Rhys Bowen

Her Royal Spyness is an entertaining light read that blends mystery, humor, and royal quirkiness in a way that feels both realistic and delightful. Set in the glamorous world of the 1930s, the novel is filled with lavish parties, social scandals, and suspenseful investigations. Lady Georgiana Rannoch is a witty and relatable heroine who constantly finds herself caught between aristocratic expectations and real-world problems.
What stood out most to me, however, was Lady Georgie’s show more grandfather — the retired Cockney policeman from her mother’s side of the family. He brings warmth, humanity, generosity, and groundedness to the story, balancing the upper-class world with a more authentic emotional core.
That said, this is still very much a “cosy” mystery novel. It is above average within the genre and genuinely entertaining, but if you are not a fan of cosy mysteries, this book is unlikely to change your mind. show less

1943 - the inhabitants of the small village of Tydeham are informed by the army that it has been chosen for invasion drills which will include the use of live ammunition. They have two weeks to vacate the village.

1968 - Liz Houghton is a reporter for the Daily Express in London but after uncovering a political scandal regarding a politician friend of the paper’s owner, she has been relegated to Obituaries. When her flat mate, Marissa, a member of the police is assigned to follow a lead on show more a missing child case, a little girl named Lucy, near the abandoned village, Liz decides to skip work and tag along, hoping it will lead to a scoop that will get her out of obits and back as a real reporter. Along the way, Marissa’s partner discusses an earlier but similar case of his regarding three little girls who went missing during the war years. The body of one was found but the other two still remain missing. The lead about Lucy turns out to be a dead end but Liz decides to remain in the area and do her own investigation of the earlier case. While in the abandoned village, she starts having strong feelings that she was here in this village before including the belief she witnessed a body being buried near the manor house. Except she was only a toddler in 1943 and her parents tell her they were never in the area.

The Rose Arbor is the latest historical mystery by author Rhys Bowen and it was one heck of a page turner. Although most of the story takes place in 1968, Bowen’s description of life in 1943 was fascinating especially the requisition by the army of an entire village which was actually based on a real place and the evacuation of children to the countryside and the anxiety, chaos, and confusion this created.

Bowen is a master of dropping clues and breadcrumbs, giving the reader plenty to follow to keep them engaged. The characters are all well drawn and I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Liz and Marissa. The story does, at times, seem to deviate into too many side forays and, at others, stretched my willing suspension of disbelief almost to the breaking point but, in the end, Bowen brings it all together for a satisfying ending and provides an entertaining and compelling tale that kept my attention throughout.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review show less

The two timelines of 1944 and 1973 work well in The Tuscan Child, and as I read, I was very pleasantly reminded of other suspense novelists such as Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Kate Morton. Joanna Langley is the type of main character with whom you can easily sympathize: wounded, wary, intelligent, and brave-- and she's willing to learn how to cook. A definite word of warning: if you love Italian food and you're hungry, you will drool when you read segments of this book!

Joanna has a show more lovely little Tuscan hill village to explore that's filled with interesting characters. Many welcome her, but some do not. And that ancient monastery that was ruined by the Germans is holding plenty of secrets all on its own, although with the clues Joanna has, they aren't going to be easy to uncover.

Bowen's characterization, pacing, and setting are all first rate (par for the course for this talented woman). She's created a two-pronged mystery, and while one part of the puzzle was rather easy to solve, the second one certainly wasn't and took me by surprise. It shouldn't have because the clues are there, but I was too caught up in the story to pay close attention.

If you like fast-paced stories with dual timelines, intriguing mysteries, and mouth-watering food, let yourself be tempted by The Tuscan Child. show less

I really liked this entertaining and very readable historical novel about a young woman who takes advantage of an opportunity in Victorian London that enables her to improve her lot. Similar to a Dickens plot, the reader is carried along as Bella finds herself moving down and up the class stratification, making connections that prove fortuitous as the story develops, and having to keep the secret of her true identity. While it is a murder mystery, you'll have to wait for it as the murder show more takes place in the last third of the book. I have read a few Rhys Bowen novels, and this well-researched stand-alone is the best one yet, with a satisfying story, a strong female protagonist, incredible period details, and well-plotted intrigue. show less