Rookhurst Hall

by Elizabeth Jeffrey

The new novel from a well-loved storyteller - The discovery of two old photographs, one of a large house, the other of three teenage girls in Edwardian dress, puzzles twenty-year-old Lucy Armitage and sends her off on a quest with antique dealer Ben Manton to find their origins. Because although she is sure it can have nothing to do with her, one of the girls in the photograph is uncannily like Lucy herself . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction

220 pages, Hardcover

First published July 17, 2008

About the author

Elizabeth Jeffrey was born and grew up in Wivenhoe, the village of her parents and grandparents. Far from being born with a quill in her hand, Elizabeth didn't start serious writing until after her children were born, beginning with short stories - on the premise that not so much paper was wasted if they were rejected! She won first prize in a short story competition run by the Daily Express, which led to an invitation to write for Mills & Boon. This was a useful stepping stone and after publishing five titles for them she moved on to writing historical novels. Her third novel, Cassie Jordan, was short-listed for Angel Prize for East Anglian writers and later The Buttercup Fields (under the title. The Chair Mender,) was short-listed for the very first Catherine Cookson prize. She has written over 15 novels. http://www.severnhouse.com/author/Eli...

Reviews

[Dana Crano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author sticks to her plot, writes believable characters, and tells a good story quickly.

I hadn’t realized when I picked this up that I had read another of her books a year ago (Meadowlands).

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forgot that I'd finished this...I picked this up because of the genealogy/old family secrets plot line, and did finish it, but it felt sort of weirdly dated and pretty cliched. The story within the story read like an episode of Upstairs Downstairs, and frankly seemed rather unrealistic. Never quite grasped what drew Giles, the master of the house, to the maid, or why he would come back from the war and go sit in the forest on the off chance she might happen by rather than go straight home; also did not buy that the maid would be so naive as not to know the facts about pregnancy. And that's just the beginning. I also found the "modern-day" (1960) romance annoying, but that's probably just me being cranky.

[Kristy Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I got this book at the library and once I read to the part of Alice's story, I couldn't put the book down, which is also around the time in the book where Lucy's story picked up. I was very impressed with the authors ability to keep me interested in two stories. When Lucy wasn't reading Alice's story, I was still very interested in what was going on. I struggled with making this a 4 star book. It was great, but I just don't know if it had that same compelling quality that Pride and Predjudice, The Twilight Saga or Jessica's Guide, had for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was curious to read a book not set in the present day or in Regency England. This book had a romance set in the 60s with a back story into World War I. It was interesting and sweet. There was nothing life changing about the book, but it was interesting enough that I kept reading.

[Jenn Klatte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of history from WWI and from 1950's Britain. A great story and very easy to read.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Downton Abbey fans - 3 1/2 stars - pleasant but not ultimately memorable.