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The Mystery of Yew Tree House (The Detective's Daughter) Paperback – July 16, 2024

by Lesley Thomson (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 543 ratings
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'Always a treat reading Lesley Thomson.' Ian Rankin
'Lesley Thomson at her considerable best' Elly Griffiths

Eighty years of secrets. A body that reveals them all.

1941. Rupert and Adelaide Stride are raising their two daughters, Clare and Rosa, in the midst of war. When Rupert is called to fight, he dies on the beaches of Dunkirk, leaving his family to fend for themselves.

2023. Decades later, Clare and Rosa have retreated to the annex, trapped in the place where they were raised: Yew Tree House.

When the rooms are put up for rent, Jack Harmon sees the perfect spot for a family holiday with his twins and detective Stella Darnell. But then the children discover a skeleton with a hole in its skull hidden in the brambles of a decommissioned WWII pill box.

This home has always been a complicated one, but Stella and Jack will need to confront a history of revenge, desperation, and wartime tragedy to uncover the truth of what happened at Yew Tree House...

The new must-read psychological procedural in the Detective's Daughter series from critically acclaimed author, Lesley Thomson, for fans of Elly Griffiths, Val McDermid and Mari Hannah.

Praise for The Detective's Daughter series:

'Cunningly plotted.' Mick Herron
'One of the most original characters in British crime fiction.' Sunday Times
'In the best traditions of the classic whodunnit, this is Midsomer Murders for grown-ups.' Sunday Express

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Previous page
  1. Book 9 of 9
    The Detective's Daughter
  2. Print length
    320 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book
  5. Publication date
    July 16, 2024
  6. Dimensions
    5.08 x 0.8 x 7.79 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1804546186
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1804546185
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Detective's Daughter Series

Detective's Daughter Series

Detective's Daughter Series

Detective's Daughter Series

Detective's Daughter Series Detective's Daughter Series Detective's Daughter Series Detective's Daughter Series Detective's Daughter Series
The Detective's Daughter Ghost Girl The Detective's Secret The House With No Rooms The Dog Walker
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Customer Reviews
3.6 out of 5 stars
5,220
3.8 out of 5 stars
2,046
4.1 out of 5 stars
1,569
4.2 out of 5 stars
1,070
4.1 out of 5 stars
1,296
Price — $9.99 $9.99 $9.99 $12.30
The Detective's Daughter Series As winter closes its grip on snow-bound London, a cleaner determines to solve the case that her detective father never could. Seven cryptic photographs. A decades-old case. Can one woman find a killer? They will learn the city's secrets. They will learn who plans to kill... A woman lies dead on the ground. A girl watches from the shadows. What did she really see? Stella and Jack must reawaken the secrets of the past in order to solve the mysteries of the present.
Detective's Daughter Series Detective's Daughter Series Detective's Daughter Series Detective's Daughter Series
The Death Chamber The Playground Murders The Distant Dead The Mystery of Yew Tree House
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Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
602
4.2 out of 5 stars
970
4.4 out of 5 stars
830
4.2 out of 5 stars
543
Price $12.01 $12.99 $12.99 $12.99
For forty years, someone has got away with murder... Forty years ago, in the dark of the playground, two children's lives were changed for ever. A woman lies dead in a bombed-out house. A tragic casualty of the Blitz? Or something more sinister? Sixty years later, the detective's daughter unearths the truth... Eighty years of secrets. A body that reveals them all.
Detective's Daughter Series

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thomson has created a complex mystery full of psychological suspense, worthy of Barbara Vine. She makes you feel the presence of evil.” ―The Times, Best Crime Books of 2023

“Evokes the golden age of British crime fiction . . . the final revelation is jaw-dropping” ―The Sunday Times

“[An] elegant and spooky thriller... gripping” ―Mail on Sunday

About the Author

Lesley Thomson grew up in west London. Her first novel, A Kind of Vanishing, won the People's Book Prize in 2010. Her second novel, The Detective's Daughter, was a #1 bestseller and the resulting series has sold over 750,000 copies. Lesley divides her time between Sussex and Gloucestershire. She lives with her partner and her dog.

Visit her website at www.lesleythomson.co.uk.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book (July 16, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1804546186
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1804546185
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.08 x 0.8 x 7.79 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 543 ratings

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Lesley Thomson

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
543 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

K. Carlson
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story telling
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
1941. In the pleasant countryside of Bishopstone lies a house with a pill box in the backyard. Here, Rupert and Adelaide Stride raise their two daughters, Clare and Rosa, alongside a young evacuee, Henry. But when war calls, Rupert dies on the beaches of Dunkirk, leaving his family to fend for themselves as bombs drop and food is rationed.
2023. Decades later, held afloat by state pensions and unable to heat the large house – nor able to afford to leave – Clare and Rosa have retreated to the annex, where they remain single and trapped in the place they were raised: Yew Tree House.
I really enjoy stories told in dual timelines and this book was one of the best. Reliable narrators, interesting historical information and a stunning ending. I highly recommend this book.
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Cinnbun5
4.0 out of 5 stars Children Find a Body In a Hidden Bunker
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
(Negalley ARC - All opinions are my own and are honest)

This got off to a slow start for me but after I was invested (after a few different tries to begin it), I was involved. I very much enjoyed the children's perspective within the story and the old mystery tying into WWII was right up my alley. The twist was not expected but very much appreciated!

Some of these parts did read jerkily for me so I'm unsure if there will be more editing done beforehand or not.

I will explore more works by this author.

Favorite Quote: "Stella knew how a tragedy, even one handed down to younger generations, could blight lives."
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Annarella
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2023
This is a good series, always entertaining and compelling. This one was the best i read so far I appreciated the dual timeline, the tightly knitted plot and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I was glad to catch up with the characters and liked this story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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karlou
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining dual timeline mystery
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
The Mystery of Yew Tree House is the ninth book in Lesley Thomson's Detective's Daughter series. I haven't read the previous novels but having thoroughly enjoyed The Companion, I decided it was worth taking a risk and jumping in here. I'm so glad I did because despite a little initial confusion as I made sense of the relationships between the returning characters, this is such an enjoyable read with a cleverly plotted dual timeline mystery.
The narrative alternates between the present day and the war years but is set in the same Sussex village of Bishopstone and is centred on what really happened at the titular Yew Tree House. In 1940 it's the home of recently widowed Adelaide Stride who is now raising her daughters alone but has more problems to deal with than solitary motherhood. In the present day, the house is the holiday home for Stella Darnell, her partner, Jack and his seven-year-old twins, Millie and Justin. Despite the passage of time, characters from the past are still around in 2023 and it's their secrets which are gradually revealed after a skeleton is discovered in an old pillbox. The two storylines complement one another perfectly and there's a beautifully immersive sense of place which is reminiscent of a classic English mystery and yet feels entirely fresh.
There can be no doubting that there's a very real tragedy at the heart of this novel, or that it features some truly despicable people. However, Lesley Thomson writes with a delightfully light touch and there are some very funny scenes too. Both Stella and Jack have sombre ties to the area and although I have missed seeing their relationship evolve over the course of the series, there is enough backstory to ensure I became thoroughly invested in them as a couple and as a family. Their different strengths and weaknesses are crucial to the plot and I was soon able to understand why this series has so many admirers. Their domestic situation undergoes changes here which may be unexpected but add a further layer of interest to the plot. Millie and Justin are – perhaps inevitably – the source of much of the humour and I suspect there may be a split between readers who love them and those who are left cold by their behaviour. I thought they were wonderful, especially the precocious, fiercely determined and morbidly fascinated Millie who is clearly a detective in the making.
The identity of the skeleton and what it reveals about the past is compelling, with the chapters that follow Adelaide and her family hinting at something awful which we know will result in murder. The wartime setting, where fear of the enemy and the darkness of the blackout creates an atmospheric, chilling backdrop. While all the stalwarts of village life are here, it's the sinister curate, Snace who is arguably the most intriguing character, especially as there are such divided options about him throughout the novel. It's not surprising that the Home Guard and ARP wardens should feature in a book set in this period but they are far from the Dad's Army image often conjured up, and there's a rather poignant look at the forgotten recruits to the highly secret Auxiliary Units. Also known as Churchill's Secret Army, this last line of resistance in the event of a German invasion were never entitled to any recognition after the war ended. Lesley Thomson's examination of long-held secrets results in the truth finally being told and as much as the fictional tragedy is compulsively heartbreaking, this recognition of the 'stay behinds' is touchingly welcome too.
The Mystery of Yew Tree House is a tense, absorbing exploration of dark secrets, family ties, and the best and worst of what people are capable of; I thought it was excellent and highly recommend this compulsive, entertaining and warm-hearted mystery.
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kathleen g
5.0 out of 5 stars clever and creepy
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2023
A cleverly plotted dual time line novel centered around the disappearance of 16 year old Greta during WWII. Stella and her partner Jack, along with his children, have rented an air b&b attached to Yew Tree House, presently occupied by sisters Clare and Rose. The discovery of a the reminds of a body in the present changes up everything for everyone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Lots of old secrets and lies, a little present domestic drama. and a bit of creepiness make this a good read.
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susan m
4.0 out of 5 stars Quite a few twists and turns
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2023
What a fun book with quite a few twists and turns. This is the first book I have read in the Detective Daughter series and while I think this can be read as a stand alone I recommend starting at the beginning of the series. I had a hard time in the first few chapters figuring out the back story of all the characters and keeping them straight. I enjoyed Lesley Thompson's writing style and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

J. Eve
5.0 out of 5 stars Another gem in Lesley Thomson’s Detective’s Daughter series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
The latest book in the Detective’s Daughter series sees Stella and Jack taking a holiday in the Sussex countryside with Jack’s inquisitive and feisty seven year old twins, Milly and Justin. The aim of the holiday is to see if they can be a family together and for Stella to decide if moving in with Jack is something she can commit to.
The choice of location is Bishopstone, where Jack’s mother is buried, thus exposing the twins to not only the reality of death, but the notion of murder. Milly especially takes this very much in her stride as a would-be detective, helped by the twins’ discovery of a skeleton hidden in a pillbox in the garden …
As you’d expect from Thomson’s previous novels, this book is a cleverly plotted psychologically-rich story which keeps you guessing until the end. I kept thinking I had maybe got an idea of the plot twist but never quite got there…
The dual time-line works really well and the scenes set in the war are fascinating for the history they reveal about the UK’s secretive auxiliary units and the men who were involved in them.
One of the things I love about this series is the humour and affection with which the main characters are drawn - the idea that Stella is busy reading Piaget to learn about children and thus unaware that the twins have in fact left the garden and are busy chatting with strangers in the village is genius. As is reporter Lucie May’s new mobile home, nicknamed ‘Prunella’ and equipped with bedroom, shower, a kitchen - and CCTV capabilities.
Those familiar with Thomson’s other series of novels set in Newhaven will also enjoy the appearance of and burgeoning friendship between Toni Kemp, a local police officer who has featured in Death of a Mermaid and The Companion.
Highly recommend this as the latest in a very engaging series - and can also be read as a highly satisfying standalone.
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angus
5.0 out of 5 stars Best yet!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2023
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I have devoured this latest Stella and Jack mystery in two sittings, the best yet I think. Great likeable, even loveable, main characters, clever plot and so well paced. What’s not to love? Lesley Thomson is skilled at weaving past and present in a clear, clean and engaging way.
I envy anybody who is just discovering The Detective’s Daughter series and has them all to read!
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John
3.0 out of 5 stars JUST CANNOT ENGAGE WITH THIS SERIES
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2024
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I've bought three of the earlier books and read each of them without committment or real interest. I do not know what it is about them, and I buy them hoping that I will feel more engaged. But it just doesn't work for me. It's hard to define: there's a plot and characters and settings, so all the ingredients are there. There's something about the writing style that jars, though I wouldn't expect this necessarily to be shared by other readers. Each to their own...and if you do positively enjoy it, please leave a review which might help me get back to this one.
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FionaT
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping throughout
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2023
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I love the way that Lesley Thomson writes as she creates environments that are so atmospheric and you just know something is going to happen...but not what you expect. Set in the 40s and the current day, the story brings together Stella, Jack and Lucie with Toni Kemp - two series coming together like a crime venn diagram. Funny moments about Snickers bars will be lost on those who haven't read the stories with Toni in but those who know her will understand! It also brings together threads from previous Stella and Jack books. At first, I was a bit concerned about the story revolving around Jack's twins as I didn't want it to be either cosy family nor family upsets. I needn't have worried as, in Lesley's hands, the twins were integral but without schmaltz or unnecessary mayhem - in fact the various relationships with the children were beautifully handled. The pace is just right as tension is ratcheted up and slowly brought down before ratcheting up again. I jumped on quite a few occasions as I am hopeless with tension! I was confident I knew who had done what to whom and when but that was blown out of the water so many times - best to give up trying to work it out and just enjoy it as it evolves. A cracking read!
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suebcrafty
5.0 out of 5 stars couldn’t stop reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2024
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Love this book the story was so compelling I couldn’t put it down. Read it in two days. Great story
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