About the Book:
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.
My Review:
I liked this mystery set in 1956. Louisa is an engaging amateur sleuth. From the moment she senses her twin brother's death, she is determined to find out what happened to him and clear him of wrong accusations. I liked her spunk, especially when she was willing to walk home in the rain when she abandoned her ride with a conceited suitor. She rarely drove so her sleuthing was more thinking through concepts than overt action. There are some interesting support characters, my favorite being Mrs. Watson. Reading about her attempts at driving her grandson's car added some humor. There are hints of a potential romance with a protective detective on the case.
There is a good faith message included, especially for those who feel like they do not measure up to expectations. The plot moved along at a decent pace although there is not much suspense included. The villain was a surprise to me. Perhaps I missed clues but I did like the interesting way the murders were accomplished. When the family secrets were made known, accepting the villain and the motive for the murders was reasonable.
This is a good novel for readers who like a cozy British mystery set in the 1950s.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author:
Naomi Stephens (NaomiStephens.com) is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, was an INSPY Award shortlist contender and the winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in New York with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. Photo credit: Jenna Therese
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
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