Author: Rhys Bowen
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Book Release Date: 2024
Pages: 349
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: An investigation into a girl’s disappearance uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II in a haunting novel of suspense by the bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Paris Assignment.
London: 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 scoop: 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 Review: In 1968, Liz Houston is an obituary writer for a London newspaper. There is a disappearance of a young girl that has captured the city’s attention. Liz decides that by investigating the disappearance it will lead her to a better job promotion. She teams up with her roommate who is a policewoman to investigate the case. As Liz digs deep into the case, she also discovers other cold cases of young girls who disappeared in WWII.
I found Liz to be one of the most frustrating characters that I have ever read. She had no likable trait about her. She is very selfish. She often puts her roommate’s job on the line in order to achieve her goal. She is not responsible in handling her job and often skips work when her job is also on the line. The main problem I had most with her was that she had no sense of justice. I could not believe that she sided with those who had committed horrible deeds. She did not care about what was morally right. I hated the decisions that she made, and I greatly disliked her. Thus, I could not root for Liz nor did I find her to be compelling.
Overall, this book is about secrets, trauma, and relationships. I did not find any of the characters to be likeable. Some of them made very questionable choices. The main problem I had with this book was that there was no sense of justice or what is right or wrong. I was really confused why there were no morals in the story. Usually, a book has a message but this one did not have one. I also hated the ending, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I was really disappointed in this book and could not believe it was written by a popular mystery writer. As for the mystery, it was very convoluted and all over the place. I also found it to be very unconvincing. I did like the setting of Tyneham, and I learned a few things about its history. Still, the setting could not make up for this book. Therefore, this was Mrs. Bowen’s worst novel that she has written. Her other books are far superior. The Rose Arbor may appeal to readers of Jacqueline Winspear, Tessa Harris, and Susan MacNeal. However, I advise you to skip this book and read her other novels because it is forgettable, and it will leave you feeling disappointed after reading it.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
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