Sunday, December 22, 2024

THE BURNING OF ROSEMONT ABBEY by Naomi Stephens, Reviewed by Winnie Thomas

(A Whodunnit Historical Romantic 
Mystery Set in 1950's England)

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
Set in England in 1956, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey is an intriguing mixture of history, mystery, and suspense, with a bit of romance. The colorful and eclectic cast of characters added to the suspense with no clear indication of who the culprit was. Various twists and turns kept me guessing and turning pages.

Louisa Everly, whose twin brother Paul was suspected of setting fire to the Abbey, was certain of his innocence, since she felt he had died before the fire started. She wants to leave no stone unturned in finding his killer. Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, a childhood friend of Louisa and Paul, wants Louisa to back off and not get involved. There is quite a bit of witty banter between the two, which lightens the mood a little in this somber tale. I also found Mrs. Watson, an elderly eccentric lady, to be a comedic relief. She was such fun!

“Mrs. Watson looked at him. And if looks could kill, Malcolm would have been six feet under the ground with the service already spoken last Tuesday.”

“If he thought her arrival with Malcolm was odd, he didn’t say so. And she hadn’t had to do any improvisational fainting this time, thank goodness, though Mrs. Watson had graciously offered to be the next victim should they ever need one.”

Naomi Stephens is a new-to-me author, but I’m interested in reading more of her stories.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own. 4.5 stars 

SEE REVIEWS by PAULA AND REBECCA

BackCover Blurb:
Everyone in Wilbeth Green has something to hide, but she's about to uncover their secrets.

1956: In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents' tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection--she felt her twin's death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul's closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

Bethany House Publishing, October, 2024
Available in digital ebook, paperback, library binding, and audiobook:


 

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