rhys bowen

Interview with Rhys Bowen (Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen is a gripping novel. No matter what book Bowen writes, readers feel they are taking the journey with the characters and are transported into the setting. The descriptions of the town and its residents are very detailed. Readers meet Ellie Endicott in Surrey, England, during 1938. After raising two grown sons and having devoted her entire married life to catering to her husband’s needs, her husband wants …

Continue reading

Interview with Rhys Bowen (We Three Queens)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper We Three Queens by Rhys Bowen is a delightful blend of historical fiction with a cozy mystery. There are three different subplots in this story. The story takes place in 1936 where King Edward wants to marry the divorced Mrs. Wallis Simpson. He asks Georgie’s husband, Darcy, to hide Wallis in their home until Parliament decides if they will allow the marriage. Also coming as guests are Georgie’s brother Binky, his wife Fig, and …

Continue reading

Interview with Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles (In Sunshine or In Shadow)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper In Sunshine or In Shadow by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles the focus is on the good friend of Molly Murphy, Sid. As with all these books readers get a glimpse of what is happening in the time period that is weaved throughout the story. This book is very relevant because it delves into the Catskills before it became a resort and how antisemitism flourished, just as today. Because of the typhoid epidemic in …

Continue reading

Interview with Rhys Bowen (The Paris Assignment)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen is a story of love and war, bitterness and brutality, bravery, and forgiveness. The setting moves from England to France to Australia. The heroine Madeline Grant is sent to study overseas at the Sorbonne in Paris. There she meets charismatic French journalist Giles Martin. After the Christmas holiday, she defies her stepmother and returns to Paris to live with Giles. After finding out she is pregnant Giles eventually …

Continue reading

Interview with Rhys Bowen (Where the Sky Begins)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen is another home run regarding this historical novel. The reality of World War II plays a huge role in this novel. Readers will take a journey with the characters as they see families separated when the children are sent to the countryside, husbands being called to fight in the war, the high casualty rate of RAF fighters, the societal class system, the civilian casualties after the German …

Continue reading

Interview with Rhys Bowen (The Tuscan Child)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen is one of those rare books that will stick with people long after they finish it. The story is based in two time periods, 1944 and 1973, where the former is an historical account of World War II and the latter embodies a mystery. The novel begins at the end of 1944 when British airman Hugo Langley must parachute out of his crashing plane into German occupied Tuscany …

Continue reading

Review – The Christmas Room, The Ghost of Christmas Past, Last Christmas in Paris, Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe

Book Reviews by Elise Cooper With the holiday season here, readers can find novels that blend a good mystery within the Christmas atmosphere. A word of warning, these are not “sugar and spice and everything nice” holiday books. Yet, they are very realistic, believable, and leave readers with a good feeling at the end, a feeling of faith and redemption. The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson is one of these special stories. Two holiday generational romances touch on grief, healing …

Continue reading

Interview with Rhys Bowen (The Ghost of Christmas Past)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Ghost of Christmas Past by Rhys Bowen is not all fuzzy and happy. There is a sinister atmosphere of sorrow that is also a part of this story. As Christmas is approaching the characters must overcome their own set of heartaches that revolve around losing a child. But thankfully, the spirit of Christmas rings through and the ending is one that will put a smile on reader’s faces. Because of a disaster in …

Continue reading

Interview with Rhys Bowen (On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service by Rhys Bowen is a delightful read. It combines an old fashioned who done it mystery with social commentary, humor, true 1930s historical content, and fun loving characters. At an Italian villa house party one of the guests is murdered, the Baron, who was flirtatious to the women and a blackmailer as well. The game of Clue comes to mind, who did it and with what weapon? The …

Continue reading