The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens presents an intriguing premise, with elements of mystery, historical drama, and suspense. The setting of the abbey and the central event—the fire—immediately grab the reader's attention, offering a glimpse of the tension and secrets within. Stephens does a good job of creating an atmosphere steeped in history, and the early chapters are filled with promise, drawing you into a world full of intrigue.

However, while the premise is strong, the execution of the plot and character development falls a bit flat. The pacing can be uneven, with some sections dragging, while others rush through important developments. The characters, though likable, lack the depth needed to fully connect with their journeys, and their motivations sometimes feel underexplored. The mystery itself, while compelling, doesn’t unfold with the same level of tension or surprise that would make it truly gripping.

Overall, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey is an enjoyable read, but it doesn’t fully live up to its potential. For readers who enjoy historical mysteries, it offers a solid, albeit predictable, story, but it could benefit from more character depth and a tighter plot.

There’s just something about a mystery set in the 1950s that is immediately cozy. Which is likely a strange way to feel about stories that revolve around one or more murders. Regardless, murder mysteries set in this specific time and place pull readers in, not only because those readers are involved in the mystery to be solved, but because there’s something about the time and place that is enchanting. And there’s a brightness to that time and place that keeps even the gnarliest of murders from feeling too heavy.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey was billed to me as a mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie. I think that description might have caused me to not temper my expectations as much as I generally do when trying a new-to-me author for the first time. All of the hallmarks of an excellent Christie-esque novel were present here, and yet there was something that kept it from landing quite as strongly as I’d hoped it would.

Don’t get me wrong: there’s a lot I enjoyed about this novel. I liked the voice and the setting. The cast of characters was varied and interesting. There was a twin element that I found fascinating, as my dad is an identical twin. And the mystery itself kept me guessing right up until the big reveal. I often guess such mysteries correctly, long before the characters figure things out, so that was refreshing.

So why did I like it without quite loving it?

There is a charm to this story that begged for deeper exploration. I wish this had leaned a little more heavily into that charm. I think that, in mysteries such as this one and the type of stories after which it is modeled, the charm of the area that serves as the setting is a wonderful and vital dichotomy to the mystery at the core of the novel.

The mystery and its investigation cast a wide net onto possible motives and suspects. Too wide a net, in my opinion, with not enough believable explanation regarding most of them. I think this stems in part from the believability of Louisa as our investigating protagonist. There was something about her that didn’t quite ring true, though she was plenty likable and intelligent.

I think most of my issues with this book come down to feeling that I was told a lot without being shown for myself. That’s one of Christie’s great strengths. She lets you play detective alongside Poirot and Marple, making some discoveries and inferences for yourself as you read. This is possible because their stories are told in third person. In The Burning of Rosemont Abbey, we have Louisa’s first person narrative, which just isn’t quite as successful in terms of this type of mystery, in my opinion.

In spite of my qualms, this was a solid, entertaining mystery. It just didn’t quite live up to its comparisons to Christie. But in all honesty and fairness, what book does? There’s a reason Christie was billed the queen of mystery, and why she retains that title so long after her death. I enjoyed this first offering from Stephens enough that I can see myself reading her again in the future.

(As this is a novel from a Christian publisher, I’d like to touch on the faith element in the book. It was present, but felt like an afterthought in most instances. It wasn’t a large building block of the story. A non Christian wouldn’t find this novel unpalatable.)

I so, so enjoyed this book! My very favorite thing about this novel is the verse...it just perfectly encapsulates the time period, the genre, and the characters. Naomi Stephens is a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed this book so much that I checked Amazon to see if she'd written others. I downloaded and read Shadow Among Sheaves and loved it, as well. I'm excited to see what she writes next!

[Thank you to @netgalley and to @bethanyhousefiction for my gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.]

This book started out a bit slow for me, but by 20% or so, I was HOOKED! This was my first book by Naomi Stephens, and I will absolutely be looking forward to reading more in the future.

Read this if you’re in the mood for:

🔎 1950’s England
🔎 Murder mystery
🔎 Christian fiction with light faith themes
🔎 A bit of (clean) romance
🔎 Plot twists
🔎 Family secrets

I really enjoyed this book! And what a stunning cover!

Definitely recommend! ❤️

A wonderful mystery in the veins of Nancy Drew. A nosey main character who plans on solving the case, and nobody better get in her way. With a dash of romance and lots of intrigue I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and characters.

This story was beautifully written. I loved the 1950s setting and our plucky heroine. The mystery kept me guessing until the last page, and also kept me turning the pages...well listening to the audiobook. Which by the way, the narrator did a fantastic job with the characters too.

*thank you to Baker Publishing and #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book to read. All thoughts are my own.

This book was an enjoyable and quirky mystery, vaguely reminiscent of some of Agatha Christie’s later work. Why Didn’t They Ask Evans and others. I kept hoping the ending would be different, but it was as it was.
The characters had their own eccentricities, even if they were a bit typecast.
Somebody pointed out there were a few Americanisms, and yes there were.

I didn’t notice a lot and it is rather to be expected. I really liked the narrator of the audiobook as well: no typical and the accent was just right.

For a debut novel, it was very good, and I’d certainly read more by this author.

Thanks to the publisher and Bethany House for approving me for this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book surprised me in the best possible way! It was like reading a story from the Golden Age of crime fiction. There are all the hallmarks from that era in this book such as the amateur sleuth heroine, red herrings, the quant country village, and plot twists galore! However, the author made this her own by adding a fabulous romance with fun banter. I found myself chuckling several times throughout the story. I just loved the church secretary! This was such a great debut novel and I'm really glad I picked this one up!

4.5 stars

I have been eagerly anticipating The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens ever since I first saw the gorgeous cover, and I am quite happy to report that the story inside was everything I hoped it would be!

Louisa Everly makes a compelling character right from the beginning and that doozy of a first line – “Louisa felt him die”. Thanks to the unique ‘twin bond’, she knows that something dire has just happened to her twin brother Paul, and this seems to be confirmed when the local abbey – with a personal connection to the siblings – goes up in flames merely an hour later. Stephens wrote this opening scene really well so that it establishes our care for Louisa as our protagonist, gets us immediately invested in the story, and presents us with three big questions: Is Paul really dead? Who burned down the Rosemont Abbey? Are the two events connected? From here, Stephens skillfully begins adding layers to these mysteries and guides the plot through several stunning twists, including the one that most took me by surprise. And I loved every minute of it! I was so involved in Louisa’s sleuthing that I really felt as though I were there in the quaint 1950s English village with her, my mind whirring with all the possibilities. And I was certain I knew who was behind everything… a surety that suddenly fell completely apart, leaving me just as caught off guard as Louisa and Malcolm.

Oh yes… Malcolm. You’re going to love this Detective Inspector, an old friend of Paul and Louisa’s who is particularly swoony when he’s in protective mode. Because, dear readers, this is a mystery with a dash of romance. Can I get an Amen? It hums delightfully along in the background of the story until a lovely show of swoonilicious sparks finally breaks free. Honestly, this is really a win-win for everyone. Mystery purists can overlook the hints of chemistry between Louisa and Malcolm without interfering with their enjoyment of the investigation, but readers like me can also let our happy little romance-loving hearts dance with anticipation over the hope of kisses to come.

Bottom Line: The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens is deliciously Christie-esque with its English village setting, clever mystery, and intriguing characters. The 1950s British setting gives the story an overall Clue vibe as well, which I loved, and the witty humor (Mrs. Watson!!) was the perfect touch. I was caught up in Louisa’s investigation, her friendship with Malcolm, the well-plotted clues and the riveting finale, each made all the more compelling by Stephens’ engaging writing voice. I suspected everyone… except maybe the right ones(s)… which kept me turning the pages and firmly invested. And (I know this will shock approximately zero of you) the subtle-until-it’s-not romance subplot was the icing on the cake for me. This is a mystery novel to relish from beginning to end. Perfect for fans of Michelle Griep, Erica Vetsch, Julianna Deering, and – of course – Agatha Christie.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

The opening of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey hooked me immediately: like many non-twins, I’ve always had a fascination for twins … and for their reputed mysterious connection.

This connection gives the mystery a unique twist. Louisa Everly knows her brother is dead, which means she knows Inspector Malcolm Sinclair is mistaken in considering Paul to be the major suspect for the arson at the abbey. If Paul wasn’t involved, then who burned the abbey? And who murdered Paul?

Louisa feels she can’t tell anyone that she knows Paul is dead—they’ll simply think she is hysterical and won’t believe her. It’s a clever plot point and executed well.

That original premise gives the story a strong forward motion and kept me turning the virtual pages.
Louisa works alone and—reluctantly—with Inspector Sinclair, Paul’s childhood best friend. To Malcolm’s annoyance, she makes several discoveries that the police couldn’t have made, given they had already identified Paul as their key and only suspect. I liked the way Louisa thought and acted. She made intelligent deductions, in the spirit of Miss Marple and other famous fictional lady detectives.

Unfortunately, the story was marred by Americanisms that didn’t make sense in the context of the setting (England in 1956). For example, what colour are “eyes the color of money”? If you’re American, you might think the answer is obvious: green. But the character is not American (and nor is this reader). British money in 1956 was almost all the colours of the rainbow—red and orange and green and blue and purple and grey (but not yellow). Lines like this brought me out of the story.

I didn’t find the ending entirely satisfying or believable. Sure, the evildoer has been set up as a character with some … let’s call them personality defects. The story did keep me guessing whodunit, which is essential in a murder good mystery. But I didn’t see the motivation for the crime, which affected the story’s overall credibility.

However, I have often found that I’ve read the end of mystery novels too quickly, which has sometimes meant that I’ve missed key points (like the character’s motivation). I did re-read the last quarter, and while that did make the motivation clearer, it still lacked the depth and sophistication I’d expected.

Overall, the characterisation was excellent, the plot was unique and engaging (except for the big reveal at the end), and the writing was solid, but the Americanisms were distracting and the ending didn’t deliver for me.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one when I first started it. Historical fiction isn't my go-to genre and mystery/suspense isn't either. However, as the story progressed, I was totally into it!

Set in the small town of Wilbeth Green, Louisa Everly feels the death of her troublemaker twin brother Paul when it occurs. Subsequently, the beloved Rosemont Abbey (where her deceased father once served as the vicar) is set ablaze and everyone in town believes Paul is to blame. They believe his disappearance is due to him being on the run after the arson while Louisa is sure he was murdered and framed.

Louisa wants to prove Paul's innocence and discover his murderer, but everyone has a rock solid alibi—or so it seems. When Paul's old chum-turned-police inspector, Malcolm Sinclair shows up to investigate the case, Louisa forms an alliance with him to uncover the truth. Neither of them realize what a twisty-turny, dangerous road it would take them down.

This was such a fun, unpredictable adventure! I enjoyed all of the twists and turns and the side characters were well-written. All the way through, I was left wondering what truly happened and the motive behind the crime.

I listened on audio and the narrator was phenomenal! I felt transported to England and totally engrossed in the story. Definitely recommend checking this one out!

Rosemont Abbey has burned to the ground. Villagers take no time in accusing Paul Everly, who has conveniently disappeared, of arson. His twin sister, Louisa, knows he’s dead, she felt it just before flames devoured the abbey. But claiming a twin bond as the basis of her brother’s innocence will at best discredit her as strange or at worst get her committed to an asylum. Against warnings, advice, and threats, Louisa sets out to find tangible proof to convince others of what she already knows.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens is an intriguing whodunit that kept me guessing. The quaint, 1950’s English village with an eclectic cast and red herrings galore pulled me in. I felt the heroine’s plight as she mourned her brother and remembered both the good and the bad times. A delightful blend of mystery and romance, it leaned a bit more toward the former, which is something I especially like in books. This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a slight Agatha Christie flare.

I loved this very 1950's mystery! I thought that the author did a wonderful job of writing a plucky heroine who sets out to find out what happened to her brother.

I absolutely loved this book! Any kind of historical mystery peaks my interest, but this book truly hit all the right points for an exceptionally enjoyable read. The mystery kept me invested and the story truly gave a vintage mystery feel that was reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery novel. The dynamic between Louisa and Malcolm was perfectly balanced! A little bit of fire and ice! The mystery kept me guessing until the end and there was a twist I didn’t see coming! O absolutely loved this book and definitely will be reading more from this author!

I decided to take a chance on this when it was described as being reminiscent of Agatha Christie and I’m so glad I did. I was immediately hooked from the beginning when Louisa felt the death of her brother Paul through their bond as twins, and that it coincided with the burning of the abbey. The mystery that follows kept me listening. The narrator did such an amazing job of bringing all of the characters to life.

I loved Louisa’s determination to find out the truth behind her brother’s death and the fire at Rosemont Abbey. Enter broody Malcolm Sinclair, Louisa‘s childhood friend who grew up to be an inspector. Though at first, he tries to stop Louisa from getting involved in the investigation, he soon realizes that her tenacity and boldness are actually helping and he reluctantly allows her to aid him while keeping her at arms length.

The author did such a good job at keeping me guessing until the end. Even when the murderer was revealed, I was still surprised and could’ve never guessed the ending. I enjoyed the light faith elements and loved the subtle romance. Fans of Agatha Christie will definitely enjoy this cozy mystery.

Content: kisses

Thank you to Bethany House for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey sounded interesting, but then when I began reading it seems a bit light and the heroine, Louisa, rather superficial. But my initial thoughts were wrong. The more I read of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey, the more I got into the story and the more I enjoyed it. This is entertaining historical cozy fiction, with some nice twists and red herrings. Stephens writes as Agatha Christie wrote, with good descriptions and just the right amount of detail. By the end of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey, leaders understand that true evil can exist in even the most bland of characters.

I was not familiar with author Naomi Stephens, but I decided to take a chance on this novel and now will look for her books. Stephens' writing is engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that holds up well. Malcolm proved to be a good romantic foil, although I did wonder what happened to Dorothy? Or why she was even there? Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for pervading me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I do recommend The Burning of Rosemont Abbey. I enjoyed it very much.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey is a stand-alone novel by Naomi Stephens. Louisa Everly knows that her twin brother is not the arsonist behind the burning of Rosemont Abbey, but can she prove it? Her brother is missing, and as the investigation progresses, she learns of his involvement in nefarious affairs. Set in the 1950s, this book is perfect for fans of Father Brown and Granchester who love a cozy puzzling mystery and memorable sidekicks. Add in romance, blackmail, and murder to make it an outstanding debut novel.

This book gets your attention from the opening line of the book, and keeps on! Whodunit? You'll find out in the end!! I enjoyed this historical fiction mystery book set in the1950s! And I think you will too!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is the 2nd historical mystery that I read this month and I have to say this genre is amazing and I need more!

Naomi Stephens is a new to me author and this book completely wowed me. It has a cozy mystery vibe but not overly cutesy which I thought was perfect.

It's said to be similar to the famous Agatha Christie, but having never read her books, I can't say for certain. What I can say is that the author wrote a fantastic mystery that had me glued to the pages.

"The Burning of Rosemont Abbey" by Naomi Stephens is a wonderful classic British mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew! The book takes place in 1956 in a sleepy English village, where everyone knows one another. The village of Wilbeth Green, along with its abbey, Rosemont Abbey, is such a beautiful and atmospheric setting. I felt transported to the village. Our heroine and amateur sleuth, Louisa Everly, is determined to find out what happened to her twin brother and does not believe he is behind the burning of the abbey. Louisa is stubborn, headstrong, brave and armed with lipstick and taffeta. She sets out to investigate on her own. Readers will love following Louisa as she picks locks, questions locals, pretends to faint and partakes in a high-speed car chase. During her investigation, she runs into an old friend, with shared history, who just happens to be the inspector on the case, Malcolm Sinclair. Malcolm and Louisa butt heads at first, but eventually team up to solve the mystery. Sparks fly between the two as the investigation becomes more serious.

I love all the history and fashion woven into the story. Even though Louisa’s sibling, Paul, is missing in the present time of the story, the relationship between Louisa and Paul is still very much front and center. There are lots of memories and flashbacks of Louisa, her brother and Malcolm. There are wonderful themes of forgiveness, class, family and sibling relationships and faith. I especially loved the lesson that the vicar imparts to Louisa about not thinking we are better than others and that the only comparison that really matters is who we are in Christ. This story of Ms. Stephens’ kept me guessing throughout and it was a great surprise at the end. If you love fashion, mystery and history, you will love this story!

Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content: a character smokes cigarettes, steals and is drunk; mention of drinking and gambling; a character goes to a place with a bar; the word “da*n” is used; mention of someone possibly having an affair; a man says he was in a compromising position with a woman; a child is a bastard; someone curses but the words aren’t actually written.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Secrets get revealed when tested by fire.

Louisa knows the moment her twin brother dies. Then not long after she is told that the Rosemont Abbey--the home she grew up in before her parents' died--burned to the ground...by Paul.

Convinced of his innocence and spurred on by her own guilt of her final words to him after he warned her about things not being what she thinks they are--she clandestinely pursues the arson. Getting in the way of that "annoying boy of her youth now chief detective inspector" Malcolm along the way. But trusting that he still holds loyalty to the friendship they shared with her brother--she reveals her suspicions to him.

Through the rest of the book, Malcolm and Louisa seek to find who is framing Paul--what secrets did he discover--and why was the Abbey burned? Along the way, Louisa will learn more about the brother she thought she knew--and about her own self.

It did keep me going to the end, there was a little surprise in the villain although I was given tidbits of clues along the way. I didn't LOVE it, but it was still good. Just a nice easy read.

3.5 stars

*Thanks to the publishers and NetGAlley for an ARC of this book to review. All opinions are 100% my own.