story, which was mostly following Liz’s individual investigations, was lackluster at best. I didn’t see any connections between anything as she kept trying to find information, and I had no idea which direction the author was going in. I knew there was some sort of mystery that included her, but it seemed very chaotic once it was put together. The links she did find seemed weak, and I’m still kind of curious as to how she solved everything( it seemed like a lot of coincidences and happenstance). The end had a lot going on and solved a lot of questions, but went so fast! I felt like we were speeding through everything; there was no depth or detail really.
The twists at the end were interesting, and I definitely didn’t see all of them coming, but I felt like the emotion of it all was mostly skipped over! When we find out what her father did, it’s just accepted with little hint of emotions or feelings. Also, no one is really punished for any of their crimes or sins, which was so weird to me. There was no drama to any of the drama! It was like, “oh, this happened, let’s keep moving along.”
The last and biggest issue I had is that the author never answers why Tottie’s book was found in The Bennington’s home. It seemed like that was going to be another branch of the mystery, but it never came up again!
All in all it was an okay read, but I definitely expected more from how strong it started out, so I finished it feeling disappointed.
August 21, 2024
The Rose arbor is a story about a journalist Liz Houghton set in London, 1968. It’s a historical fiction combined with mystery of a missing girl Lucy.
I was excited to read this one as it is my first book by Rhys Bowen but it did not meet my expectations. The story is mixed with so many different mysteries and way too may coincidences, two of them cold cases from over 20 years ago. All the stories started to unwind in the last 20% of the book. Before that it felt like everything was happening at once and nothing made sense.
I think the story had more potential. I fast read the last 40% so I can review it but it’s not a book I will recommend.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.
I was excited to read this one as it is my first book by Rhys Bowen but it did not meet my expectations. The story is mixed with so many different mysteries and way too may coincidences, two of them cold cases from over 20 years ago. All the stories started to unwind in the last 20% of the book. Before that it felt like everything was happening at once and nothing made sense.
I think the story had more potential. I fast read the last 40% so I can review it but it’s not a book I will recommend.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.
March 2, 2024
This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!
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