The Mystery Of Haverford House by Rachel Burton

 

The Mystery of Haverford House by Rachel Burton.

Published 14th March 2024 by Aria.

From the cover of the book: 

A captivating and moving tale of love, the true meaning of home, and the haunting secrets that can bind generations.

1933. Annie Bishop is sixteen years old when she first climbs the steps of Haverford House ready to take service as a maid. She knows her place until, during a summer of high society, she crosses paths with wealthy America heir, Thomas Everard. In his arms, Annie dares to dream of a different life.

Until she vanishes without a trace.

2003. Viola Hendricks knows what it's like to dream big. So when she reads about Annie's disappearance shortly before she sees an advert for a job at Haverford House, it seems fate is at work. Five years later, when the house faces closure, Viola is determined to do everything she can to keep it open. What's not in her plans is enigmatic American Chase Matthews, with an agenda of his own…

If they want to save Haverford House, they must look for answers together - but are they prepared for the truth about what really happened to Annie Bishop?

***********

1933. Annie Bishop entered service at Haverford House to become a maid when she was just sixteen. Five years later she has learned to 'know her place' and keep her dreams small, but inside she longs to become a writer. Then one summer, wealthy actor, Thomas Everard arrives. Lord Haverford has an eye on Thomas marrying one of his daughters to revive the family fortunes, but as an American, Thomas is not particularly enamoured with the strictures of English society. When the idea of putting on a production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night takes hold with the younger members of the country house set, Thomas finds himself growing close to lady's maid Annie through their shared love of the Bard. Suddenly, the prospect of another life opens up to Annie, but that fateful summer, she disappears without a trace...

2003. Australian, Viola Hendricks was drawn to Haverford House by the mystery of Annie's disappearance, and the hope of a new start. For the last five years, she has worked hard as an events manager for the Dowager Seraphina to keep the house and grounds open to the public, but now the prospect of closure cannot be ignored in the face of mounting costs. Viola hopes that this summer's Shakespeare festival will give some breathing space for her to finally source the funds they need to stave off the current Lord Haverford's plans - especially with her own brother, famous Hollywood star Sebastian, headlining a production of Twelfth Night in the grounds. However, she does not plan on the appearance of distracting American, Chase Matthews, or the interference of his secretive motives. But perhaps they can still work together to save historic Haverford, and solve the mystery of Annie's disappearance too?

Flipping back and forth between these two beautifully written timelines, Rachel Burton pulls you into a sweeping mystery about the past, present, and future, of Yorkshire country estate, Haverford House, through the voices of two women separated by time. Annie's story unfurls in 1933, with atmospheric between-the-wars vibes, while Viola battles to find a way to keep Haverford House out of the hands of developers, and save the home she has grown to love, in the present. 

The secrets of Haverford House, and the way the mystery of Annie Bishop's disappearance in 1933 causes ripples through time, are the spine of the story. Burton keeps you turning the pages, weaving lovely storylines for her characters around dreams, belonging, romance, and family which tug on your heart strings, and I became completely immersed in the interconnected threads. 

I loved how Burton floods this book with themes that link Annie and Viola's stories, not least the way she connects them through my favourite Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night. She delves nicely into the gulf that separates the society family above stairs from the below stairs staff who serve them, exploring so many issues around the social changes at play in the 1930s (also one of my favourite eras), and in a stroke of genius she echoes many these themes in Viola's storyline too - especially when it comes to generational conflict, siblings, found family, love that spans an ocean-divide, and the problems of maintaining a grand country estate on dwindling funds.

This one kept me guessing, pulled on by the perfectly judged nudges in the story, until all the secrets of the past are finally revealed in the present - which Burton uses cleverly to bring this compelling tale full-circle in a conclusion that warmed the cockles of my heart. The Mystery of Haverford House is just the kind of historical fiction I like best, evocative, emotional, well-researched, and with relatable women front and centre. I adored it. My favourite Rachel Burton yet.

The Mystery of Haverford House is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Rachel Burton has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and always dreamed of being a writer until life somehow got in the way. After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law, but eventually managed to write her first book on her lunch breaks. 

She loves words, Shakespeare, tea, The Beatles, dresses with pockets and very tall romantic heroes (not necessarily in that order) and lives with her husband in Yorkshire.