Preview
  • The Rose Arbor

  • A Novel
  • By: Rhys Bowen
  • Narrated by: Nicola Barber
  • Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (243 ratings)

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The Rose Arbor

By: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Nicola Barber
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Publisher's summary

An investigation into a girl’s disappearance uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II in a haunting novel of suspense by the best-selling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Paris Assignment.

London: 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 scoop: Her best friend Marisa is a police officer who is 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?

©2024 Janet Quin-Harkin, writing as Rhys Bowen (P)2024 Audible, Inc.
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About the Creator- Rhys Bowen

About the Creator

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 40 novels, including The Victory Garden, The Tuscan Child, and the World War II-based In Farleigh Field, the winner of the Left Coast Crime Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel. In 2022, The Venice Sketchbook was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel of the Year. Bowen’s work has won more than 20 honors to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she has fans around the world, including more than 70,000 Facebook followers. A transplanted Brit, Bowen divides her time between California and Arizona.

About the performer- Nicola Barber

About the Performer

Nicola Barber’s voice can be heard on television and radio commercials, popular video games such as World of Warcraft, and even in talking toys. Twice chosen as an AudioFile “Best Voice,” her work has garnered multiple Earphones Awards, four Audie Awards, a Library Journal starred review, and a SOVAS Award. Nicola voices the animation in each episode of Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas on HBO, and she dubbed the lead role on Netflix’s dystopian drama The Barrier. Raised in England and Scotland, Nicola immigrated to the US South and lived in the Midwest before finding her home in New York City. If you can’t find her in the recording studio, she’s probably dancing on roller skates in Central Park.

What listeners say about The Rose Arbor

Average customer ratings
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Great story

Loved it all. The narrator was awesome. The story believable and charming. Nice history information throughout

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Always enjoy Rhys Bowen

First the narrator is one of my favorites. Plus. Rhys always writes interesting mysteries that have a twist at the end that doesn’t disappoint. The journey there is engaging but non-threatening.

Thank you! I definitely recommend.

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Another fantastic book and listen

This offer is one of my all-time favorites and this book is no different than the others. Fantastic!

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WW2 dual timeline mystery at its best.

Rhys Bowen does it again.
She delves us into the worlds of characters during WW2 and in the mid 1960’s and makes us care about them.
3 missing girls from 1942. 1 missing girl from 1968. Are they related in any way?
And who is the dead body in the Rose Arbor?
This book is so twisty, yet never descends into the macabre.
Another home run stand-a-lone from Ms Bowen.

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Fascinating story.

Loved the intertwining storylines and narration. Would like the story to continue with Liz and James building the manor house.

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Twist with historical fiction

Rhys Bowen does it again! She drew me into the time space continuum in the form of 2 separate decades. I do not want to give anything away, however....after reading this I listened to 3 other of her stand alone novels. All I can say is, Thank you Rhys Bowen! I never thought I would get past rereading Her Royal Spyness series over and over and over again (because I loved it so much).

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Good Listen!

One of my most favorite historical authors!Fascinating story well told, well narrated, and her books well researched.

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Excellent storytelling

What a great story with twists and turns n great characters. Wonderful narrator too. It’s one I had a hard time stopping listening to because it was so good.

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not very creative, formulaic

typical English murder mystery but not at the Cristie level. Easily resolved before the end

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A TRIUMPH! Rhys Bowen’s BEST Novel Ever!

We have listened to every single one of Rhys’ Novels, all are entertaining with very relatable characters. Most have a crime or mystery to solve, but focus on the main character’s actions and relationships. Most of these we “solve” before everything is revealed, ROSE ARBOR kept us guessing almost to the end, with one surprise in the Epilogue!

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