The Skeleton in the Rose Bed

A World’s End Bureau Victorian Mystery #5

by Alys Clare

"Perfect for fans of gothic thrillers and historical mysteries" – Booklist Starred Review

A killer is loose on the streets of London and he has set his sights on private investigators Lily Raynor and Felix Wilbraham in this gripping World’s End Bureau historical mystery from critically acclaimed author Alys Clare.

London, Autumn 1882. When the World’s End Investigation Bureau receives an anxious visit from a trio of elderly siblings, Lily Raynor and Felix Wilbraham realise that Alethea, Thomas and Frances Fetterplace are keeping back the heart of the matter. Ancient bones have been uncovered in their garden, and they believe they know whose they are. But so, it appears, does someone else.

A visit to the secretive old Fetterplace house tucked away behind Tower Hill proves frustrating, for the distressed siblings will not permit an inspection of what lies in their rose bed. Overcoming his own and Lily’s strange reluctance, Felix returns by night . . . and discovers that the Fetterplace siblings have good reason for their fear.

Unconscious and gravely injured, Felix is brought back to Lily’s door by concerned strangers. Fully occupied with trying to save his life, Lily begins to wonder who attacked him, and what convinced this brutal assailant that he must die.

Who is buried in the makeshift grave? Did Felix discover something sinister alongside the bones? Whatever it was, it must be dangerous indeed if keeping it secret requires taking a life . . .

"A powerful, creepy mystery steeped in history" (Kirkus Reviews). Fans of Anne Perry, Will Thomas and Deanna Raybourn shouldn’t miss this series!

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Alys Clare is the pen name used by Elizabeth Harris for the Hawkenlye series of historical mysteries.

Alys Clare is the pseudonym of a novelist with some 20 published works to her name. Brought up in the countryside close to where the Hawkenlye Novels are set, she went to school in Tonbridge and later studied archaeology at the University of Kent. She lives for part of the year in Brittany, in a remote cottage deep in an ancient landscape where many past inhabitants have left their mark; on her doorstep are relics that date from the stone circles and dolmens of the Neolithic to the commanderies, chapels and ancient tracks of those infamous warrior monks, the Knights Templar. In England, Alys's study overlooks a stretch of parkland which includes a valley with a little spring. The waters of this spring are similar in colour and taste to Tunbridge Wells's famous Chalybeat Spring, and it was this that prompted Alys's setting of her fictional Hawkenlye Abbey in the very spot where her own house now stands.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this latest World’s End Bureau mystery, Lily Raynor and Felix Wilbraham accept a new case and also inadvertently become ensnared in an ongoing killing spree by an unknown man lurking in the streets and byways of London. This series has been effective and well written from the start , but this episode seems to rise to a new level. The new case involves three elderly Fetterplace siblings who arrive at the office to discuss a mysterious find in their rose garden: a skeleton, small in stature, could it be a woman?, who appears to have been decapitated. Oh yes…they live in a very old part of London, in house near to The Tower, said to have been built during the reign of Henry VIII. Now the game begins…whose bones are these? And what to make of the disturbing lights and sounds like Fetterplaces have noticed in the direction of All Hallows Church cemetery just over the wall from their back yard and the rose garden. Frustratingly, their clients are reluctant to have a home visit.

Then, as Felix is investigating, he is brutally attacked and left for dead. Everything changes.

This episode of the series combines the domestic life of Lily and her new tenants, her dedicated housekeeper Mrs. Clapper, along with the increasingly warm friendship with her associate Felix. All of these relationships develop further in this story as everyone has a part to play. The level of action varies from the domestic to the office/work setting to dangerous investigations throughout London. There is a higher level of violence in this episode than I recall from others but I don’t consider it unrealistic for the genre or time period.. The story is narrated from three points of view: Lily, Felix and the killer.

This is a strong series and this is an excellent book. Recommended. I also recommend reading earlier books in the series.

Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very creepy! Lily and Felix tangle with a serial killer in this installment.
Definitely the darkest story thus far.

However, there are bits of light and humor. We finally get to know Lily's new tenants and I loved them. We also see a bit more of Marm, Felix's friend and landlord.
I really enjoyed the elderly Fetterplace siblings, the 'owners' of the titular skeleton. The family dynamics were entertaining, to say the least.

The serial killer case has a real humdinger of an ending for the reader. The problem of the skeleton has a very satisfactory ending for all concerned.

It will be interesting to see what next befalls our two main characters. I'll be waiting.

[K McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent entry in an excellent series. This book, like all in the series, is well-plotted, well-written, and moves along quickly through its chilling plot. Lily and Felix are asked to investigate what appears to be a very old skeleton buried in, yes, a rose bed in the garden of a house shared by a set of elderly siblings. That discovery leads to a much more disturbing series of events, and there are a couple of historical twists in the plot.
This book in particular has some very moving emotional moments and a disturbing villain, who has his own first person POV sections. I would highly recommend reading the other books in the series so the relationships among the main characters and the deepening ties between Lily and Felix make more sense. They are also just excellent books and well worth a read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best of the world’s end Detective bureau books yet! That's saying something because they are all fantastic!

Lily opened the World’s End Detective Bureau a few years ago when her grandparents died. She hired Felix as her assistant, and he quickly became a dear friend and, soon after, a love interest. The romantic subplot of the series has been simmering for four books and we see lovely progress in this fifth book.

There are two mysteries here. First, some siblings believe that a skeleton buried in their garden is Anne Boleyn. They want Lily to prove that it is the beheaded queen. While investigating, Felix is attacked by a man who has a hideaway in the church yard that shares a wall with the garden. The second mystery is finding the attacker. The found family (which included two new characters - a same sex couple living in the rooms Lily rents out) comes together to care for Felix. His amnesia from a head injury provides some touching moments between him and Lily. Tomáz has his largest role ever in this book, as the people who work on the canals are aware of the attacker.

The climatic action scene involves Lily, Fexlix, and Tomáz. It was hard to read - I couldn’t believe Ali’s Clare would kill off a character, but rest assured, it makes sense in the end.

The story actually serves as an origin story, of sorts, for a famous criminal. The reveal of that element was stunning!


As always, the present tense, omniscient narration lets us see inside the heads of Lily, Felix, and the villain.

Reviews are for readers. I received an advanced copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too dark and obsessed with gruesomeness.

It is very well written, extremely so....but it is really too dark and gruesome. Such writing talent can be much better used.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-crafted mystery/thriller that was fast paced but filled with well-developed characters and plenty of twists thrown in. The World's End Bureau was asked to investigate an old skeleton that a trio of siblings found in their back yard. They fear someone else knew about it. But they refused the agency access to the grounds. So Felix sneaked in at night and was viciously attacked. Lily helped him recover and continued with the investigation because the siblings had a reason to be worried. Evil was haunting there neighborhood.

This was the first I have read of the series but I could easily understand what was going on. There was a depth to the characters and during the story the relationship between a number of the characters deepened (not necessarily in a romantic way). This was not a cozy; there was violence. It was interesting to discover who the siblings suspected who was buried in their back yard and it tied in well with the other storyline even though they were not related.

I would like to read more of this series. The storyline and characters made it compelling reading. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

In London in the fall of 1882, the Skeleton in the Rose Bed is the fifth book in the World's End Bureau Mysteries featuring private detective Lily Raynor and her associate Felix Wilbraham. Three elderly siblings ask Lily to investigate an old skeleton found in their rose bed, that may be related to a significant historical event. Felix goes to investigate the site and, immediately after leaving, is brutally assaulted by a serial killer. Although this book is a part of a series, with continuing characters and a couple of reference to earlier books, it has new supporting characters and enough background to let it be read as a standalone book. The style and viewpoint seem a little different from the earlier books. Their is a surprise end, that could point to another historic event. An entertaining book. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy. My opinions are solely my own.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three stars here are an anomaly. This is a series I love, but I don't like looking at the world through the eyes of a killer. The book is only written from that point of view in places, but it's just somewhere I don't go. Do check out the World's End Bureau mysteries, even if you're a bit flinchy on killer perspective. It's a good series with an interesting cast of characters.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Vontel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest book in the series, so I will now have to wait until the next one is published, which may be some time. It was a new series to me, so I 'binge-read' as much as I could to catch up on this Victorian mystery series featuring a PI, a woman initially trained as a nurse, now owner & investigator, who also has a male employee/co-investigator. Up until recently running into this series, I had read only her Taverner books

While I wait, I will catch up on the two latest Taverner mysteries, which I didn't realize I had missed.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest in the series (fine as a standalone) sees Felix attacked as he investigates the site (a rose bed!) where human bones have been found. The elderly trio who contracted with Lily and Felix believe the bones are those of Anne Boleyn. Maybe, maybe not but someone doesn't want Felix to find out. This leans in on Lily and Felix's found family. It also gives a voice to the villain. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a well crafted and told mystery.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1882 Lily and Felix have a new case, as the three Fetterplace siblings of Tower Hill inform them that they have discovered a skeleton in their rose bed and want to determine who it is. Meanwhile Felix is attacked while investigating. But it seems a serial killer may be lurking close by.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery. With its likeable and interesting main characters supported by a cast of amiable people. Another good addition to this enjoyable series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mindy B (reader_of_the_lost_arcs) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is way too dark for me. My naivety has been cured, thinking that just because a mystery is historical, that there might be an element of coziness to it. Absolutely not. There is also a detailed discription of past animal cruelty that I wish I could unread.

Thank you to Severn House for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Just the right blend of suspense and murder to be teasing but not enough to stop reading. The two sleuths are well crafted and have very distinct attributes that actually complement each other. And the friends that help occasionally fit seamlessly into the narrative. I look forward to more from this author.

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather gruesome, animal abuse and descriptions of the horrors of scaffold punishments. The mystery was a long process of how to stop or capture the the murderer with a dozzie of an ending.
Liked that Lily had three men in her life that she cared about, and loved in her own way.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Diane Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the twist at the end! Alys Clare, please tell us that this wasn't the last book in the series!