In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen

I'm a big fan of Rhys Bowen and In Farleigh Field is another hit for me.  As another big plus, it's setting is taken from one of my favorite Kentish towns, Penshurst. We were both born in the lovely county of Kent.

During WWII many stately homes were requisitioned for military use and Lord Westerham's ancestral home was now being used by the army. One morning, his daughter comes across a dead soldier who appears to have fallen to his death when his parachute failed to open. But there are many questions surrounding the dead soldier with no identity and only a photograph tucked away.
The story continues to unfold through once childhood friends, the five daughters of Lord Westerham, their neighbor Jeremy and the vicar's son, Ben. Many of the friends are involved in top secret jobs whether in the military, the code breaking facility of Bletchly Park or MI5.

My thoughts:
Rhys Bowen has done in depth research for the novel. There were lots of things I'd forgotten about living in England in the 40s and 50s - one is that trains had separate carriages for ladies who preferred to be segregated from the male population. She weaves a good story using childhood pals who know a little about the secret societies of nazi sympathizers in England at the time. Although they each stated they had signed The Official Secrets Act they didn't seem particularly concerned with discussing secrets among themselves but was necessary for the story to develop.
This would make an excellent book club read.

A few bits of interesting info:
Dolphin Square was once the largest block of flats in Europe and Ian Fleming was recruited there by MI5
Many of the English aristocrats during WWII (including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor) were Nazi sympathizers and part of the reason why the English government did not want Edward to remain their king.
Girls born in Kent are referred to as either Kentish Maids or Maids of Kent depending on which side of the River Medway they are born. (Or for men - Kentish men or men of Kent).

The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen

I've loved all the books I've read by Rhys Bowen and The Tuscan Child is no exception. It begins in Tuscany during WWII in December 1944 and takes the reader to an English manor house in 1973 and then back to Tuscany in the same period while interspersing with the struggles a downed WWII British Air Force pilot has in the Italian hills, trying to avoid the retreating German army. Some of it is a bit reminiscent of the Captain Corelli's Mandolin storyline. The only disappointment I had was that Rhys Bowen didn't include the delicious Italian recipes talked about and prepared in the novel.

Be warned though, you may want to book a flight to Tuscany after reading The Tuscan Child.

Evanly Choirs by Rhys Bowen

The Constable Evans Mysteries is my favorite Rhys Bowen series. The setting is Wales and the main character Evan Evans not be confused with Evans-the-Milk, Evans-the-Meat or Evans-the-Post. Definitely one for my favorite books of 2017 list.

From the cover:
When Constable Evan Evans is persuaded to join the local male choir for the upcoming eisteddfod (cultural festival), he doesn't think the addition of his mediocre voice will do them much good. In spite of all the effort that choirmaster Mostyn Phillips puts into the choir, it is not exactly first class.
Hope arrives in the form of a world-renowned tenor Ifor Llewellyn, who's come home to Llanfair to rest. . . he announces that he is planning to write his memoirs, telling all about hisnumberous relationship but is someone unhappy enough to commit murder to stop him?

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Her Royal Spyness is the first of the Rhys Bowen series set in 1930s England. Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie is the fictional granddaughter of Queen Victoria and thirty-fourth in line to the throne. Despite her claim to the throne, both Georgiana and her half brother are penniless and with lack of skills, she tries to find a way to make a living in their London home while her brother, Binky, ekes out a living on the Scottish family estate. While out on one of her money earning efforts as a maid, Georgiana comes home to find a body in their bath tub and her tenacity is turned to clearing the family name.

Note: I was surprised when Georgiana and Binky visited New Scotland Yard as I thought New Scotland Yard was built in the 1960s. But after doing some research found that Scotland Yard (built on the location of a palace where Scottish nobility resided when visiting England) moved to a new location by the Victoria Embankment in 1890 and then to the newer building in 1967 which has since been sold to a middle eastern investor to turn into luxury apartments! New Scotland Yard's move is part of an effort to cut costs.

I've loved each of the Rhys Bowen series (Constable Evans and Molly Murphy) and this series is no exception. Rhys Bowen conjurs up delightful and interesting characters in Her Royal Spyness and gives us a glimpse into upper crust England of the 1930s.

Murphy's Law by Rhys Bowen

Murphy's Law is the first mystery novel I have read by Rhys Bowen, but will not be the last. I enjoyed the story and her style of writing, but what a difficult life it was for those arriving in New York from other countries (mostly Ireland). The novel is the first in the Molly Murphy series.

From the cover:
Under drastic circumstances, Molly Murphy is forced to strike out into a new world. With the police right behind her, Molly concludes that her only chance at escape is a false identity and a steamship that will take her far away to America . . . Before she able to leave Ellis Island a man is brutally murdered, and coincidence and fate make her a suspect in a crime she didn't commit.

Evan Help Us by Rhys Bowen

I'm taking a break from the 50 State Reading Challenge and found a lovely cozy mystery set in northern Wales. Evan Help Us is the second in the Evan Evans series by Rhys Bowen (our local library didn't have the first book Evans Above). The setting and characters are reminiscent of the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton with a village constable and a remote village.
Along with a murder or two, the village of Llanfair believe they have found something of archaeological interest which they believe will put their village on the map. They have several rivalries with other villages that have more interest to tourists, one of which, although starts with the letters Llanfair, continues on to be the longest name in Britain Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. I spent many summers in Wales as a child and enjoyed getting re-immersed in the local language, terminology and Welsh ways in Evan Help Us. This is one that will be going on my favorite list of reads for 2016.

And if you're wondering how the longest name in Britain is pronounced you can listen below.
The meaning of the name is: Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and Saint Tisilio's church near the red cave.