Publisher: Lake Union
Published: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1477818299
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Format: Print
Obtained via: Publisher
FOUR HEARTS
As Hitler continues his march across Europe in May of 1941 the
English live with nightly bombings and what they fear will be imminent
invasion. An hour away from London the people of Farleigh Place try their best
to live what was normal before the war. But each family does their part. Injured in a
plane crash before the war vicar’s son, Ben Cresswell, works for a special government
branch in London. Even though Lord
Westerham’s five daughters could stay safe and cozy in the country, they step
up to do their part—Margot remains in France with her lover, Pamela heads to
London to work as a code reader and even twelve year old Phoebe contributes to
the cause.
But then something happens no one quite anticipated—a body is
found in Farleigh’s field. It appears to
be a member of the West Kent army, but none of their number is missing and the
body is too disfigured to identify who he is. He has no identification and the
only item they can find on him is a photograph. The bombings no do not just continue—they seem
to come closer and closer to Farleigh. As Ben and Pamela delve deeper into the
photograph and some odd messages received in their respective headquarters a
horrific plot begins to unfold—one that could implicate one of their own
bringing about the downfall of England.
I’m a fan of Rhys Bowens’ Royal Spyness Mysteries so when I saw
she had written a standalone historical novel, IN FARLEIGH FIELD, I had to pick
it up. I’m not a fan of books set in any
of the 20th century wars, but I do like a good mystery and this one sounded
really good. Bowen has a wonderful writing voice. She takes you into the heart of the families
and locales. You know what Ben feels
when he gets on a bicycle for the first time in years with an injured
knee. You know on a visceral level just
what Pamela is feeling when she is confronted by her life time love, Jeremy’s
aggressiveness in moving their relationship to a physical level. The pain and devastation when Margot hears
that the man she loves above all else cares not one bit for her. The privation felt in the British during the
war and their hopes pinned on the United States stepping in.
In some ways I felt this book was autobiographical of something
Bowen experienced either herself or through her family during WWII. If it is, kudos to her for bringing it to
light.
I spent the first two third of the book waiting for something to
happen. The characters’ individual
stories were interesting, but it was like reading someone’s memoir rather than
the mystery I was anticipating. The last
75 pages were definitely action packed with a number of white knuckle
moments. When I finished reading it occurred
to me that some of the dullness I found in the story could well have been a reflection
of the British “stiff upper lip”, something a couple of the characters commented
on themselves. Even little Phoebe wanted
to cry at one point but held first saying she was a Lady and therefore not
appropriate. I was definitely shocked
when the key to the true spy was revealed—I definitely didn’t see that coming.
And in respect, there weren’t any scenes that could have been
left out. Each character’s story was a key component leading up to the final
scenes.
IN FARLEIGH FIELD is not an easy read. As I said, I’m not a fan of books set in the
wars of the twentieth century and would not have picked this one up if Bowen
wasn’t an author I enjoy. It is a book
that anyone, from young adult to senior citizen, male or female, can pick up
and enjoy. It has a bit of romance, a good mystery that takes the reader down
some serious white-knuckle paths. I am
curious what she will do next. There is
definitely the potential for Pamela and Ben to uncover more plots.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of
this book.
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