The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

Everyone in Wilbeth Green has something to hide, but she's about to uncover their secrets.

1956: In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents' tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection--she felt her twin's death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul's closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Baker Publishing Group.

Book club questions for The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Discuss the epigraph and how its imagery plays out both literally and metaphorically in the novel.

In The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins coined the term “detective-fever” to describe the obsession one feels when desperately trying to untangle a mystery. Discuss your experience with “detective-fever” while reading The Burning of Rosemont Abbey—who did you think the culprit might be? Were there any red herrings that led you astray and/or any clues you picked up on before Louisa and Malcolm had fully realized their meaning? Were there any moments or revelations that were especially shocking?

In what ways is Louisa a successful sleuth? In what ways do she and Malcolm complement each other, both in terms of the investigation and regarding their relationship?

In the beginning of the novel, Louisa thinks she and her brother are opposites in nearly every way, “growing apart like a tree split at the root.” How does her investigation dismantle this opinion? What clues does she find that prove Paul was not at all the man he seemed to be?

There are several specific scripture passages referenced in the novel (the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector, Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Joseph and his brothers, Jesus raising the widow’s son, etc.). Which of these stood out to you, and how did they help Louisa at that specific moment in her journey?

Struggles with shame and promises of salvation—where do we see examples of these in the story?

The novel is set more than a decade after the end of WWII, but for many in Wilbeth Green, the aftereffects of the war still linger. Where do we see examples of that?

Who is your favorite secondary character and why?

After years of food rationing, the people in Wilbeth Green enjoy an assortment of delectable foods (the dinner party at Everly Hall, for example, and the church fête). Were there any dishes or recipes in the novel that sounded intriguing or that you might like to try making yourself?

Bonus Question: If Mrs. Kittle and Mrs. Watson both entered cakes in the Best Victoria Sponge category, who would win?

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"A thrilling and beautifully written tale from start to finish, filled with a strong sense of time, deft characterization, and more than enough twists to keep one guessing. Readers will be as hard-pressed as I was to put this one down once they begin."--ANNA LEE HUBER, USA Today bestselling author

"What an absolute delight of a novel! Naomi Stephens has a new fan in me!"--SARAH SUNDIN, Christy Award-winning author

"An English murder mystery set in the 1950s, plus a friends (and sometimes enemies)-to-more romance? Naomi Stephens is an author to watch!"--JULIE KLASSEN, bestselling author