Rose Cottage

Written by Mary Stewart
Review by Jane Kessler

A couple of years after World War II has ended, Kate Herrick is living in London, alone, her husband having been killed in the war. Kate receives a call from her grandmother, who has retired to her native Scotland after being the cook on an English estate for many years. The estate is being made into a hotel resort, and Kate’s grandmother wants her to retrieve some personal papers she left behind in a secret hiding place in her cottage on the grounds. But when Kate arrives, the papers are missing and it appears that someone has broken into the cottage. Suddenly, Kate finds herself dealing with a mystery and wondering if it has to do with her unanswered questions about her parentage. This is a charming story, with a cast of likable characters, an idyllic setting, and a happy resolution.