This book is for readers of Historical fiction and mystery alike. It is a beautiful blend of both genres. It tells a tale of what happened to the village of Tydeham during and after WWII. At the same time it brings the reader into the time period twenty plus years post war as young adults are abandoning traditional lifestyles and opting to live their lives in communes.

Rhys Bowen’s story however is more mystery than Historical Fiction. The protagonist, Liz Houghton, is an obituary writer who wants to become the hard hitting news reporter she knows she is. She lives with her best friend/police officer Marisa. When Marisa is assigned to the case of a missing girl, Liz finds her story. Following the case leads them to the village of Tyneham and has Liz wondering if she has been there before. Not only that, it leads her to wonder if the present case is related to 3 cold cases of missing girls lost during the war.

I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the inclusions of the little girls perspective as Liz tries to uncover the truth. I also loved that this story was full of complications. I almost didn’t know how to feel. If you love stories that leave you wondering who the bad guy is, then this one's for you. It’s not a fast paced mystery, but includes details of locations and lives that will feed your historical curiosities as well.

The Rose Arbor is a mystery set in 1968.

Demoted London Journalist Liz is keen to help find a missing child. She needs a good scoop to get her back in favour. Liz’s flatmate Marisa works for the police and is on the missing child’s investigating team. She tells Liz that they have a potential sighting of the child in Dorset. Deciding to follow Marisa to Weymouth, Liz worms her way into helping search out some local spots.

They visit the village of Tydeham, now abandoned because the army needed the area to practice for the D-Day landings, two and a half decades earlier. Here Liz has a flashback; she remembers being there.

Forbidden to help further with the current missing child, Liz roots out a cold case; three missing war-time child evacuees, who all got on trains to the west country but never arrived. She hopes that there might be a tenuous link that she can use for a winning article.

The Dorset location appealed to me as a few years ago I visited the real abandoned village of Tyneham which this story is based upon. I liked the mystery elements too, especially those surrounding the missing evacuees. Liz’s own backstory unfolds with a few surprises, while her determination to hunt out details and follow clues made her a likeable character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Rose Bower" by Rhys Bowen.
Ms. Bowen takes us back t0 1968 London for a mystery rooted even further in the past (1940s England) that has echoes in that decade.
In 1968, everyone is riveted by the a young girl's disappearance. "Little Lucy" went missing from a small park when her au pair was temporarily distracted.
Liz Houghton is a newspaper reporter vanquished to the Obituaries column; her roommate is a WPC (Woman Police Constable) who's seconded to work with a Detective who is investigating the child's disappearance, when there's a reported sighting close to the deserted village of Tyndeham (a village that had been taken over by the British Armed Forces for 'invasion practice' in 1944 and subsequently left in ruins). Liz, hoping for a scoop that will take her back to the newsroom, goes along. On the way there, Liz learns of the disappearances of three little girls some years earlier, which still weigh on the mind of the Detective that she is accompanying. In wartime evacuations, they left their homes and never returned.
While visiting the abandoned village, Liz has some kind of psychic connection and believes that she witnessed - as a small child - the burial of a person on the property of Tyndeham Grange. This sets off a series of insights that her reporter's mind cannot ignore, and Liz begins a voyage of discovery into her own past and the possibilities and circumstances surrounding the wartime disappearance as well as the current kidnapping.
A well written historical whodunit for fans of any kind of mystery. Ms. Bowen's avid readers will certainly enjoy this one, and new readers might be tempted to explore her other books.

This latest book from Rhys Bowen has everything I've come to expect from this excellent author: A fantastic story within a story, a wonderful mystery to keep the pages turning, likeable characters you root for, and exquisite attention to historical detail that makes it seem you have dived into the past and emerged into 1968 and WWII = era England. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and spent a very pleasant day following the twists and turns while trying to solve a murder that dates back to WWII. I really hope some wise soul makes this into a miniseries - it would be just perfect on Masterpiece Theater! I loved this and it will definitely be a keeper once I get my hands on a paper copy!

This was a page turner! I wasn’t expecting the ending. It felt a little abrupt after the long build up throughout the book, but I was grateful for some answers!

The Rose Arbor is a historical mystery and thriller that tackles post-war Britain, the stories of lost children evacuated to the countryside and never heard from again, and whether some truths are worth exposing.

I really enjoyed the tangled plot lines, the finely crafted mysteries of which there were several. I loved the gender dynamics, the women working to find their place in male-dominated careers. the historical details were really interesting and vibrant, both sad for all of the damage and upheaval and hopeful for the reparations to come. I also think Liz as a character was easy to follow in terms of her motivations, her reasonings, and her world view.

In terms of feedback, I did feel some interactions were rushed. Liz's scenes with James sometimes lacked emotional depth or examination when I wanted it most. Also, when they're searching the caved in house, Liz says, "Oh look, James!" twice within the span of a page or so. There are just these small moments that could stood out to me as needing a little more polish, but the overall story is very expansive and ambitious, and I appreciated it very much!

Thank you so much to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and offer my unbiased review!

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen

What if your father, in a dream, were to ask whether you really want to know the answers you seek? My answer might be “maybe?” with hands over eyes but fingers slightly apart for peeking out. Liz and Marisa want answers, and to advance their careers as journalist and detective, but they have to stand up to bosses to do so. They are also finding and facing painful truths, the damage from war, and the secrets people kept. Three missing girls from the war years, lost in all that disruption and confusion, a missing child in the news, and more painful discoveries to come. It’s sad to think of the deliberate leveling of a village, with the stoic acceptance of wartime necessity, based on real events.
I found myself sharing their trepidation and hope as I read on, with breaks to breathe and contemplate. So many mysterious threads and secrets and twists, woven together perfectly and written so well. So much travel by tube, train, car, van, and walking . . . a dizzying tour of England from my armchair. Compromises will have me rethinking my own decisions as well as theirs, as these characters and their dilemmas stay with me even after finishing this most satisfying and engaging book. I’d love to read more about these strong and clever women if it were to be a series. Please, Rhys Bowen, could I have more?

Liz works to solve the mystery of Little Lucy, but in the process discovers her own truths about the past. Rhys Bowen crafts a beautiful story, weaving the past and the present to draw the reader in throughout the book. Bowen did a great job keeping you on the edge of your seat, as multiple mysteries unfolded. I did find some of the discoveries a little far-fetched. The strengths of the plot were contrasted by some of the weaknesses in character development. Some of the interactions throughout the book also felt unnatural, as it seemed odd for everyone to be so willing to talk to her and share information. During a disagreement between Marisa and Liz, Marisa seemed to forgive and move on all too easily. I still enjoyed this book, but it definitely wasn't my favorite read.

I needed something relaxing and entertaining and this was just the book. I had read some books by Rhys Bowen before and they have always been well written with an interesting plot and characters you can relate to. The Rose Arbor is no different. It combines family secrets, a child's disappearance and some history and manges to keep the reader engaged throughout all of it. The England in the sixties atmosphere adds a little extra charm as does the storyline about the abandoned village . Overall, a very pleasant read.

This was such an interesting read-so many twists and turns! A young child is kidnapped in London and the hunt is on. Elizabeth is a journalist who thought she had a great story about a politico. Unfortunately, he was friends with the publisher and her story was killed. She was demoted to writing obituaries. Elizabeth’s roommate is Marisa who’s is a policeman assigned to the case. The main story takes place in 1968 but there are flashbacks to unsolved cases of missing children during the evacuation of children in WW2. The story weaves in and out as Elizabeth and Marisa solve the kidnapping case. But there are surprises along the way!

I had never read this author before but I had heard from fellow readers how good she is. So I took a chance and I was glad that I did, Three young girls who were being relocated for their safety during WWI and a young girl in the present time disappear mysteriously. A female reporter at a local paper( who has been demoted to write obituaries) takes up the case with her friend in the Police Department. While trying to solve the disappearances, the reporter begins to question who she really is and how this connects to the cases. A great read ; I plan to go back to read other books by this author.

Liz and Marisa try and track down a missing girl, Little Lucy, but discover plenty of surprises along the way.

I really enjoyed this book and found the story gripping throughout. I loved the dynamic of Liz and her friend Marisa and their experiences of being professional women in the 60’s. The characters felt real and relatable and the story kept me guessing right until the end. The descriptions of the abandoned village were vivid and I could really imagine being at a guest house in a seaside town, out of season eating less than palatable food!

I did find Liz’s hunches to be a far fetched at times but ultimately an engaging read, a real page turner.

The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen is a compelling novel that weaves together the past and present, unraveling a mystery that spans decades. Set in 1968 London, the story follows Liz Houghton, an obituary writer eager for a breakthrough story. When a young girl goes missing, Liz sees an opportunity to make her mark in journalism. The author blends suspense with historical intrigue, drawing readers into a world where past secrets cast long shadows. The vivid writing shines in this novel, making it a must read for anyone looking for a gripping and atmospheric story.

This was a really good novel weaving through many mysteries and family secrets! A well done plot which left me guessing till the end. I did have some ideas, but could not exactly guess what had really happened. A bit of romance though not overwhelming, and even then I could not be sure about James's personality. A touch of coincidence in the plot did disturb me but not enough to disappoint me! A great and hooking storyline!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Rhys Bowen, and The Rose Arbor did not disappoint. It's definitely a new favorite.

:Liz is working her way up as a news reporter in 1968. She was just demoted, her boyfriend has skipped town, and she has helicopter parents. She's trying to make her own way, but it looks bleak.

Then she gets a tipoff about a recent missing girl, and she decides to take the slim chance to report on the story. This opens up a web of carefully crafted lies, and she chases different clues to figure out what happened to three girls who went missing in the war years.

This was well done. We follow Liz as she tries to extract the truth, opening up her own life story and shattering her perfect home life. There are so many questions to be answered, and Liz doesn't give up. Along the way she meets a potential romantic interest who helps her uncover the truth. Will everything be a dead end, and she'll lost her job? Or will she get to the bottom of the mystery and finally find love?

For the most part, the story was credible and compelling. I didn't want to put the book down until I knew what happened! Rhys Bowen is a master of laying out all of the information ahead of time, sprinkling the clues throughout the book, so when it all comes together at the end it makes sense and is satisfying..

Her non-series books usually go back and forth between time periods, which isn't my favorite outline, but this one doesn't. It does have some flashbooks that provide an added layer of depth and mystery.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

London 1968: Liz Houghton is writing obits for a London newspaper but longs to go back to writing news. The disappearance of a little girl, Lucy, has captivated the city and if Liz can break the story, it just may be the way to return to new reporting. Liz's friend and flat mate Marissa is a police officer assigned to the case with senior detective DI Jones.
Liz follows the detectives to Dorset where she makes the discovery of three little girls who disappeared when being evacuated during the war. DI Jones was involved with the cases of the girls...one was found dead, but no trace was ever found of the other two.
No further clue being found in Dorset, the detectives are called back to London. Liz, however, finds herself drawn to the village of Tydeham, requisitioned during the war by the military and the residents forced to leave their village behind with the promise that they could return once the war was over. Why does a place that Liz has never been to before seem strangely familiar to her?

This is the first book by author Rhys Bowen that I have read and I look forward to reading more of her stories. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story prior to publication.