I enjoyed the premise of this mystery although I felt some of the execution was wobbly. Liz Houghton is a 27 year old newspaper journalist who has been demoted to the obituaries. Her roommate is a Metropolitan Police Officer and the nation is currently gripped by the disappearance of a young girl named Lucy. Liz becomes interested and ends up helping her roommate with the investigation. Through many twists and turns Liz solves the mystery along with one from her own past.

It was an easy read but there were times where I felt things were too convenient or fast moving. But it was a good book to escape in.

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.

A tremendous dual timeline masterpiece, The Rose Arbor was intriguing from start to finish! Though the plot was far-fetched at times, it was overall a great historical fiction story with a perfect amount of mystery!

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

The Rose Arbor
Rhys Bowen

This one was a historical fiction with mystery and suspense. It was very well written with dual timelines that were easily followed.

Liz, the FMC is wanting to get her way into the newsroom, so she starts looking into a girls disappearance. While searching, they also discover that 25 years prior, three other girls had also disappeared. Liz ends up traveling to a village called Tydeham, that was taken over by the British military and left in ruins years ago. The towns people had less than two weeks to get out. It was quite heartbreaking to put yourself in the shoes of the ones that lived there during World War II.

I enjoyed the characters in this one, they were relatable and you can easily connect with them. Rhys Bowen has a way of painting with words and I truly enjoy her writing style.

This one came out today, and I’m happy to be apart of her release day reviews.

What a brilliant story! The clues and twists in the tale just kept coming- I loved this book and was gripped by the story right to the very last page.
Set in the 1960s, Liz is a young female reporter who lives with her friend Marisa, a young DC in the Met. The story of the day is the search for a missing child, Little Lucy, who was snatched from a private park in broad daylight. Marisa is part of the team desperately trying to find Little Lucy and Liz is keen to help and also to get that big news story. Their investigations lead them to the lost village of Tydeham, taken over by the army during the war, and loosely based on the real village of Tyneham in Dorset. Their discoveries in Tydeham set the girls on the chase not just of Little Lucy, but also that of three evacuees who went missing during the war.
I thoroughly enjoyed the different strands that the author has woven into this story, which kept me reading til late at night, keen to find out how the story would conclude. The characters are well written and easy to relate to and their investigations unfold the story convincingly. This is a great historic mystery/crime novel- highly recommended!

Liz Houghton is an investigative reporter who got stuck writing obituaries after breaking a story about someone with important connections. When a child disappears from a London garden, Liz sees it as an opportunity to return to reporting if she can break the story of her rescue. Her roommate Marissa is a police detective who has been assigned to the case. A possible sighting of Lucy has Liz, Marissa and her associate DI Jones heading for the South Coast. In the early 1940s the village of Tydeham was chosen by the army as a training site for the invasion of Europe. The villagers were given two weeks to evacuate and the destroyed village is still abandoned and off limits. An army representative meets the investigators to protect them from unexploded ordinance. Liz has flashbacks of having been in the village as a child, yet her father insists that was impossible. One of her visions leads her to a body buried in the manor’s garden. The victim was an unidentified young woman who was buried during the war. Even though Liz was only two at the time, she senses a connection to the woman.

During the evacuation of children during the Blitz, DI Jones was responsible for the investigation of the disappearance of three little girls. The body of one of them was eventually discovered. The other children were never found. As Liz searches for Lucy she also interviews several of Tydeham’s former residents and writes a touching obituary for a village that lies forgotten. She is also determined to discover the fate of the missing girls to give DI Jones and their families some closure. She discovers a mystery from her own past that will change everything she knew about her own family. Rhys Bowen bases her story on the still abandoned village of Tyneham, chosen for the practice for D-Day. The Rose Arbor is a fascinating historical mystery that explores the heartbreak experienced when children were separated from their parents and the meaning of family. She brings her characters to life and once again gives her readers a story that will stay with them long after the conclusion. I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this book.

I absolutely tore through this mystery, which kept me guessing all the way to the end. As often happens with these sorts of things, the final outcome did feel a bit too pat, but it was the journey that was the most satisfying part. I loved Liz and Marisa’s relationship and how they supported and challenged each other throughout. It was also an interesting look at the 60s in Britain, a time period I don’t know much about. Overall very enjoyable read and highly recommended.

I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher to review for Library Journal. Please read my review in Library Journal.

Beautiful and atmospheric, I want this to be on the screen so I can see it come to life! It was exciting to read a historical fiction story whose MAIN focus wasn't WWII.

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.

I’ve never read a book which is historical but also has a mystery to it. This took me only few days to finish since it turned out engaging!! I usually don’t like the past and present point of views but this one is easy to follow. The twist is also surprising. Overall, I highly recommend!

"The Rose Arbor" by Rhys Bowen is a gripping historical mystery that weaves together the haunting tales of lost children, post-war Britain, and a journalist's quest for truth. This novel kept me enthralled to the point that I stayed up most of the night reading—an occurrence that rarely happens for me. But it does need a content warning for violence directed at children.

Set in London during 1968, the story follows Liz Houghton, an obituary writer, who seizes the chance to break back into the newsroom when a young girl's disappearance captivates the city. Liz's best friend Marisa, a police officer on the case, leads them to Dorset, where they unravel a mystery dating back to World War II. Three girls vanished during the Blitz evacuation, and their stories lead Liz to the requisitioned village of Tydeham, left in barricaded ruins after the war. As Liz delves into the past, she discovers connections that are both eerie and inexplicably familiar.

While the novel is expansive and ambitious, offering a captivating exploration of the war and postwar experiences in rural and urban England, there are moments where interactions felt rushed, particularly in Liz's scenes with James.
I am grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to read this ARC and offer an unbiased review.

I loved The Paris Assignment so I was very excited to receive an #arc from #netgalley. This book was so well done. I love historical fiction and there was clearly a lot of research and time put into this one. I thought that the mystery spin added to the book in the perfect way. The main character was great - I enjoyed her career, romance and personal growth and change throughout the book. I just wish that there were a little more details about her personal life, making it easier to connect with not just the story but with her personally. Overall, a really wonderful book that any fans of Historical Fiction should pickup.

Liz is a bored obituary writer in the '60's in London. With her roommate, a police officer, she finds herself looking into the case of a missing little girl in London. Along the way she uncovers the story of 3 missing girls from a town called Tydeham during WWII. Not only does she help unfold necessary details in the cases of all missing girls, but she discovers surprising details about her life as well.

Rhys Bowen has become a must read author for me!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I’ve read the entire Molly Murphy series by this author and thought I’d try something else of hers.
I’m glad I did. Ms. Bowen is an excellent storyteller. This book took us across a couple timelines yet it was all cohesive and easy to understand. I had no trouble following where and when we were. The mystery was intriguing. I’m hoping this is the start of another series. I really liked the characters Lizzie and her friend Marissa.
I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you Netgalley, Rhys Bowen and Lake Union Publisher for the ebook! This was a crazy and wild mystery that unraveled thanks to a determined journalist trying to make it big. I really couldn't believe what she discovered and how it ended up being personal for her as well!

Thank you UplitReads and Rhys Bowen for my #gifted copy of The Rose Arbor! #RhysBowen #TheRoseArbor #uplitreadscampaign #lakeunionpublishing #lakeunionauthors

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟦.𝟧★

What. A. Page. Turner! Rhys Bowen has combined two of my favorite genres, to create a masterpiece with her latest historical suspense novel. This book was set up so well and I love how there were some twists infused throughout to keep me so invested. On top of that, there was a hint of romance which I thought was such a perfect added element. Bowen is such a talented author and this book was perfectly crafted like her other books. You are in for a real treat with this one and I guarantee you will not be able to turn the pages quickly enough!

Posted on Goodreads on August 7, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around August 8, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on August 7, 2024
**-will post on designated date

Interesting tale told in two time frames; WWII and 1968. Based on a real town that was practice bait.

A small town with a manor house on a cliff, beside the ocean is chosen by England for a practice site for D-Day. The townspeople rent their land so they aren't compensated. The owners of the manor house were told that their house wouldn't be damaged, but the entire site needed to be packed and out within 2 week.

1968, two women, both in "mens' jobs" are investigating the disappearance of a young girl. One is a reporter, currently stuck in the obituary department and the other is in policing. The lead detective remembers the cases of 3 missing girls from WWII when people were sending their children on trains, hopeful that temporary homes could be found for the children.

As Liz and her roommate. Marissa, they find similarities, but there may not be any connection. They travel to the destroyed town, Liz has a couple of flashback memories that indicate that she had been there before the town was destroyed.

This is a story of perseverance and creative follow up with both Liz and Marissa contributing to solving some mysteries. I enjoyed it a great deal, as I've enjoyed other books by Rhys Bowen.

I love to read stories about the war time and how common people lived extraordinary lives. Liz is an intrepid young journalist who gets involved in the search for a little girl who has been kidnapped in 1968 during which she also learns about three other girls who disappeared during WWII and believes that the cases might have a connection. Little does she know that this search will bring recognition for her work but also great pain. The Rose Arbor mingles historic facts with fiction and the result is a very entertaining and emotional story. Loved it!
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I've enjoyed Bowen's cozy mysteries and her standalone historical fiction and this was a lovely mix of both! At the beginning we start in the little village of Tydeham right before it is evaculated for use in the war effort. I deeply sympatized with the characters as they faced being suddenly upended out of their homes as they also deal with all the chaos or the war in general.
25 years later we meet Liz who after a failed attempt to break a big story is booted down to obituaries and her career is hanging by a thread. She jumps at the chance to follow her friend Marisa, a police detective, to track down a lead on the most important kidnapping case in the news.

I was quickly pulled into this one. I love a historical mystery and this one is not only historical but is looking into a potential wartime mystery which is so many of my favorite things in one. There are also past and present day missing person cases and so many threads and stories for the characters to sift through.

I liked Liz and her drive to find out what happened as well as her confusion with what everyone around her is telling her. I found the story and pacing compelling and while I had several theories of waht was happening I wasn't fully sure until the very end. I've read a number of books by this author but have been neglecting her standalones. I won't be making that mistake in future!