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Nightingale Hall
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26Discover a BRAND NEW gorgeous, enchanting historical read from the BESTSELLING author of The Butterfly Garden, Rachel Burton. Praise for Rachel
'Exquisite storytelling. Two timelines, two poignant love stories, one heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for many years is slowly revealed against the breathtaking backdrop of the butterfly garden. Loved it.' Elena Collins
'A fabulous dual timeline mystery with a tale of lost love and family ties. I was totally captivated and raced through to the end!' Clare Marchant
'A charming read, expertly plotted and beautifully researched. An intriguing dual time story, exquisitely told.' Jenni Keer
'Enticing and atmospheric... Packed with love and mystery that will keep you wanting more from the first page to the last' Lauren North
'A wonderful escape... I adored the characters, the headiness of their first loves, and vulnerabilities as they hoped for their own happily-ever-afters' Jenny Ashcroft
‘I was hooked on this book practically from the first paragraph.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautifully written, intriguing characters, lost loves, betrayal and lies. Fabulous and highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Such a heartwarming story which I devoured in one sitting.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘What a brilliant book! I loved how it dipped through many histories and kept it flipping seamlessly through many peoples histories.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautifully written, I loved the unexpected twist at the end. A definite five stars from me.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘This novel really holds you fast, all the way to a lovely twist of an ending that warms the cockles of your heart. Just the ticket for the perfect escapist read.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘As the secret is revealed and the mystery solved, the reader will be surprised til the final paragraph. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘A wonderful tale of love, family and so much more!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Love, romance, mystery and family secrets - what more could I want? Highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Exquisite storytelling. Two timelines, two poignant love stories, one heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for many years is slowly revealed against the breathtaking backdrop of the butterfly garden. Loved it.' Elena Collins
'A fabulous dual timeline mystery with a tale of lost love and family ties. I was totally captivated and raced through to the end!' Clare Marchant
'A charming read, expertly plotted and beautifully researched. An intriguing dual time story, exquisitely told.' Jenni Keer
'Enticing and atmospheric... Packed with love and mystery that will keep you wanting more from the first page to the last' Lauren North
'A wonderful escape... I adored the characters, the headiness of their first loves, and vulnerabilities as they hoped for their own happily-ever-afters' Jenny Ashcroft
‘I was hooked on this book practically from the first paragraph.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautifully written, intriguing characters, lost loves, betrayal and lies. Fabulous and highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Such a heartwarming story which I devoured in one sitting.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘What a brilliant book! I loved how it dipped through many histories and kept it flipping seamlessly through many peoples histories.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Beautifully written, I loved the unexpected twist at the end. A definite five stars from me.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘This novel really holds you fast, all the way to a lovely twist of an ending that warms the cockles of your heart. Just the ticket for the perfect escapist read.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘As the secret is revealed and the mystery solved, the reader will be surprised til the final paragraph. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘A wonderful tale of love, family and so much more!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Love, romance, mystery and family secrets - what more could I want? Highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
328 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 3, 2026
About the author
Rachel Burton
17 books332 followersRachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels and has previously written romantic comedies. The Butterfly Garden and A Bookshop Christmas were both shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2025 and 2022 respectively.
Rachel was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of books and records. She has read obsessively since she first realised those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents’ bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, she missed it because she had her nose in a book.
After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginary worlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks.
She is obsessed with old houses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprising revelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.
She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books. By writing novels she now has an excuse for her head being forever in the clouds.
Find her on Instagram as @RachelBWriter or sign up to her newsletter on Substack.
Rachel was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of books and records. She has read obsessively since she first realised those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents’ bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, she missed it because she had her nose in a book.
After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginary worlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks.
She is obsessed with old houses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprising revelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.
She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books. By writing novels she now has an excuse for her head being forever in the clouds.
Find her on Instagram as @RachelBWriter or sign up to her newsletter on Substack.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is only my second book by the author and I enjoyed it immensely.
Rosie has just lost her beloved grandmother who reared her for most of her life. She lives in the house she grew up in which has now been turned into flats. She lives in one, her grandmother lived in another. Her mother appears periodically in her life and they haven't the best of relationships. After her grandmother dies she's at a kind of crossroads, especially as family secrets start to come out that she knew nothing about.
This book is about strong women and the choices they make. It's also about relationships, familial and friends and beyond.
I enjoyed the story a lot and the past story was interesting. There are some well drawn characters and quite a few of them so you have to keep up with the story.
Obviously I've dropped a star and that's because the present day story dragged a bit and some of it went round in circles. I would also have liked more of the past.
But take nothing away from it, it's an excellent read and if you enjoy dual timelines you'll certainly enjoy this.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy.
Rosie has just lost her beloved grandmother who reared her for most of her life. She lives in the house she grew up in which has now been turned into flats. She lives in one, her grandmother lived in another. Her mother appears periodically in her life and they haven't the best of relationships. After her grandmother dies she's at a kind of crossroads, especially as family secrets start to come out that she knew nothing about.
This book is about strong women and the choices they make. It's also about relationships, familial and friends and beyond.
I enjoyed the story a lot and the past story was interesting. There are some well drawn characters and quite a few of them so you have to keep up with the story.
Obviously I've dropped a star and that's because the present day story dragged a bit and some of it went round in circles. I would also have liked more of the past.
But take nothing away from it, it's an excellent read and if you enjoy dual timelines you'll certainly enjoy this.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy.
Review of advance copy
Nightingale Hall is one of those stories that feels quietly spellbinding from the moment you step into it — a painting shrouded in mystery, a vanished artist, and a house beneath a luminous moon that seems to hold its breath. Rachel Burton has such a gentle way of weaving past and present together, and this novel leans into that beautifully.
In 2019, Rosie is still raw from losing her grandmother, and I liked how the book lets her grief sit softly in the background — not overwhelming her, but shaping the smallness of her world. When she finds the postcard tucked inside her grandmother’s unfinished book, it feels like a nudge from someone she loved, a whisper that the painting might be more than a curiosity. It might be a thread leading straight back to her own family.
The shift to 1969 is gorgeous. Lex Cooper is vibrant, talented, and on the cusp of something extraordinary. Their future in the art world feels dazzling, full of promise — until one heartbreaking decision tilts everything off its axis. The painting that should have made Lex famous becomes instead a kind of haunting, a reminder of what was lost and what couldn’t be undone. I loved how Burton captures that moment when ambition collides with life’s messier truths, leaving behind a story that refuses to stay buried.
The dual timeline works beautifully. Rosie’s search for answers feels tender and determined, and as she follows the trail Lex left behind, the past unfurls with that lovely, moonlit melancholy Burton does so well. Nightingale Hall itself becomes a quiet anchor — a place where secrets linger in the corners, where art becomes memory, and where the truth waits patiently for someone brave enough to look.
What lingered for me is the emotional layering: love, loss, reinvention, and the way art can hold pieces of a life long after the person is gone. Rosie’s journey isn’t just about solving a mystery; it’s about stepping back into herself, letting grief soften, and discovering that her grandmother left her more than memories — she left her a story.
A gorgeous, atmospheric historical mystery threaded with art, family secrets, and the quiet courage it takes to face the past. Enchanting, tender, and beautifully told — the kind of book that feels like standing beneath a luminous moon and finally seeing what was always there.
With thanks to Rachel Burton for the ARC
In 2019, Rosie is still raw from losing her grandmother, and I liked how the book lets her grief sit softly in the background — not overwhelming her, but shaping the smallness of her world. When she finds the postcard tucked inside her grandmother’s unfinished book, it feels like a nudge from someone she loved, a whisper that the painting might be more than a curiosity. It might be a thread leading straight back to her own family.
The shift to 1969 is gorgeous. Lex Cooper is vibrant, talented, and on the cusp of something extraordinary. Their future in the art world feels dazzling, full of promise — until one heartbreaking decision tilts everything off its axis. The painting that should have made Lex famous becomes instead a kind of haunting, a reminder of what was lost and what couldn’t be undone. I loved how Burton captures that moment when ambition collides with life’s messier truths, leaving behind a story that refuses to stay buried.
The dual timeline works beautifully. Rosie’s search for answers feels tender and determined, and as she follows the trail Lex left behind, the past unfurls with that lovely, moonlit melancholy Burton does so well. Nightingale Hall itself becomes a quiet anchor — a place where secrets linger in the corners, where art becomes memory, and where the truth waits patiently for someone brave enough to look.
What lingered for me is the emotional layering: love, loss, reinvention, and the way art can hold pieces of a life long after the person is gone. Rosie’s journey isn’t just about solving a mystery; it’s about stepping back into herself, letting grief soften, and discovering that her grandmother left her more than memories — she left her a story.
A gorgeous, atmospheric historical mystery threaded with art, family secrets, and the quiet courage it takes to face the past. Enchanting, tender, and beautifully told — the kind of book that feels like standing beneath a luminous moon and finally seeing what was always there.
With thanks to Rachel Burton for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read Nightingale Hall.
This was my first book by Rachel Burton, but I’ll definitely be seeking out more of her works! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Rosie recently lost her beloved Gran, who had been her unwavering source of support and a constant in her life. As she began packing up Gran’s books, Rosie stumbled upon a mysterious postcard tucked in to the last book Gran was reading. This postcard will unravel a web of family secrets, mysteries, and reveal that she may not have known her Gran as well as she had imagined.
This book masterfully weaves together elements of family drama, mystery, humor, and romance. It’s a delightful read that offers a perfect blend of genres. With its release in November, I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR list.
This was my first book by Rachel Burton, but I’ll definitely be seeking out more of her works! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Rosie recently lost her beloved Gran, who had been her unwavering source of support and a constant in her life. As she began packing up Gran’s books, Rosie stumbled upon a mysterious postcard tucked in to the last book Gran was reading. This postcard will unravel a web of family secrets, mysteries, and reveal that she may not have known her Gran as well as she had imagined.
This book masterfully weaves together elements of family drama, mystery, humor, and romance. It’s a delightful read that offers a perfect blend of genres. With its release in November, I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR list.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed Nightingale Hall. It is a warm, gentle romance with a mystery at its heart, and I particularly enjoyed the way Rachel Burton develops her characters and gradually reveals their stories.
There is a lovely sense of place and atmosphere, while the mystery provides just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning as the pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place. I enjoyed trying to work out what was really going on alongside the characters, and the eventual resolution was satisfying.
This is a gentle, well-executed read, with engaging characters, a touch of romance and a mystery that keeps you interested without ever becoming too dark or demanding. A lovely book to settle down with. It was a perfect holiday read.
There is a lovely sense of place and atmosphere, while the mystery provides just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning as the pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place. I enjoyed trying to work out what was really going on alongside the characters, and the eventual resolution was satisfying.
This is a gentle, well-executed read, with engaging characters, a touch of romance and a mystery that keeps you interested without ever becoming too dark or demanding. A lovely book to settle down with. It was a perfect holiday read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Yet another fantastic read by Rachel Burton.
Set in Hampstead we follow the lives of Rosie, her mother Bex and her grandmother Lauren.
Lauren dies and Rosie is left distraught, she has an on-off relationship with her mother - who after the funeral disappeared to Kos.
Rosie works in a gallery, and when the owner goes on maternity leave Isaac arrives to take over as temporary manager, when sorting the storeroom they find a painting of Nightingale Hall.... Rosie attempts to find out more about the artist Lex Cooper and what connection she has with it all.
A great read.... I couldn't put it down - the flight from Berlin home went very quickly!!
Set in Hampstead we follow the lives of Rosie, her mother Bex and her grandmother Lauren.
Lauren dies and Rosie is left distraught, she has an on-off relationship with her mother - who after the funeral disappeared to Kos.
Rosie works in a gallery, and when the owner goes on maternity leave Isaac arrives to take over as temporary manager, when sorting the storeroom they find a painting of Nightingale Hall.... Rosie attempts to find out more about the artist Lex Cooper and what connection she has with it all.
A great read.... I couldn't put it down - the flight from Berlin home went very quickly!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.
A sweet, absorbing book that I enjoyed immensely. The 3 women: the grandmother, mother and daughter were well rounded, although I did get
impatient with the mother and her tendency to disappear and not reaching out to her daughter for long periods of time. It was explained in the end, but
I still felt she was a bit selfish.
The daughter's love story was sweet and satisfying. All in all it's a read that's well worth it ... it made me feel happy
A sweet, absorbing book that I enjoyed immensely. The 3 women: the grandmother, mother and daughter were well rounded, although I did get
impatient with the mother and her tendency to disappear and not reaching out to her daughter for long periods of time. It was explained in the end, but
I still felt she was a bit selfish.
The daughter's love story was sweet and satisfying. All in all it's a read that's well worth it ... it made me feel happy
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I always enjoy reading this authors works and this was no different, I read it in a day.
Rosie is struggling after the death of her gran and her mum is absent again.
As the story unfolds find out both her gran and her mum have lots of secrets and it was great to follow as she discovers them and begins to make friends with her mother again.
Lots of emotions are revealed
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my arc copy
Rosie is struggling after the death of her gran and her mum is absent again.
As the story unfolds find out both her gran and her mum have lots of secrets and it was great to follow as she discovers them and begins to make friends with her mother again.
Lots of emotions are revealed
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my arc copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC.
Its hard to achieve dual timeline story seamlessly but the author managed it. The characters were good and never overpowered the plot and became tropey.
I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC.
Its hard to achieve dual timeline story seamlessly but the author managed it. The characters were good and never overpowered the plot and became tropey.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews