This is my first book by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a great mystery to solve. As Louisa tries to figure out the truth, she finds that many have argued with the suspect recently, including herself. Of course, as she gets closer to the truth, her own danger increases, but from what source? There are a few twists and turns along the way that are pretty intriguing. People are not always what they seem to be on first impression.

I liked Louisa more as the book went along. She seemed pretty harsh at the beginning but really learns some things about herself and her brother that challenge what she has long believed. I also liked Malcolm. It's always fun to me when a bystander keeps getting in the way of an investigation but they can't be denied when they're turning up clues the police didn't find.

One of my favorite quotes in the book was this. "Fear death! Ha! I respect him! And after the chase I've given him, I have no doubt he respects me as well. Why, if he were to walk through that door over there, black cloak or not, I'd stand up from this chair and shake him by the hand and say, 'Why, you crafty old devil, well done!' (location 1843)."

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Louisa Everly felt her twin Paul die. And though no one can find his body, she knows he is gone. What she must race to find out is how he died, who killed him, and if he burned Rosemont Abbey to the ground. Matching wits with everyone from local gangsters to the upper echelons of British society, Louisa is determined to uncover the truth, aided (albeit unwillingly) by a familiar face from the past, Malcolm Sinclair—and she does it all while wearing her best taffetas and pumps, naturally.
Nancy Drew meets Agatha Christie in this witty murder mystery brimming with delightfully dry humor. If Hollywood were casting, The Burning of Rosemont would most certainly star Grace Kelly and Cary Grant!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was immediately pulled into this intriguing story. The setting reminds me of Father Brown mysteries in a small English village of 1956. Louisa Everly is a twin to Paul and feels as if he is dead.
Paul is missing and accused of burning down Rosemont Abbey, the Everly home until their vicar father died. Louisa has a a lot at stake and sets off to sleuth much to the consternation of Malcolm Sinclair, a childhood friend who is now a detective inspector.
The story moves quickly as Louisa finds clues, and as a result gets into trouble more than once. But never fear, Malcolm is close at hand to rescue or thwart her. A killer is still on the loose and the author did an admirable job of giving us lots of suspects.
A favorite character is Mrs. Watson, the elderly housekeeper to the vicar, who has an opinion about everything. The vicar was a solid man of faith and dispensed solid spiritual advice.
I always admire this authors writing.
*I won a NetGalley copy of this book from Library Thing and received a print copy from Bethany House for review. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

This was a fun read! Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this mystery with all it's red herrings and classic who-done-it feel. The setting lends itself wonderfully to the story and the characters are flawed and colourful. This is a clean read with a soft romance. It being a Christian themed book, I would have liked a little more internal faith content from the main character, although some conversations with the vicar really elevated this story for me. There is one instance of language that I wish could have been changed. But overall, this was a delight to read!
4.5 stars out of 5

Agatha Christie fans and hopeless romantics rejoice! This cozy mystery in the English countryside with a good dose of romance will delight! An entertaining plot, a swoon-worthy romance, and a mystery that keeps you guessing will prevent you from putting this book down! I can normally guess the ending to most mysteries, but I absolutely did not see this one coming. And a protective detective romantic hero in a Christie-esque mystery makes combines two of my favorite genres to create the perfect read for me! Five stars is not enough to reflect my love of this excellent story, and I can’t wait to see what Naomi Stephens writes next!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own— I really did love it!

Agatha Christie readers will enjoy debut mystery by Noami Stephens. So many possible suspects will have readers on their toes. Along with murder, the scene is set for a romance between Louisa and Malcolm or will it be Louisa and Paul? Loved the vicar and Mrs.Watson! Recommended.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens
4 Stars

Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this one! 1956 England - Naomi Stephens weaves an intricate and atmospheric mystery in The Burning of Rosemont Abbey. The story centers on Louisa Everly, a young woman determined to uncover the truth behind the smoldering ruins of the abbey and the disappearance of her twin brother, Paul. Everyone in the village accuses her brother of being the arsonist but Louisa is certain of his innocence - as she felt as though her twin died before it was set ablaze.

This book was so engaging to me - they mystery really reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie like story. Lots of side characters and small-town dynamics, where suspicious spreads like wildflower. Louisa stands out as a determined woman to figure out what happened with her brother, balancing possible grief with her unwavering devotion to prove his innocence.

The setting of Rosemont Abbey felt like gothic ruins with mysterious history and will appeal to readers, specifically during the fall time with its haunting atmosphere. Light faith elements add a layer to the story as well.

Overall, a perfect read for fans of British mysteries with a modern twist. Thank you to Bethany House for proving a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While I struggled to connect with the characters and get into the book, my fortitude was rewarded with well-developed protagonists who work together to solve this unusual mystery. There are a multitude of suspects and twists and turns on every page. The abbey, which survived so much history only to lose to arson, is itself a mystery, as it what happens to Louise's twin brother Paul, and they all tie together in a neat little bow, but not an expected one. There is also a lot of soul-searching and inner turmoil for our protagonist as she delves into her own personal past. A la 'Clue,' this is a classic whodunit mystery that will leave you guessing until the very end!

The title of this book is what captured my attention to this story in the first place because of my deep fascination of Monasteries in England and its history. My heart clinches when I imagine an old abbey burning that survived through the centuries despite its history. Why would someone do such a deliberate act of destruction to such an historic building. Particular one that can be traced back to the pre-Norman conquest. I needed to find out plus I love a good mystery.

The mystery surrounding the burning of the abbey had me thinking of all sorts of scenarios of who could have done it, Paul being the number one suspect. Stephens does a brilliant portrayal of bringing to light of other potential suspects, their backgrounds, connections and the possibility of how it could have happened and why. I must say, I was really caught off guard on who the arsonist was and the plot twist I did not see coming! Despite Louisa’s feeling her brother’s death, I couldn’t help feeling and hoping throughout reading the story, that she was wrong.

Louisa’s inner turmoil is shown throughout the story and she is flawed-of course-as we all are. Louisa certainly gets herself in sticky situations and despite her rocky relationship with her brother Paul and her disapproval towards him, her convictions to find out what happen to him, despite the obstacles she faces, is commendable. It is an extraordinary thing to see someone seeking redemption for a person whose lifestyle they don’t approve of or no matter how strain their relationship is to each other. We see that with Louisa in regards to her brother and I am proud of her.

What an excellent period for the setting of this story and I admire a writer who can develop realistic characters of the time period, and culture. I also love how the author weaves in a brief history of the Abbey and how much the building meant to the community. My heart was saddened right along with the congregation.

Wonderfully written mystery, fast paced, suspenseful, thought provoking, and a great plot! I will definitely be on the lookout for more stories by this author.

Stephanie Hopkins

Classic mystery with a cast of characters that will have you wondering who-done-it. As an avid fan of mysteries, I am always trying to solve the mystery as the clues are parceled out. But there were a couple of twists that kept me thoroughly engaged in this 1950's mystery.

In the beginning, Louisa seemed superficial, yet under Ms. Stephen's skillful pen, she became fully fleshed out, and I quickly became a fan. With a supporting cast reminiscent of Agatha Christie's, readers will love this jaunt to the village of Wilbeth Green with its many secrets coming to light. While there is definitely an atmosphere of suspense, I found moments of humor deftly tucked within the pages.

This is an expertly plotted tale that will keep readers engaged from the first page to the last. It is the first book I have read by Ms. Stephens but will not the last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ooohhh this was a great read. I’m grateful that I started it right before getting on a plane, so I could read straight through!

Naomi Stephens is a new-to-me author; I snagged the book off NetGalley largely off Roseanna White’s recommendation, as White herself is one of my go-tos and favorite authors. The rec is 100% deserved, both for content and a beautiful cover. Truly, you could judge this book by its cover because it’s beautiful inside and out. Hard, of course; it’s a mystery! But so, so good.

I loved watching Louisa and Malcolm grow as characters. They were perfect foils for each other, and their banter often made me chuckle out loud. And the 1950s Britain setting was so enjoyable; I’ve really not read much set during the 50s, and I adore all things Britain, so it was a win on multiple levels.

I can’t wait for more books by this author!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Naomi Stephens transports her readers to 1956 England in this compelling fast-paced who-done-it mystery that I could not put down! An Agatha Christie type story where every character is a suspect, and the mystery gets more complex from beginning to end, will keep you guessing throughout. Phenomenally plotted, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey, is a fast-passed novel with an ending you will never see coming, making it a must read!

I have identical twin brothers who can finish each other’s sentences, have felt each other’s pain when they broke a bone, when young switched classes in school at test time, and even switched places on girlfriends April Fools Day. So Louisa feeling Paul’s traumatic death was not a surprise to me. Louisa, trying to convince others of Paul’s death, without sounding crazy, adds to the tension in this engaging story.

Filled with compelling characters, which Stephens brings to life with her vivid writing in this game of Clue, is filled with a secret romance, suspense, deceit, blackmail, and murders, which all come to light during the investigation of the burning of the abbey. Being a mystery lover, I often pride myself in figuring things out, but I have to tip-my-hat to Naomi Stephens as she truly stumped me, and I cannot wait for what mystery she pens next for us to read.

I highly recommend The Burning of Rosemont Abbey for readers who love a great mystery with Christian undertones. You definitely will not be disappointed once you start reading this enthralling book!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens is a compelling mystery set in a quiet village in England in 1956. Readers are drawn into the mystery from the opening line, "Louisa felt him die." We soon discover that not only is Paul, Louisa's twin, missing but is being blamed for the fire that destroyed Rosemont Abbey. Louisa is certain that the fire could not have been set by her brother because she felt Paul's death an hour before the blaze started. When she is met with skepticism from family, neighbors and even the police, Louisa starts her own investigation to clear her brother's name and solve his murder. There are lots of twists and turns and red herrings leading the reader into the investigation. The novel book groups will enjoy discussing this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for the advance copy of the book for my honest review.

I have never had the privilege of reading one of Naomi Stephens' books, boy have I missed out. The really enjoyed reading The Burning of Rosemont Abbey, it was a delightful time piece but also a fun murder mystery.
The only person in the sleepy town of Wilbeth Green who does not believe that Paul burned down the Abbey is his twin sister, Louisa. She does believe he was murdered, but she does not believe he did the other things people are accusing him of.
Set in 1956, Stephens brings out the quaintness of post WWII England. As the country recovers, life has moved forward, but the scars remain.
The mystery is well done and will keep you guessing to the end who actually committed the crime. Which of course makes for the best murder mysteries.
I am looking forward to anything new from Stephens, but I am also looking forward to checking out her backlist titles. Do yourself a favor and put this book on your TBR list, then make sure you read it.

Naomi Stephens is a new-to-me author that is now on my must-reads list. From the gripping first chapter to the jaw-dropping ending, this story keeps you guessing until you finally find out what really happened at Rosemont Abbey.
For a book focused on solving a suspicious death, I loved that the author always balanced that with the fact that death has no sting for the believer, and those who stand on the Rock of Christ will not fall, no matter what happens all around. I loved that the main characters are twins, and how their connection, or lack thereof, was portrayed. The shock, grief, and regrets all rang very true. I did have a hard time remembering it was the 1950s. The description of the house, grounds, and clothing at times felt like 1900 or earlier.
All the ingredients for a perfect mystery are here: realistic characters, a suspenseful whodunit, and an unpredictable yet satisfying ending. A very enjoyable read that I highly recommend! I look forward to more from this author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! This is an exceptional book! It's almost like Clue. There are so many different scenarios and potential culprits that my mind was swirling with the possibilities. The perpetrator was the last person that I would have thought it was.

What an array of remarkable characters! Louisa is a complex character. Her relationship with her twin brother is strained. She loves her high society life, and Paul detests it. Malcolm, an old friend of the family, instantly clashes with Louisa as she remains adamant about her brothers innocence. Mrs. Watson is my favorite! She speaks her mind, but her heart is genuine.

During the investigation regarding the Burning Of Rosemont Abbey, so many other things come to light. A secret romance, blackmail, betrayals, and murders. I loved the ending except that it was kind of a cliffhanger.

This is the first book that I've read written by Naomi Stephens, but it certainly won't be the last! I'm already looking forward to the book coming in 2025!!

I won this book from Bethany House through LibraryThing via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is so so good!! An absolutely cozy mystery with a little romance and a lovely historical setting. I absolutely loved the characters and the end had me screaming inside with excitement. Highly recommend and can’t wait for Naomi’s next mystery to come out.

This is my first time to read a book by Naomi Stephens and it will not be my last! The Burning of Rosemont Abbey was masterfully told with character conflicts and plot twists that kept me reading until the wee hours. I could not put this book down!

The interesting twist of having a twin feel what the other twin is going through, in this case, his death, had me immediately engaged with this story. As the police and most of the community are convinced that Louisa’s brother Paul burned down the abbey and then took off, Louisa is convinced that Paul is dead. But who can she trust enough to divulge her belief, without them thinking she is crazy?

As Malcolm Sinclair investigates the fire, he warns Louisa to stay out of his way, but she is not one to sit idly by while the whole town is gossiping about her brother.

I love a good murder mystery and this book kept me guessing. There were so many suspects. I loved how the author puts the reader in Louisa’s shoes as she investigates each one and the surprise at the end blew me away!

If you like murder mysteries, you will love The Burning of Rosemont Abbey. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley for my honest review.

THE BURNING OF ROSEMONT ABBEY is such a fun read. The author does a fabulous job of immersing the reader in the story world. The time period in the 1950s and the setting of England are lovingly conveyed. The research means the details are there to provide context clues but it doesn't get in the way of the narrative, which I appreciate. The characters are well-crafted, and the mystery is the engine that keeps the plot going. Louisa's brother was interesting in that he's definitely not perfect. He is a bit selfish at times. This did not bother me since it made him seem more realistic. I highly recommend this novel for fans of cozy mysteries and amateur sleuth stories.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Stephens is now on my must-read list. This was an entertaining and well-written historical mystery, and the Christian content was meaningful without being preachy. I appreciated that our heroine was flawed and human, and that the villain was a true surprise (at least to me!).

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.