Naomi Stephens transports her readers to 1956 England in this compelling fast-paced who-done-it mystery that I could not put down! An Agatha Christie type story where every character is a suspect, and the mystery gets more complex from beginning to end, will keep you guessing throughout. Phenomenally plotted, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey, is a fast-passed novel with an ending you will never see coming, making it a must read!

I have identical twin brothers who can finish each others sentences, have felt each others pain when they broke a bone, when young switched classes in school at test time, and even switched places on girlfriends April Fools Day. So Louisa feeling Pauls traumatic death was not a surprise to me. Louisa, trying to convince others of Pauls death, without sounding crazy, adds to the tension in this engaging story.

Filled with compelling characters, which Stephens brings to life with her vivid writing in this game of Clue, is filled with a secret romance, suspense, deceit, blackmail, and murders, which all come to light during the investigation of the burning of the abbey. Being a mystery lover, I often pride myself in figuring things out, but I have to tip-my-hat to Naomi Stephens as she truly stumped me, and I cannot wait for what mystery she pens next for us to read.

I highly recommend The Burning of Rosemont Abbey for readers who love a great mystery with Christian undertones. You definitely will not be disappointed once you start reading this enthralling book!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Louisa had a physical reaction and a knowing that her twin brother, Paul, was dead though many others were quick to think he was the one who had set fire to Rosemont Abbey and then fled the village. They had not parted on good terms earlier in the day, which leaves Louisa with regrets. She also is determined to find out what happened to Paul, though Malcolm, his childhood friend turned police inspector, at first instructs her to stay out of it. Louisa is stubborn and determined and proves to be an asset as well as trouble. The vicar's eighty-four year old housekeeper, Mrs. Watson, is an able ally and lends some humor to the story. There were several likely culprits but I was somewhat surprised by the murderer's identity. I enjoyed the mystery and the author's descriptive language that was humorous at times. I will be looking for more books by this author.

When I got this audio book from the Library, I had no idea what it was all about. I had seen some great reviews and thought I'd give it a whirl. Well, y'all this was Dana's catnip! I was drawn in from the get go. The main female character was quite cheeky and brave. I want to be her when I grow up. Plus, lots of other fun characters too. The main male character had his hands full with the lot. There was humor, wit and sweet moments of reflection too. I have to hand it to the author, I was clueless as to who the bad guy was. I highly recommend this book. Also, the narrator did such a great job. She was perfect for it.

Set in England in 1956, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey is an intriguing mixture of history, mystery, and suspense, with a bit of romance. The colorful and eclectic cast of characters added to the suspense with no clear indication of who the culprit was. Various twists and turns kept me guessing and turning pages.

Louisa Everly, whose twin brother Paul was suspected of setting fire to the Abbey, was certain of his innocence, since she felt he had died before the fire started. She wants to leave no stone unturned in finding his killer. Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, a childhood friend of Louisa and Paul, wants Louisa to back off and not get involved. There is quite a bit of witty banter between the two, which lightens the mood a little in this somber tale. I also found Mrs. Watson, an elderly eccentric lady, to be a comedic relief. She was such fun!

Naomi Stephens is a new-to-me author, but I am interested in reading more of her stories. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story! I had pretty high expectations going into reading this and I think they were exceeded. The characters are an absolute delight all the way around. The setting is fantastic and the author added so many things for the reader to understand what decade this book is set. It is really fun to read a novel in this time period! The mystery had me questioning until the end and I really enjoyed the small romance plot line that isn't the main focus but truly just fun. It does give you Agatha Christie feels but is set apart with its own unique style. This is such a refreshing read for the Christian fiction market and I can't wait for more by this author. I highly recommend!!

Five Stars!

"I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."