I’m pleased to welcome you today to my stop on the blog tour for atmospheric multi timeline historical novel The Secrets of Rochester Place by Iris Costello. Thank you to Ellie Hudson from Penguin for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
About the book:
Spring 1937: Teresa is evacuated to London in the wake of the Guernica bombing. She thinks she’s found safety in the soothing arms of Mary Davidson and the lofty halls of Rochester Place, but trouble pursues her wherever she goes.
Autumn 2020: Corrine, an emergency dispatcher, receives a call from a distressed woman named Mary. But when the ambulance arrives at the address, Mary is nowhere to be found. Intrigued, Corinne investigates and, in doing so, disturbs secrets that have long-dwelt in Rochester Place’s crumbling walls. Secrets that, once revealed, will change her life for ever . . .
Who is Mary Davidson? And what happened at Rochester Place all those years ago?
Set between the dusty halls of Rochester Place and the bustling streets of modern-day Tooting, this emotive, intricately layered mystery tells the spellbinding story of two people, separated by time, yet mysteriously connected through an enchanting Georgian house and the secrets within its walls. For fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories.
About the author:
Iris Costello is the pseudonym of Nuala Ellwood, who was born in 1979. She has a BA Hons degree in Sociology from Durham University and a Master’s in Creative Writing from York St John University where she is a visiting lecturer in Creative Writing. The author of six highly acclaimed novels, Nuala has a teenage son, Luke, and is based in York and South London.
My Review:
The Secrets of Rochester Place by Iris Costello is an atmospheric multi timeline novel that takes place both in the past and in present day Tooting. It’s a mesmerising story that drew me in from the very first page and held me captivated throughout.
Beginning in 1937 we meet Teresa as she is evacuated to London following the Guernica bombing. She thinks she’s found safety in the arms of Mary Davidson and the dusty halls of Rochester place, but has she? We then move forward to Autumn 2020 and Corrine, an emergency dispatcher who receives a call from a woman named Mary. But when the ambulance arrives there’s no one there, so Corrine begins to investigate, soon disturbing long kept secrets that have been hidden within the dusty walls of Rochester Place for decades. In doing so, she uncovers something that has the potential to change her life forever. What happened at Rochester Place all those years ago? And who and where is Mary?
This poignant and multilayered tale of love, secrets, loss and heartache is a well plotted and compelling story that seamlessly moves between timelines. Steeped in history, The Secrets of Rochester Place is a beautifully written, character driven story that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. The odds appear to be stacked against Teresa, but can Corrine uncover the truth of what happened to her?
Iris Costello has written a powerful and thought provoking saga of love, friendship and war that once started I did not want to put down. With strong characters and an atmospheric storyline, The Secrets of Rochester Place is a gorgeously written, well plotted multi timeline historical novel that I did not want to end.
A mesmerising read that I would highly recommend.
The Secrets of Rochester Place by Iris Costello is available to buy now:
Cal Turner Reviews 