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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?
You can see the full discussion in our legacy forum here. This discussion will contain spoilers!
Some of the recent comments posted about The Rose Arbor:
Did you believe Liz’s father’s version of the events? Do you think he responded correctly once he found out Liz knew the truth about her origins? What would you have done in his shoes? In Liz’s?
I think her father skirted the truth somewhat. The basic framework may have been close, but there were too many inconsistencies. He was used to getting his own way and he told what was beneficial to him and, probably, his conscience. Liz must have ... - PamelaHD
Early on, Liz finds out that the man who’s been romancing her is married. She confronts him later in the book. What did you think of this conversation? How would you have handled it?
She did an OK job, however, I would not have been so civil. - freyah
For what audience would you recommend The Rose Arbor? Are there other novels you’d recommend that are similar to this one, either in content or writing style?
It's definitely a book that would be enjoyed by other fans of historical fiction, as well as mystery lovers who are willing to suspend their disbelief in significant respects. There were some aspects of the storyline that didn't work for me... - JHSiess
If you were making a movie of The Rose Arbor, who would you cast in the various roles?
I could see Joey King portraying Liz, but I don't have strong ideas for the other characters. - JHSiess
If you were to write a sequel to The Rose Arbor, what elements would it include?
I think that a sequel to this book would have to be Liz and Marisa working together on mysteries but I'm not sure they are strong enough characters to carry another book. - mtnluvr
"Bowen is adept at writing mysteries filled with intriguing clues, satisfying solutions, expertly captured historical settings, and a little romance. A must-add to popular mystery collections." —Library Journal (starred review)
"The Rose Arbor is a complex and intriguing mystery that dares the reader to unravel the clues before the protagonist, London reporter Liz Houghton, with plenty of intrigue for any seasoned mystery reader, and smart, exquisite prose for those who luxuriate in the beauty of the written word. Take it on your vacation, but be prepared for late nights." ―Robert Dugoni, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series and A Killing on the Hill
This information about The Rose Arbor was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including The Paris Assignment, Where the Sky Begins, The Venice Sketchbook, Above the Bay of Angels, The Victory Garden, The Tuscan Child, and In Farleigh Field, the winner of the Left Coast Crime Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel. Bowen's work has won sixteen honors to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she has fans around the world, including more than seventy thousand Facebook followers. A transplanted Brit, Bowen divides her time between California and Arizona.
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