When Winter Returns

Rosie Winter Mystery #4

by Kathryn Miller Haines

“Kathryn Miller Haines perfectly captures the feel, sights and sounds of New York in the 1940s….A lot of fun.”
 —Rhys Bowen   Aspiring actress and sometime sleuth Rosie Winter is back in When Winter Returns— the fourth installment of Kathryn Miller Haines’s atmospheric and suspenseful World War II era mystery series. Fans of historical whodunits like the Maisie Dobbs books by Jacqueline Winspear—and readers who love stories of feisty female sleuths, like Alexander McCall Smith’s #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels—will thrill to Rosie’s big city adventures, as she encounters espionage on her own doorstep.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, World War II, Adult

333 pages, Paperback

First published April 22, 2010

About the author

Kathryn Miller Haines is an actor, mystery writer, and award-winning playwright. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and received her BA in English and Theatre from Trinity University in San Antonio and her MFA in English from the University of Pittsburgh. She's a member of the Mary Roberts Rinehart Chapter of Sisters in Crime and has been a board member of the New York chapter of Mystery Writers of America. In addition to writing the Rosie Winter mystery series for HarperCollins, she's also written a young adult mystery series for Roaring Brook Press, a division of MacMillan, the first of which, The Girl is Murder, was nominated for 2012 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. In April 2017 she will publish her first standalone contemporary thriller, The Girl From Yesterday (Simon and Schuster). Kathryn is an adjunct faculty member for Seton Hill's MFA in writing popular fiction.

She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, son, daughter and their two dogs.

Reviews

[Laura Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to say it, but this last Rosie Winters book was my least favorite. Nearly every decision Rosie made was the wrong one, spurred on by a disturbing streak of dishonesty. It's sad she's so unlikable in the last book of the series. I can sort of understand why she lied to Jayne (though she would have been better served being honest). So while I understand her motivation to protect Jayne those weren't the only lies she told. In fact she lied to the locksmith and gave him Ruby's name, a lie which caused Ruby to be blackballed (this is after she removes herself and Jayne from the blackball list, a list she'd still be on if she hadn't thrown out Ruby's name). Does Rosie decide to come clean and level with Ruby? Nope. She goes along as if it doesn't matter. Pretty hypocritical since Rosie is constantly berating Ruby for being self-centered.

Also, if her concern about Jayne is so great, why (before realizing Tony B. is not responsible for the blackballing) does she try to convince Jayne to talk with him just so they can get off the blackball list? This is a man that, time and again, Rosie has known is wrong for Jayne. I'd think her friend's future happiness and safety should take precedence over any job prospects.

While they were plenty of moments in "When Winter Returns" which didn't sit well with me, the story did have some good points. I was glad to have Al back, though I would never have guessed how things would work out.

Also, Ms. Haines does a good job of showing the sort of prejudice that Germans, Japanese and Italians living in America suffered during the war years. She also depicts the discrimination Jewish people faced as well.

Since this is the last book, it was doubly disappointing that Jayne was mad at Rosie for half the book, they're not sharing a room and Rosie is doing most of the sleuthing on her own, keeping them apart for a good deal of the book. My favorite scenes in this series are the ones with Rosie and Jayne going back and forth and worming out of the trouble they find themselves in. There's a little here, but not nearly enough.

I also thought Rosie acted a bit tardily when Jayne went missing. She's going to Newark to track down trouble and Rosie doesn't act until she's missing for three days? What the hell? Some friend.

Finally, on page 257 Rosie decides she owes it to Ruby to help her (though she still hasn't told her the truth about why the acting jobs have dried up).

I guess a lot of loose ends I feared wouldn't be tied up were. I'm not sure if this was planned to be the last book or if Ms. Haines envisioned continuing the series. Whichever, it stops here. None of the endings I envisioned happened here and, frankly, I'm a bit disappointed in how things wrap up. I do, however, realize this is a personal preference and others might like how the series ends just fine. Since almost nothing turned out how I hoped, maybe it's okay the series ends here. Because I doubt anything would have changed. If you're interested, here's my fantasy ending.
Ruby moves to England and becomes a sensation on the British stage. (Real ending. Ruby ends up with Al after experiencing a renaissance on Broadway.)
Rosie moves on from Jack and Peaches, then marries Al who gives up a life of crime to become a plumber, a train conductor, a milkman or whatever. I always liked the chemistry between these two and I'm disappointed Ms. Haines didn't go in this direction. (Real ending. Rosie and Peaches make up. If this series had gone forward, I'm certain they would have gotten together. Yuck. This pairing does nothing for me.)
Jayne gives Tony B. the old heave-ho, then dances her way into America's heart and becomes America's next sweetheart. Meanwhile, Tony is fitted for a pair of cement shoes and never heard from again. (Real ending. Tony takes a bullet when saving Jayne and Rosie, Jayne forgives his shady past and they look to be together for eternity. Ugh. Jayne deserves better.)
Jack and Candy move across the country to get away from his awful parents. Jack snags a job with a radio station in Seattle. (Real ending. This is as close as I got to being right. Jack and Candy are together, but Jack's rejuvenated on the Broadway stage, thanks to Rosie and pals. Candy, however, finds out that the truth about why Rosie went to the South Pacific and no longer wishes to be friends. Sigh.)
When Belle dies, Zelda takes over the running of Shaw House. (Real ending. Who knows? Maybe I hit something right on the nose.)

By the way, Ms. Haines does a transparent job (purposefully, I think) on mirroring Ann's character on Hedy Lamarr, right down to the engineering invention.

I'll miss this series, but I feel better about it ending here at this juncture since I was never sold on Rosie and Peaches together and, sadly, I think that's where Rosie's journey was headed. Oh well. It was fun for the short while it lasted.

[Teri Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best of the series! I'm so sad that it is the last of the series but the last installement of Rosie's adventure did not disappoint! Kathryn is an outstanding author!

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to finish the series hoping it got better. It didn't. The problem is I don't like Rosie winter the character. She is just unpleasant.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning home is never easy, nor what you expect. Then, add it is wartime, the discovery that those close to you may be spies, a maybe spy who will become a famous actress and inventor, and rescuing friends and roommates, all while trying to find work in the theater of New York in 1943.
While the twists and turns involved with the mob get old fast, this is fast paced enough to keep you guessing and wondering what Rosie will try next to help those close to her.
Since it is never mentioned, the woman she has suspicions about and later befriends is Hedy Lamarr, who really was an inventor with a patent for her frequency-hopping spread spectrum invention, which helped the Navy jam signals from torpedoes and is part of the Bluetooth technology we use in cell phones today. You can read more about Hedy in "The Only Woman in the Room" by Marie Benedict, an excellent book.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The fourth book in this series finds Rosie and Jayne returning from their USO tour and all their adventures there. Now that they're home, they have to solve several mysteries from the last book. That makes the third book required reading. I haven't read it so I was lost half the time. These books, set in the early days of WWII, make it seem as though New York City was the hot spot for soldiers to hang out. Did they all deploy from there? Along with all the soldiers there are spies everywhere and they all seem to play a role in Rosie's and Jayne's lives. The last quarter of this book is ridiculously over-the-top. I wouldn't read any more, although I think this is the last in this series.

[Sharon Healy-Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This last in the Rosie Winter series holds its own with previous entries. The mystery twists and turns and the conclusion makes sense - all with a tip of the hat to films like All Through the Night and They Came to Blow Up America. Disappointing is the fact that though this novel is the last of the series, Haines never resolved with whom Rosie ends up (Jack or Peaches) or whether Jayne is through with her gangster boyfriend. The sea change in Ruby is welcome, though. Too bad Haines (or her publisher) has left us hanging.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fantastic book, much better than. the Viv and Charlie novel that I read.
The story is kept moving forward by not only trying to find a Nazi saboteur and but they’re attempts at trying to find work on broadway and Rosie trying to figure out who is blackballing them. Can’t wait to read the earlier ones now

[Anne Buelteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great chapter in the life of Rosie Winter

I so enjoy the way this writer writes. She has attitude, sass, intelligence, and her brashness is mixed with humility just when needed. Supporting characters are equally interesting and varied. The mystery is good, the humor frequent. I can’t wait for the next installment.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie returns changed to a changed New York City and finds she and Jayne have nowhere to stay and have to force themselves on others. Jack loss a leg and Rosie uncovers evidence of saboteurs while also learning about the challenges faces by enemy alien immigrants.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Massive sideeye for stealing from Hedy Lamarr's life, though.

[Edward L · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review

This was a complicated story with a good ending. I liked the show business background set in WWII. The inclusion of German spies and the mob enhanced my interest.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best of the series, so sorry there aren't more Rosie Winters books. Rosie and Jayne are fantastic!

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this story but the execution was very underwhelming. It needed a stronger female narrator as the main character to be more interesting for me.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Winter Returns by Kathryn Miller Haines is the fourth book in the Rosie Winter mystery series set in New York City during World War II. The dialogue is period-perfect, and the author richly details everyday life in 1943. Rosie is a very sympathetic heroine, brave and loyal to protect her friends, decisive in her actions but also reflects upon her decisions to check if she's done the right thing.

Rosie and Jayne are back from their USO tour, and they find that 'home' has changed. Their old room in the boarding house has been reassigned. Jayne goes to meet her deceased fiance Billy's parents, only to find the soldier she loved was using an assumed name. Rosie and Jayne attend auditions and do well, only to be shunned when they provide their names.

Rosie is eager to investigate why 'Billy' used a false name, but Jayne is reluctant due to her grief. Rosie pretends to stop investigating, but goes on to uncover truths about Billy that she hides from Jayne (for fear of making Jayne's grief worse). Rosie also uncovers then hides details about Jayne's former mobster boyfriend Tony.

Rosie encounters Candy, former WAC now engaged to Jack, and conceals her past relationship with Jack, while accepting Candy's help translating Billy's letters written in German. Rosie's web of deception grows: she gets roommate Ruby in trouble while smuggling a man into the all-girl boarding house, and promises Ruby generous payment that she cannot afford. Talented actress Ruby is mysteriously out of work too.

The plot thickens with suspicious behavior by Rosie's and Jayne's new acquaintances, enough for Rosie to suspect espionage.

Candy asks Rosie to help bring Jack out of deep depression, and Rosie enlists Ruby's help getting Jack back into acting. Rosie and Ruby continue to hide Al, and Rosie tails the mobster Al's hiding from to find out who he's seeing on the side.

Eventually Jayne finds out Rosie's been deceiving her, and takes off on her own. Rosie worries for Jayne's safety, and sets off to find her.

All the mysteries become clear and all the relationships are resolved satisfactorily by the end. In fact, the book ties up all loose ends since the beginning of the series, which makes me wonder if it is the final installment.

On the author's website http://www.kathrynmillerhaines.com she does indicate it's the final book....unless there is sufficient demand for more, in electronic-only form. I recommend the series highly, and urge everyone who enjoys it to ask the author to continue writing (email kathrynmillerhaines@mac.com).

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When Winter Returns” is a most delightful historical mystery with a strong, independent, flawed heroine, a woman who is not afraid to experience her emotions. Rosie Winter especially is unafraid of jumping into situations to help her friends, be they fellow actress Jayne (a lovely blonde who usually has no trouble finding acting or dancing parts), Al (a former mobster now on the run from his erstwhile sociopathic gangster boss), or Jack Castlegate-the wealthy Navy enlisted man with whom Rosie fell in love, only to suffer his disappearance, then reappearance in love with another woman. Rosie’s loyalty is unquestioned, even though following her loyal instincts can lead to serious, possibly fatal, trouble, as occurs when she helps Jayne on a condolence visit to the parents of her late fiancé, killed in action in the South Pacific. When Jayne and Rosie discover that the older couple’s son is NOT the boy whom Jayne knew-despite sharing a name and parents and home life-Rosie turns “detective” and starts tracking down the person impersonating the actual Billy DeMille-who had been killed at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, not while piloting a plane in the South Pacific in June 1942!

Layer upon layer of mystery abound, and author Kathryn Haines Miller superbly juggles a large cast of very well-developed characters. One of the most appealing aspects of this book for historical fiction fans is her grasp of the era: the slang, the locales (remember Horn & Hardart’s?), the neighborhoods, World War II in the South Pacific; and also the perceptions common at the time-all Germans were suspect, treated as potential spies, and only those who could “pass” as Americans (without accents, with generic adopted names) were safe. Ms. Haines has made a series convert of me, and I will definitely buy the first three books in this series soon. The author also has a YA series set in the same exciting historical period.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this installment of Haines' series. I read the first two years ago, and never did read the third. I like the setting and the lighthearted tone. There were a few mysteries going on in this story at the same time, and I was happily misled! The culprit wasn't who I thought, yet it made perfect sense (not like some novels where the Who of Whodunnit pops up in the last chapter or two for convenience's sake).

The one thing that got on my nerves is the language; half the time Rosie talks in 1940's slang that feels forced; the other half she or someone else is using slang or syntax that feels very 2010, the year the book was written. All the "hiya"s, all the times Rosie had something happen to her "noodle" (brain or head) seemed forced. I think if Haines had kept the slang in the dialouge only and used regular, accepted language of the 40's in narration it would have moved better. The Mafia aspect of the story seems a little light, too, but I think that's more in keeping with the tone of the novel and the series in general.

I checked to see if any more novels in this series are forthcoming, and was sorry to see there weren't. Because this was a fun, light read with a nice twist and fascinating setting.

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie Winter and her best friend, Jayne, have just returned from their USO stint in the South Pacific in the fall of 1943. They head upstate to visit the family of Jayne's recently deceased fiance, but the man in the family's photographs is a stranger to them both. As Rosie searches for the truth behid his identity - and a way to help heal Jayne's broken heart - she faces an unpleasant homecoming of her own: her ex, Jack Castlegate, is back in Manhattan and engaged to a gorgeous WAC private, Rosie's friend Al is living on the streets with no one to help him, and Rosie and Jayne can't seem to get any work.

This is the fourth book of the Rosie Winter Mysteries, and this series just seems to get better and better. Rosie's own personal life is more closely woven with this plot, and the story in general has more depth than any of the series so far. One minor flaw is that this book isn't quite as smoking with the usual wit and verve of Rosie's sassy personality - the narration is a bit more subdued than books past. But I think this is more of a reflection of what is happening in the book than any fault of the author, and I still loved it.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

"Back from their USO stint in the South Pacific in the fall of 1943, Rosie Winter and her best friend, Jayne, head upstate to visit the home of Jayne's recently deceased fiance. But what they find leaves Rosie wondering if the man ever existed to begin with.

As Rosie searches for the truth behind his identity - and a way to help heal Jayne's broken heart - she faces an unpleasant homecoming of her own. The newspapers are filled with tales of saboteurs infiltrating the East Coast. Her ex, Jack Castlegate, is also back in Manhattan, nursing severe war injuries, under scrutiny for desertion, and engaged to a gorgeous WAC private. Rosie and Jayne's friend Al is in hiding and no one seems willing to help him out.

Desperate to make things right, Rosie finds herself telling lie after lie to protect her friends and herself. But as her deceit mounts and lures danger out of hiding, she starts to wonder if they weren't all safer on the warfront than they are on the home front." (From Amazon)

Yay, I really liked this book. I love Rosie and Jayne they are so funny. This is a great cozy mystery series.

[amaya the cactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is apparently the fourth book in a series I'd previously not known existed. I'd debated whether to start it, as I didn't know whether it also fit a stand-alone profile, but I'm glad I did!

The story was very engaging (I read the whole thing this afternoon, start to finish), and the reader is able to easily follow along without having prior knowledge of the characters or series. I'm definitely interested in reading more of these! This is a great book for those who want something compelling that's a bit on the lighter side - but not mind-numbingly so.

I've rated it four stars of five: There were a few times the vernacular seemed a bit contrived, there were just enough spelling and editorial errors to irritate me, and a few things (a couple of characters and a situation or two) were slightly predictable; having said that, the story kept me interested, I enjoyed speculating over who did what and how, and there were some surprising twists throughout. I'm not would I would consider a 'mystery fan', but this was well done. I plan to recommend this book to others.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actress Rosie Winter and her friend Jayne return from their World War II USO tour with heavy hearts. Jayne's fiance Billy died in combat, and Rosie's boyfriend Jack is not only charged with desertion, he's also in love with another woman. New York, too, seems sadly changed. Jayne cannot deal with the knowledge that everything Billy told her was a lie, and is reluctant to return to her old boyfriend, mobster Tony. Neither woman can get a job, and Rosie suspects that they've been blacklisted by a gangster she thwarted. Their friend Al, on the run from two different gang leaders, needs their help, and Jack's new fiancee begs Rosie to help get him out of the depression his war injuries have caused. Soon Rosie has told lies to so many of her friends and enemies that she can't keep them straight without a script.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosie,

I've enjoyed getting to know you! For four years now, your mysteries have been at the forefront of my summer reads. In fact, I haven't enjoyed a mystery series like this since my Nancy Drew days. :)

Each book played like a movie in my head: Rosie's sarcasm, Jayne's voice, Jack's absence, Tony's persistence, Churchill's annoyance, Al's gruffness, Ruby's meanness, Belle's standards, and all the other details that made the world of two "starving" WWII-era actresses come alive.

My peepers truly enjoyed every bit of this stand-up mystery series. Best of luck with Peaches. :)

Many happy regards,

Leah

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series gives readers a pretty good picture of what World War II was like for performers on Broadway from the point of view of a world weary actress turned amateur sleuth from necessity and curiosity. The mysteries are fun, suspenseful in part, and clean, with a few crude words, but not much more to mar the stories. The actress uses mobster cant, but she runs with mobsters, so I guess it's sort of realistic. The mobsters, in general, turn out to have "hearts of gold." There is some oblique hints at immorality, but considering the atmosphere the book uses as its setting, it's very innocent.

[Georgann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe the best Rosie Winter installment yet. Back in New York after their USO tour, Jayne and Rosie find their old room is now taken. Rosie ends up with her old nemesis, Ruby, while Jayne rooms with the new girl, Ann. Nobody is who they seem to be. Mistaken identities and deliberately obscured ones are the basis for this mystery. The most glaring one is who Billy really was, the man who Jayne would have married had he not been killed in action in the South Pacific. Further story of Jack and a new love interest for Rosie are here, too. The historical fact of Germans living and spying here and sabotage they wrought are also part of the story.

[Cathryn Ferrara · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best in this entertaining series. I did not love the first in this series but was blown away by the second and have loved the third and this apparently final installment.

I am sorry to see this will likely be the last Rosie Winter, especially as so much seems to have been left unresolved but I really did like this series.

Miller Haines has a real way with the period and a flair for drawing the reader in.

[Jenn Estepp · Rating 3 out of 5]

another rosie winter mystery, although genre elements take a backseat to further exploration of "life during wartime." i don't think it's quite as strong as some other books in the series, but i enjoyed it and will still get excited if/when i hear there's another one coming.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical Rosie Winter mystery. Rosie is a mostly unemployed actress during WWII in New York. Her boy friend had broken up with her than joined up. He is now missing a leg and engaged to someone else. In each volume Rosie gets involved with some WWII era crime. In this one it is sleeper Nazi spies.

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far better than the previous two books, although the mysteries get a little more preposterous as the series goes on. Still, the character studies in this one were a little more interesting and enjoyable.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW 2 mystery set in NYC, Rosie and Jayne have just returned from a tour in the South Pacific. They are looking for work and trying to locate the family of Jayne's deceased fiance. Romance, espionage and mystery intrude. Well written and seems to be very accurate in the portrayal of the time period.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are just delightful. I read this one a few weeks ago, so I couldn't tell you what actually happens. But it's safe to say that there was some kind of ridiculous mystery that drove the plot. Oh! I think there were Nazi spies.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my favorite of the series so far. The trouble Rosie gets herself into, and the way she gets out of it, is entertaining to say the least. We also get the full story of Jack and Peaches in this book, which I was missing in the last.