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Rhys Bowen

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In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II Kindle Edition

by Rhys Bowen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 69,851 ratings

Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction

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"Instantly absorbing, suspenseful, romantic, and stylish—like binge-watching a great British drama on Masterpiece Theater." —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author

Winner of the Left Coast Crime Award winner for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel.

World War II comes to Farleigh Place, the ancestral home of Lord Westerham and his five daughters, when a soldier with a failed parachute falls to his death on the estate. After his uniform and possessions raise suspicions, MI5 operative and family friend Ben Cresswell is covertly tasked with determining if the man is a German spy. The assignment also offers Ben the chance to be near Lord Westerham's middle daughter, Pamela, whom he furtively loves. But Pamela has her own secret: she has taken a job at Bletchley Park, the British code-breaking facility.

As Ben follows a trail of spies and traitors, which may include another member of Pamela's family, he discovers that some within the realm have an appalling, history-altering agenda. Can he, with Pamela's help, stop them before England falls?

Inspired by the events and people of World War II, writer Rhys Bowen crafts a sweeping and riveting saga of class, family, love, and betrayal.

Length

397
Pages
Language

EN
English
Kindle feature

Sticky notes
On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Lake Union Publishing
Publication date

2017
March 1
File size

4.1 MB
Kindle feature

Page Flip
Enabled
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Word Wise
Enabled
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Enhanced typesetting
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Popular Highlights in this book

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For young women like her, the war had presented a great opportunity to escape, to prove that they were good at all sorts of things, not just small talk and knowing where to seat a bishop at a dinner table.
Highlighted by 508 Kindle readers
Madame Armande turned to look back at the German officer and they exchanged a smile.
Highlighted by 401 Kindle readers
“Nasty Americanism, the word ‘weekend,’” Lord Westerham remarked. Although he had known Churchill for many years, he still hadn’t quite forgiven him for his American mother.
Highlighted by 346 Kindle readers

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…well-crafted, thoroughly entertaining thriller…a game of spy versus spy, and with every twist and turn, the reader is unsure whom to trust." —Publishers Weekly

"The skills Bowen brings to her several mystery series, including Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness, inform the plotting in this character-rich tale, which will be welcomed by her fans as well as by readers who enjoy fiction about the British home front." —Booklist

"In what could easily become a PBS show of its own, Bowen's novel winningly details a World War II spy game. It features an English aristocrat's daughter who works at London's top-secret home of code breakers, Bletchley Park, and a number of others with high-stakes plots and plans." —Library Journal

"Suspenseful and thrilling, with some espionage too, this novel will keep readers deeply involved until the end." —Portland Book Review

"In Farleigh Field delivers the same entertainment mixed with intellectual intrigue and realistic setting for which Bowen has earned awards and loyal fans." —New York Journal of Books

"Well-plotted and thoroughly entertaining…With characters who are so fully fleshed out, you can imagine meeting them on the street…" —Historical Novel Society

"This story of war, love, and mystery is extremely suspenseful... both realistic and believable. Through the character's eyes, readers will be drawn into the era and begin to understand the sacrifices and hardships placed on English society." —Crimespree Magazine

"A thrill a minute…highly recommend." —Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick

"Riveting…" —Military Press

"Instantly absorbing, suspenseful, romantic and stylish - like binge-watching a great British drama on Masterpiece Theater." —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author

"In Farleigh Field is brilliant. The plotting is razor sharp and ingenious, the setting in World War Two Britain is so tangible it's eerie. The depth and breadth of character is astonishing. They're likeable and repulsive and warm and stand-offish. And oh, so human. And so relatable. All this would be enough to propel In Farleigh Field to the top of your favourites list, but what truly distinguishes this book, indeed all her books, is the quality of writing. Rhys Bowen is one of the very best fiction writers of the day. With a deep understanding of the wounded human heart, and an uncanny ability to capture the quiet emotions and the grand scale of war, she rises above her contemporaries. This is magnificently written and a must read." —Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author

"Irresistible, charming and heartbreakingly authentic. Rhys Bowen's knowing voice transports Downton fans into a unputdownable family saga…a compelling journey through history, loss, honor and love. When war gets personal, every heart is in peril." —Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of Say No More

From the Publisher

I work with many accomplished authors, but it is truly a special event when a novel of this caliber lands on my desk. From the opening pages and the crack of the cricket bat, I knew I was going to be completely transported into another world. The beloved author of over thirty bestselling books, including two ongoing mystery series, Rhys Bowen penned this fabulous stand-alone historical novel that kept me up late turning the pages.

Both a glimpse into the “Downton-esque” family life on a British estate called Farleigh Place and a World War II mystery, this book is full of vivid characters and situations that immerse you in the lives of British aristocracy. Each of the daughters of Lord Westerham, who grew up in this rarified world, is deeply affected when a dead parachutist—likely a spy—is found on the grounds. Everyone, including family and staff, comes under suspicion as someone who might have colluded with the unknown military figure.

Ben Cresswell, the son of the town’s vicar and a close friend of the Westerhams, becomes our unlikely hero when he is called up by MI5 to use his connections to investigate. Ben ultimately risks his own life and everything he loves as he works to find the truth, all the while knowing that many more lives are at stake.

At its heart, In Farleigh Field is a tale of a family and a formerly quiet British village that must endure and thrive in a world torn by conflict. As an avid fan of novels of this ilk, as well as of Rhys Bowen, I know you will join me in applauding this book, which is truly one of her very finest.

- Danielle Marshall, Editor

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01HBKAYMA
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (March 1, 2017)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4145 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 397 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #16,308 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #120 in Historical World War II Fiction
- #120 in World War II Historical Fiction (Books)
- #122 in Historical Mysteries (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 69,851 ratings

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Rhys Bowen

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Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of two historical mystery series as well as several internationally bestselling historical novels, two of which were nominated for Edgar Award

Rhys was born in Bath, England and educated at London University but now divides her time between California and Arizona. Her books have been nominated for every major mystery award and she has won twenty of them to date, including five Agathas.

She currently writes two historical mystery series, each very different in tone. The Molly Murphy mysteries feature an Irish immigrant woman in turn-of-the-century New York City. These books are multi-layered, complex stories with a strong sense of time and place and have won many awards including Agatha and Anthony. There are 19 books so far in this series plus three Kindle stories, Rhys’s daughter, Clare Broyles, now cowrites the series with her

Then there is Lady Georgie, She's 35th in line to the throne of England, but she's flat broke and struggling to survive in the Great Depression. These books are lighter and funnier than Molly's adventures. They poke gentle fun at the British class system--about which Rhys knows a lot, having married into an upper class family rather like Georgie's.

As a child Rhys spent time with relatives in Wales. Those childhood experiences colored her first mystery series, about Constable Evans in the mountains of Snowdonia.

Her books have been translated into over 30 languages

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Virginia Reader

A fast paced novel with great action and suspense throughout

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2023

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Rhys Bowen writes excellent novels about the two world wars that stir patriotism, whether British or American. This story is about the various intelligence agencies that break the German codes during WW2. A German spy has landed in a field nearby the fancy homes of the the wealthy families who are protagonists 8 this novel. His parachute didn't open and he was killed. He had no equipment or weapons, only a photograph with a number written on it. Ben and Pamela, two young people who work for MI5, spend the whole novel trying to figure out what nefarious plans the Germans have in mind and who is the traitor in the midst of the families. There is fast action and great suspense during several emergencies that threaten all the inhabitants of the area. A romance builds throughout the story and has a very satisfactory ending. I rate this novel 9 of 10.

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2023

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As a child during World War 2 I remember so much of the angst and the triumph that followed. BOWEN is skilled in the telling of the times and the conflict.

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Karen Huber

Spectacular historical fiction

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023

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I’m an historian so am sometimes a tough sell on historical fiction, especially when it is early 20th century Europe, an era and setting I know well. This book delivered not only a gripping story and excellent pacing, but also solid research delivered with a light touch. I wish I could read this for the first time over and over again. Really well done.

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Julie Mckinley

Light reading about a dark time

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2023

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Enjoyed the characters, and it's always helpful to have characters list when there many, as in this book. The plot was rather facile, with some incongruous happenings. In a mystery, most readers want to have some clues so we can try working it ourselves. Unfortunately, there many red herrings and no clues. So it all wrapped up with an ending that seemed contrived.

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Great WWII Suspense and Intrigue

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2020

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A historical suspense set in WWII Britain and Paris was just the nudge I needed to finally pick up this standalone book from an author I've been meaning to try for ages. It was a multi-faceted piece of cozy country village, intense Paris intrigue, glitzy wartorn London and spies, and a subtle swirling danger that leaped into action for a splendid finish.

In Farleigh Field introduces an engaging cast of characters and an expansive espionage plot set during the WWII era. It is a combo of Town and Country since the action is mostly split between London and the environs of the Farleigh Place estate and village. The historical backdrop included the variety of important WWII settings that were painted well so that I could tell the author did her homework getting details right so I could see it all so clearly. The author took the story through the MI-5 espionage workings, Bletchley Park codebreakers, occupied Paris and British commandos, and life on the homefront at war.

The book has a good steady pace as it builds to the end when the reveals come, but there are some exciting and intense moments when Lady Margo narrates from Paris where her lover is taken as a French Resistance operator and she is grabbed by the Germans as well. There are fun moments to counter-act those scenes when young Lady Phoebe decides to play detective and figure out the mystery of the body in her family's field. I figured out who was the traitor and what they were doing fairly early on, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.

And, beyond the suspense elements, there are romance elements. They are mostly background which works well with this sort of story. When I say background, I mean that Ben has thoughts about the person he loves and how he handles unrequited feelings and Pamela figuring out the difference between youthful crushes and what she wants as an adult. Some of the secondary characters have relationship situations that are on their mind, too. Like I said, it was all low key compared to the suspense part.

The narrator, Gemma Dawson, is new to me. I enjoyed her narration work and the voices she used to distinguish the large cast and multiple points of view. She did especially well with men's voices of all ages and did great on the children's voices as well. I thought her narration brought out the subtle comical elements like Lord Westernham and the graver moments with Margo and the accented German voices. I'll definitely watch for more of her work.

So, all in all, I was well-pleased by my first Rhys Bowen book and I can heartily recommend this to those who want a moderately light WWII historical suspense.

10 people found this helpful

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MickiR

Interesting historical fiction.

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023

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I did enjoy this story. Although having read much more complicated "spy" novels, I did figure out the main culprit very early on. I wish the ending had been rounded out more. For instance, Didoh's character and the teacher could have had a better ending. But all in all in all a good read.

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Top reviews from other countries

MRS OLGA RICKARD

in Farleigh Field

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2023

Verified Purchase

An engrossing read, very likeable lead characters. I felt that the end was a little rushed, but all in all I enjoyed the book.

Graham Duncanson

I really loved this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2023

Verified Purchase

A good mystery but not too difficult to follow. I wish I could write something like this. I must keep trying.

Kindle Customer

aristocracy and spies in Kent UK

Reviewed in Canada on April 24, 2023

Verified Purchase

A wonderfully plotted book with characters that one will remember long after they finish the last page. Dedication to one’s country by the characters, who were working to protect the British, and repel the Germans, even though they were working undercover, and seen by the general public to be shirkers who should be fighting for their country.

But it’s one of the characters so aptly implies, not everyone can be in the official armed forces. Many intellectuals were needed to do intelligence work, such as those at Bletchley, to protect and save those on the front lines. A truly excellent novel and well worth reading.

Rhonda Chapman

Loved it

Reviewed in Australia on March 6, 2023

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I really enjoyed this book. I had to finish it in one sitting, I could relate to the great characters and the descriptions of the countryside. A great read!

Florence

Great story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2023

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Full of suspense. Good pace.An excellent plot and interesting characters.the period in time is vividly brought to life..Well done .

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