The New Du Rose Matriarch

The Hana Du Rose Mysteries #4

by K.T. Bowes

The Du Rose family have returned to Hamilton to begin married life with their new daughter but things are not going well. Hana’s ideas of being a better mother at forty five are continually challenged by the demands of her child, not least because her husband has been drafted in as the temporary manager of the school boarding house and the staff living accommodation is dreadful. Logan welcomes the distraction of trying to unravel the financial mystery which is threatening the future of the boarding house, because it stops him having to deal with the chaos of his mother’s death and the subsequent misery that it has unleashed on the whole whanau. Hana’s pursuer is in prison and she should finally be safe, but another danger is getting ready to stretch its influence over her and make life unbearable.

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2013

About the author

Married and bringing up four children during her twenties and thirties, K T Bowes reserved her storytelling for them.

She emigrated to New Zealand in 2006 with her family on a one way ticket. They arrived with just one suitcase each. The international bestselling Hana Du Rose Mysteries began shortly afterwards, hammered out on an old laptop used for Skyping family back home.

Since then, she has published more than twenty five books ranging from women's literature through teen series, to a fantasy trilogy.

The author has given interviews to That's Life Magazine and the BBC during her writing career. Each of her first in series novels are free to readers on all digital platforms.

K T Bowes has a passion for folk art and renovating wooden furniture. Her work as an archivist often appears within story lines. After two significant falls, she gave up horse riding but often has a guest horse or two in the paddock. She lives above the city of Hamilton, close to the Waikato River and the Hakarimata Ranges. Many of her novels are based in New Zealand, but some transport the reader back to England and the Midlands where she grew up.

Reviews

[Adrienne Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Blame and hate are so overrated, my friend. They deliberately draw us backwards and never let us go.”

At first, the author is just settling you in. You actually think this story is about “other people.” Then, you start to see yourself – not fully, just glimpses here and there. And it brings you in. It makes you think, “What if this happened to me?” Or, worse: “What if I did this to someone?”

I so enjoyed how the author unfolded the plot, which was incredibly character-driven. The intensity grew as the pages turned and by the end of the book, I was honestly wanting more, which the author gave byway of a sneak peek into the sequel.

This story was real and heartbreaking and complicated and hopeful and earnest. I highly recommend it. I’ll be looking for more from this author, for sure.

[Jim B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Southern United States, where I grew up, Hana would be called a "High Maintenance Woman". She is unsure of herself, but getting feisty. She is suffering from a long time of loneliness and being emotionally mistreated and reacts badly to affronts real or imagined. She has recently in earlier books in this series been physically threatened and seriously injured. While recovering from those episodes she faces more threats and abuse. However, Hana has heart and is gaining strength and confidence. Read this book to see how she does it and how much she grows. By the way, Logan, her strong and protective husband, is just as "High Maintenance" as he faces his own demons.

I highly recommend that you read this series from the beginning to understand the nuances of the story. K. T. Bowes is a talented writer and story teller.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The du rose series is set in around the area I live in, so reading the stories is like a trip into a friend's life.
Hannah is finding life hard at the moment, and Logan is dealing with the stresses of his job as well as being a new husband and father. The troubles that have plagued Hannah are not over, when she should be confiding in Logan she's trying to deal with it herself... I'll not say anything about that as I don't do spoilers.
I recommend reading the series in order to understand the intricacies of the characters. Ms Bowes writing is both suspenseful, heartwarming and brings the contemporary NZ lifestyle to the pages.

[Cheryl Kulas · Rating 5 out of 5]

New matriarch - more twists & turns

I'd like to read more about making a family from those you chose. Logan, Hana, Tama, & Phoenix are looking to be a family of choice rather than birth. With all that has gone on in the Du Rose clan over the years, is it any wonder Hana, Logan, & Tama have chosen this way of being a family?
Excitement, drama, & challenges face these characters daily as the series continues!
Great read & series!

[Heather Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed on behalf of Readers' Favorite

The New Du Rose Matriarch by KT Bowes is the fourth novel in the Hana Du Rose Mysteries series. Re-joining Hana and Logan, as well as baby Phoenix, the small family is recovering from the tragic events that occurred at the end of Du Rose Legacy. Logan is working at the boarding house for the Waikato Presbyterian School for Boys, and he, Hana, and Phoenix are staying in the staff quarters, much to Hana’s dislike. However, things are not as simple as they should be, as Logan recovers from learning about family secrets, and Hana battles with secrets of her own. Will the couple finally find some semblance of peace, or will events at the boarding house overtake this simple wish?

Having read the previous three novels in the series, I dove into this one eagerly. Continuing directly where Du Rose Legacy left off, The New Du Rose Matriarch showed Hana growing into a more confident woman, although still stubborn as hell and reluctant to tell Logan about things that could put her in harm’s way. I found myself frustrated with her at times, and had to put down the book. However, it was all in a good way, because Hana managed to impress me once again, all the while putting up with the ever-stubborn Logan. The New Du Rose Legacy by KT Bowes answered some of the questions left by Du Rose Legacy and left me with an optimistic hope for Hana and Logan. I look forward to reading the next installment in this well-written series.

[Demelza Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came cold into this series, wondering if I should read the earlier books first. No, you don't need to, as Bowes gives you just enough detail to understand past events well, without overkill on the backstory. I do admit that I want to go back and read them, though - after I read the next book, for I want to know what happens to the du Rose family afterwards even more.

From the beginning, Hana had my heart - as the book opens with a situation most mothers can relate to with frightening clarity. It almost had me in tears at the memory. Bowes is a brilliant storyteller, drawing me in from the start with the realism of her scene.

Hana Du Rose reminded me a little of Kay Scarpetta from Patricia Cornwell's books, in that she's a tough, older woman with a grown family and a past that wasn't exactly sunshine and roses. Hana has an edge that Scarpetta doesn't, though - she's living in New Zealand. For me, that brings her story closer to home and even more real to me.

Now I believe I need to go hunt for Book 5.

[Nicolas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of the book is a little exposition heavy, and the backstories felt larger than life, because they're so deeply rooted in the awesome events of previous novels. Definitely give those a look first.

There's a lot of sweet elements, but some aspects of Logan and Hana's relationship felt off to me. That may just be me not really getting why people treat violent jealousy as normal. Since Logan's jealousy is brought up again and again, it made it hard for me to feel invested in the romance, since I think my wife would castrate me if I was half as aggressively jealous as Logan. Toward the end, the Du Rose's tendency to fix evvverrrrrrything got on my nerves a bit, but it was overall a very sweet story. I just don't care for stories in which the solutions are constantly presented by one or two people, with no involvement from other helpers.

If you like cozy mysteries or non-gory thrillers, the series should be right up your alley. It wasn't quite what I wanted, but it was a fun read, overall.

[K.T.]

I wrote this novel so quickly that I think I frightened myself. I was exhausted by the end of it, feeling as though I was on a creative roller coaster, in between running the house and going to work. I was an incredibly neglectful wife and mother for a good couple of months, hence the apologetic acknowledgement at the start of the novel.

I wanted to test what Hana and Logan's relationship might look like as they settled into their new lives, after everything that had gone before. I felt that Hana needed hardening up a little and Logan softening and hope that I have achieved a good balance. The idea for the mystery element came to me at a school I went to in the UK, when I heard one of the kitchen staff obsessing over the presence of courgettes (or zucchini as they are called in NZ) being on the dinner menu.

[Jada Ryker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl on the Train

The fourth installment in K. T. Bowes’ Waikato Presbyterian School for Boys Mysteries, The New Du Rose Matriarch, continues the adventures of Hana.

With grown children, Hana thought she was prepared and equipped to deal with her newborn daughter. With her husband Logan fulfilling an obligation at the school, Hana feels overwhelmed with a colicky baby. At the same time, although Logan has ceased his investigations in the underworld, Hana can’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Faced with numerous family conflicts, a mystery at the school, and the imminent possibility of her worse nightmare becoming a grim reality, Hana must reach deep into her psyche and find the strength to save herself, her child, and her husband.

At the end of the book, a special treat awaits the reader. The first chapter of the fifth book in the series is included.

[Sonya Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is clear that the author of these books is a mother herself. Filled with concern and fear for her family when danger threatens, the character of Hana is very believable as the writer draws you into their world.

Set in New Zealand and the fourth book in the series, this tale picks up Hana's story as she has become a mother in later life. Full of self-doubt and worry about her ability to play the role of mother again, Hana is very easy to relate to. Her concern for those she holds dear and her instinct to protect her family are endearing qualities.

Logan, Hana's husband is clearly deeply in love with his new wife and this story shows how their love overcome all obstacles leaving them stronger and more united.

[Flurbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like stories that take me places. I know very little about New Zealand, but this tight mystery was really descriptive and cool. It's a unique setting, a love story, and a likeable group of characters to follow.
It a new place for a mystery, and I liked it!