The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens: Book Review

 **I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

1956: In the quiet village of Wilbeth Green, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey set the residents' tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of being the arsonist. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his 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.

Knowing no one will believe her, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the skepticism of her neighbors and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul's closest friend, is torn between his duty and a lingering loyalty to Paul and 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.

Award-winning author Naomi Stephens presents a gripping whodunnit--reminiscent of the beloved Agatha Christie tales--of love and redemption set in a quaint British village.

The Author

Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, was an Inspy Award shortlister and winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight. Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.

Book Review

Right from the start, this 1950s mystery drew me right in with Louisa sensing her twin brother Paul's death in the moment it happened. When Rosemont Abbey goes up in flames, everyone suspects that Paul is the culprit... and she sets out to prove them wrong. Now, having read a lot of mystery and suspense books throughout the years, I like to think I'm pretty good at figuring things out... but my goodness, this one kept me guessing even through to the end. There were so many family secrets unraveled and so many possible suspects that I didn't know what to think... all in the best way possible of course! It kept me excited with each turn of the page to try to piece it all together and learn what had really happened... and the ending absolutely did not disappoint! This truly was a fantastic blend of romance, mystery and family drama wrapped in one wonderful story that I couldn't get enough of! 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3WWZCG5