A Thorn in the Rose
A twisty post-WWII crime mystery of class, secrets and second chances (Mel Greenway Investigates 1)
Published on 12. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-83501-334-2 (ISBN)
Description
'Samantha writes characters that I would love to play. Her Stories and dialogue are an actor's dream!' TV Legend, Frazer Hines
'Samantha Lee Howe writes like a dream...twisty, turny and not to be missed!' Pop Icon, Ayshea Brough
'Downton Abbey turned murderous.' Paul Finch, Sunday Times bestselling author
Secrets bloom where the roses die - and Mel Greenway is digging up the truth.
In post-war Britain, Avonby estate is a crumbling relic hiding deadly secrets. Lady Melinda 'Mel' Greenway, a former army mechanic and the family's poor relation, seeks solace in its overgrown gardens - until she unearths a body beneath the roses.
The discovery drags Mel into a tangled web of lies, resentments, and buried truths, forcing her to clash with Inspector Derrin Bradley, her wartime lover turned investigator. As Derrin digs into the dark web of secrets entangling Avonby's privileged residents and its resentful staff, Mel is determined to solve the mystery herself. As sparks fly and old wounds resurface, Mel's relentless pursuit of the truth puts her at odds with both her family and Derrin, while making her a target for a killer desperate to keep the past buried.
A tale of resilience, forbidden romance, and suspense, A Thorn in the Rose is a richly atmospheric mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
'Samantha Lee Howe writes like a dream...twisty, turny and not to be missed!' Pop Icon, Ayshea Brough
'Downton Abbey turned murderous.' Paul Finch, Sunday Times bestselling author
Secrets bloom where the roses die - and Mel Greenway is digging up the truth.
In post-war Britain, Avonby estate is a crumbling relic hiding deadly secrets. Lady Melinda 'Mel' Greenway, a former army mechanic and the family's poor relation, seeks solace in its overgrown gardens - until she unearths a body beneath the roses.
The discovery drags Mel into a tangled web of lies, resentments, and buried truths, forcing her to clash with Inspector Derrin Bradley, her wartime lover turned investigator. As Derrin digs into the dark web of secrets entangling Avonby's privileged residents and its resentful staff, Mel is determined to solve the mystery herself. As sparks fly and old wounds resurface, Mel's relentless pursuit of the truth puts her at odds with both her family and Derrin, while making her a target for a killer desperate to keep the past buried.
A tale of resilience, forbidden romance, and suspense, A Thorn in the Rose is a richly atmospheric mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
196 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83501-334-2 (9781835013342)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Samantha Lee Howe
A Thorn in the Rose
A twisty post-WWII crime mystery of class, secrets and second chances (Mel Greenway Investigates 1)
E-Book
02/2026
Bedford Square Publishers
€9.99
Available for download
Person
Samantha Lee Howe began her professional writing career in 2007 and has been working as a freelance writer for small, medium and large publishers ever since. She is a multi-award winning screenwriter and a USA Today Bestselling author.
Samantha's breakaway debut psychological thriller, The Stranger In Our Bed, was released in February 2020 with Harper Collins imprint, One More Chapter. The book rapidly became a USA Today bestseller, and has now been turned into a feature film for USA, Canada, China, the UK, and various countries in Europe. It won Best Thriller at the National Film Awards.
Samantha lives in South Yorkshire with her husband, Historian, Writer and publisher, David J Howe and their cat Skye. She is the proud mother of a lovely daughter called Linzi.
Samantha's breakaway debut psychological thriller, The Stranger In Our Bed, was released in February 2020 with Harper Collins imprint, One More Chapter. The book rapidly became a USA Today bestseller, and has now been turned into a feature film for USA, Canada, China, the UK, and various countries in Europe. It won Best Thriller at the National Film Awards.
Samantha lives in South Yorkshire with her husband, Historian, Writer and publisher, David J Howe and their cat Skye. She is the proud mother of a lovely daughter called Linzi.