Source: Publisher
Description: 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 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?
Genre: Mystery - Historical
Why I Picked This Book: I always enjoy Rhys Bowen's books and the blurb really caught my attention!
My Impression: I've enjoyed Bowen's cozy mysteries and her standalone historical fiction and this was a lovely mix of both! At the beginning we start in the little village of Tydeham right before it is evaculated for use in the war effort. I deeply sympatized with the characters as they faced being suddenly upended out of their homes as they also deal with all the chaos or the war in general.
25 years later we meet Liz who after a failed attempt to break a big story is booted down to obituaries and her career is hanging by a thread. She jumps at the chance to follow her friend Marisa, a police detective, to track down a lead on the most important kidnapping case in the news.
I was quickly pulled into this one. I love a historical mystery and this one is not only historical but is looking into a potential wartime mystery which is so many of my favorite things in one. There are also past and present day missing person cases and so many threads and stories for the characters to sift through.
I liked Liz and her drive to find out what happened as well as her confusion with what everyone around her is telling her. I found the story and pacing compelling and while I had several theories of waht was happening I wasn't fully sure until the very end. I've read a number of books by this author but have been neglecting her standalones. I won't be making that mistake in future!
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely! I always look forward to her cozy mysteries and I will be reading her backlist of standalones.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you like historical mysteries with lots of atmosphere this is a fantastic read.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
Would I Recommend this Book? If you like historical mysteries with lots of atmosphere this is a fantastic read.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
I love this author. This sounds like a good one.
ReplyDeleteYay for such a fun historical mystery! I kind of like that it's a standalone. Adding it to my list. :D
ReplyDeleteThis does sound good, I have read a couple of her stand alones, but preferred her cozy mystery series, I guess because its lighter. I will though look for this one, hopefully on audio.
ReplyDeleteI am adding this to my wishlist. I love a good historical mystery. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteI love Rhys Bowen, too, and this one sounds really good. Adding it to my to-read list!
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