This book is set on two different timelines with two strong career minded women. It looks at hidden stories, secrets and reputations. It's a very easy read with an unexpected ending.

The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge Rachel Hore

5 stars

Another beautiful story

I have read a lot of Rachel Hore's books and have always enjoyed them. She writes a beautiful story which I was immediately drawn into with believable characters.

Stef Lansdowne is a author trying to earn a living and her current project is talking about women in science and the problems that they face especially in the past. When she visits her mother, who is living on the Norfolk broads she is introduced to an elderly lady, Dr Nancy Foster who is living in the house of the title of this book.

Stef discovers that Nancy is exactly the type of person that she needs in her book but Nancy is adamant that she does not want her story made public. However after she injures her ankle and is confined to her house, Stef comes to help her and Nancy finds herself opening up.

The story switches between Nancy's career in the early 1950's and Stef's story currently and the blossoming relationship between her and Nancy's grandson Aaron. As Nancy describes her early career as a researcher in science in particular locusts, it soon becomes apparent how women were treated in those days. Despite Nancy's superior intellect to most of her male colleagues she is treated as a second-class citizen on less pay and much less attention.

As always this book is filled with some wonderful descriptive prose about the setting of the book, in this case the Norfolk Broads, as well as telling a very interesting and thought provoking story.



Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net Galley

Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusteruk for sending me this eArc to read and review before it's release next month. This book is due to be published 29th July 2025.

Let me start by saying four days! That is what it took for me to finish this book and what a book it is.

This book got me from the very start. The book is set in two timeslines Britain in the 1940/50's and then the 2000's and the shift between the two timelines is seamless.

We meet Stef, a thirty something freelance writer who has pitched a book about the work of women in science. Her mother has happened across a Dr in zoology during her recent move to the Norfolk broads and has invited Stef to stay with her to attend one of Dr Nancy Fosters talks.

Initially closed off to the idea of sharing the story of her time in university and the struggles she comes up against, she decides that maybe it's time to share her experience.

What follows is a story of hardship, of constant blockers from the men within her field of study but also determination, of justice and of truth. Whilst Nancy is sharing all of the up and downs that came with being a woman of science, we see Stef make some discoveries of her own as she navigates the ever changing landscape of her family, new relationships and finding love.

This book is a beautiful celebration of all that women have achieved but also a stark reminder that there was such a difference in how women were viewed, in how they were treated and that unless their names were attached to a male counterpart, their voice was just lost.

A solid 4 ⭐️ from me!

Rachel Hore's The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is a masterful tapestry of interwoven timelines, exploring the resilience of women in the face of societal constraints. The book is set in Norfolk Broads in 2010 and the bustling streets of 1940s and '50s London, the novel delves deep into the lives of two compelling women: Nancy Foster, a retired scientist who has a life-altering secret, and Stef Lansdown, a journalist determined to shed light on overlooked female scientists.

A tribute to women who want to change the stereotyped impressions of men from the 1950's who felt our place was in the home!

A lovely dual timeline novel, set in post war Britain and early 2000's.
Stephanie is an author who is writing a book about female scientists and the roles they played. She is introduced to Dr Nancy Foster, who is reluctant to tell her life story. However she relents, and this novel is her story. A story of hard work and determination to make a name for herself at a time when there was no acknowledgement of the important role women scientists had in society.
It was an enjoyable read, loosely based on the author's family memories. Set in the beautiful Norfolk Broads, the book is very descriptive.

I’ve enjoyed many Rachel Hore books in the past and was intrigued by the title of The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge.

This is a dual-timeline novel with one foot in post-war Britain and one in the (almost) present day. We follow the early life of Nancy, trying to make her way as a scientist amidst a wall of sexism and prejudice and then catch up with her again as an elderly lady. Also in the present day sections we follow Stef who is trying to make her way in the world of freelance journalism.

I loved the Holkham/Norfolk Broads setting of the book and also really like the premise. All the characters (bar the obvious ones) were likeable & I was invested in outcomes for Nancy and Stef.

However, overall I found the book disappointing. It felt incredibly laboured & long-winded with too many information dumps and way too much waffle about locusts! I also failed to understand why the author mirrored the set-ups of main character’s sisters (both sections mc’s had elder sisters who were in identical situations with identical reactions and also both sections featured a divorced male mc with a young daughter). I am puzzled why the author thought this a good side plot as it is confusing to the reader & jars the reading experience . I thought she was trying to illustrate that actually times haven’t changed much but actually Helen ends up with the better job and lifestyle.

All in all I sadly found the book to be waffly & confusing despite a good basic premise. 2.5 stars. I’ve put editing queries in notes to publisher.

I had high hopes for this one but sadly I felt it was lacking. It was extremely wordy, very repetitive and ultimately predictable. Initially the scientific parts going back in time were interesting but I felt these parts just began to drag on and on. There are only so many locusts you can read about. The story between Stef and Aaron was inevitable from the start, yet we didn’t even get ‘their story’ it was summed up at the end. Nancy’s trials and tribulations battling sexism and prejudice when she was young were true of the time, but I’m not sure why she just gave up to teach. In both timelines, the characterisation was far too similar and became confusing to the reader (in my opinion). There were so many names and I just felt that I didn’t care who was who and whose marriage wasn’t working out. I also noted that from around 75% to the end, the grammatical errors were horrendous, lots of missing words too. All in all, quite a disappointing read but it could be edited to read so much better in half the time.

This was a wonderfully absorbing read, that had me hooked to both timelines! Full of fascinating characters and exploring how the attitudes of the past hindered women.

Set in post war London, and in Norfolk in 2010, we meet 2 women who are bought together to share a story that has had devastating consequences. And there seems to be people out to stop the story being shared altogether so you're left wondering what have they got to hide.

Nancy is a retired scientist who lives a very quiet life in Norfolk on the edge of nature reserve - already she has my interest as to why she's happy to withdraw from life. Stef is a journalist who is researching women of the past, and uncovers the story of Nancy so wants to learn more about her and share her story - of which Nancy isn't keen and is still very wary and unable to trust those from outside. But the more time she spends with Steph, the more she sees she is able to trust her and that's when we learn about her career as a scientist, and the struggles she had being accepted as a female scientist.

I loved the backstories in this book. There's so much to delve into, especially with looking back over Nancy's life that you get really involved and really get to understand why she's so unwilling to trust - she's been wronged in the past and that's very difficult for her to shake off. Stef is just the write kind of person to delve into her life and is so understanding and rightly outraged at what Nancy had been through.

A great look back into the issues of the past that faced many women who were trying to pursue their own career in a male dominated world. Highly recommended!

As soon as I started reading The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge, I was completely drawn into the story. It is an absolutely fascinating read where I learnt so much.

The novel unfolds across two distinct time periods and across two striking locations - the Norfolk Broads in 2010 and then London in the 1940s and 1950s, skillfully blending the past and the present.

I felt totally immersed in the setting and how it was captured so beautifully. It made me want to go and visit the tranquil and picturesque Norfolk Broads and experience the area that the book brought so vividly to life.

At the heart of the novel we meet Nancy Foster and Stef Lansdown whose lives are unexpectedly drawn together by the secrets of the past. Nancy, a retired scientist, leads a quiet and contented life in her idyllic home on the edge of a nature reserve, where she finds peace in her surroundings. There is a bookcase in Nancy’s home where her notebook was carefully kept – this is so significant to the story.

Stef is a journalist and has a natural curiosity, constantly asking questions and exploring different ideas and perspectives. After attending a talk given by Nancy, journalist Stef is very keen to include her story in her upcoming book. Stef is captivated by Nancy and wants to find out more.

The relationship between Nancy and Stef starts off understandably very guarded. Nancy does not want her secret to be exposed and is worried that by sharing her story with Stef this will happen. Their bond does strengthen as Nancy slowly opens up. I really loved the relationship between Nancy and Stef and how it grew slowly but steadily. I loved how Nancy saw Stef as the one person she could finally open up to, after so many years. Their friendship was beautiful, built on trust, mutual understanding, and a shared commitment to uncover long-buried truths.

This is an extraordinary book, highlighting the enormous challenges and fight that women had in pursuing careers in science and overcoming barriers to become scientists in a male dominated field. I was fascinated by the actual work that was being undertaken and have since read a lot about DDT and its significant and devastating environmental impact. I will continue to read more as The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge has had such an impact on me and I am constantly thinking about the novel.

The book explores the many difficulties women encountered, from unfair wages and lack of acknowledgment to the obstacles that slowed their progress in male-dominated professions. But it also highlights the resilience of women, fighting for the respect and opportunities that they (and the future generations) so truly deserved. They had been denied them for far too long. They deserved accreditation for their work – Nancy struggled to receive credit for her vital contributions, with her work frequently overlooked or attributed to male colleagues. This is so unfair and totally wrong, robbing Nancy of the recognition and opportunities she rightfully deserved.
This is an incredibly written book, which has been deeply researched. A captivating story of long-buried secrets, inner strength, and the quest for truth. And some romance too!

This is a truly special book and an unforgettable five-star read. Thank you! The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is my favourite book by Rachel Hore.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Sadly, I seem to be in the minority that didn't enjoy this novel, so I'll keep my review short and sweet.

The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is based on a very interesting concept, and I enjoyed that the novel champions female scientists and women in STEM. At its heart, this book is about past historical struggles against male oppression and the importance of these career women receiving justice and recognition.

However, I found the novel to be overly long and dull, and the writing certainly was not for me. I felt very distant from Stef and Nancy, so I didn't feel any empathy for them (even when I should). The tone is quite monotonous, and the romance felt extremely forced. In the end, I struggled to finish and had to persevere through each chapter.

That said, other Goodreads reviewers seemed to really enjoy this novel. Therefore, unfortunately, this was probably just a case where the writing didn't work for me personally. So, if you're a fan of Rachel Hore or stories of women overcoming substantial challenges, go ahead and give The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge a try. You might have a better experience!

*Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC*

Journalist Stef meets an elderly lady, Nancy, who once worked as a scientist, and is keen to interview her for her book on overlooked women scientists. But Nancy isn't keen - what secrets is she hiding?
This story is told in parallel time frames, following both Nancy and Stef as they negotiate the tricky world of love and work and family relationships, fifty years apart. They are both warm, sympathetic characters, and Nancy, in particular, has an interesting story to tell about male dominance in the science field, and how even the best of men would betray their female colleagues in their determination to get to the top of the tree. There are hints of industrial espionage, and of very real danger to Nancy, both in the past and now, which helps add tension to the plot.
But overall, this was a gentle story with no huge twists and turns - just the tale of one woman's determination to be true to herself, and another woman's determination to make sure that history remembered female pioneers in male-dominated fields.

A book about a writer/journalist, Stef, who is writing a book about women scientists and their struggles in the mid 1900s. She meets Nancy, a former zoologist, and quickly forms a bond with her. Nancy shares her story of how it was to be a woman in a man's field.
This was a nice read, with an easy to follow flow. I enjoyed hearing Nancy's story, while also feeling invested in her elderly age pov.
Nancy was an easy to like character with layers. Stef was a solid protagonist who had a surety of herself that can be lacking in novels sometimes.
There were a few parts of the story that I didn't think added to the overall theme (the random, threatening letters Nancy gets sent).
However, the book as a whole was informative and enjoyable.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Another lovely book by Rachel Hope. Stef is a freelance journalist and author whose relationship has recently ended.
Stef's mum Cara is living in the Norfolk Broads and when Stef goes to visit her she meets Nancy who seems to be perfected for Stef's new book about women scientists who were overlooked or mistreated by their male colleagues. Nancy is initially reluctant to tell her story but soon needs Stef's and Cara's help.
Stef's younger sister Pippa also turns up at the cottage struggling with having to cope with young twins while her husband works away all week.
Add in Red who has quickly become a fixture in Sara's life and Aaron, Nancy's grandson and life for Stef is a bit complucated.
Needless to say it all works out beautifully in the end.

One night Lena inadvertently records her new neighbours’ conversation. They are a retired stylish middle-class couple in their early 60s, who have moved into the swanky renovated house next door. She becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea that they are planning something illegal and puts her personal safety in danger trying to find out what. Or does she? Has she got the wrong end of the stick? Lena has her own past experiences of being caught up in something shady, and may be trying to ease her own conscience by preventing something happening.

There are enough characters to keep interest and keep you guessing, but not so many that you have to keep checking back to see who they are, several side plots run alongside the main story and there a fair few red herrings. The New Neighbours is a twisty and gripping psychological thriller. I enjoyed it. If you like books by Gillian McAllister, TM Logan or Claire Macintosh you’ll enjoy The New Neighbours.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I so enjoy Rachel Hore's books and this is no exception. It is a beautifully written and engaging book and it was so interesting learning about the way women scientists were treated at this time, Really well researched book which flowed effortlessly between the 2 storylines. Would absolutely recommend. Many thanks.

A beautifully written dual timeline love story. It's slow pace allows the writer to explore the trials of both a journalistic and scientific career. The focus on the perils of a woman in science in the 20th century was brilliant, so glad to see it highlighted, such a shame that more isn't made of it.
The book was easy to read with great characters but still very informative.

Rachel Hore is a favourite author of mine. I also live in Norfolk and can picture exactly the sort of place most of this book is set in. Such an interesting novel telling a story within a story. The present day is a general sort of loose love story woven around a deeper telling of the young life of a remarkable woman scientist. Based on research about what life was like for young women in the 1950s and 60s. Such an interesting and frankly, unsurprising tale. It makes you realise that, although we still have room for improvements in the areas of equality, women like Nancy in this book, have paved the way for the progress so far achieved.

Nancy Foster is considered an elderly lady, but in the post war period she was an ambitious and driven young scientist trying to make her way in a male dominated profession, during a time when all that was expected of her was to be a wife and mother.

Stef Lansdown is a freelance journalist trying to find her way after a year where her relationship ended and she was made redundant from her prestigious job on a newspaper. She is currently writing a book on the struggles faced by female scientists through history, and when she visits her mother’s new cottage in the beautiful Norfolk Broads, their lives cross. Nancy has a dark secret from her past she’s never told anyone - but she gradually opens up to Stef.

I love Rachel Hore and this book was very readable, but it didn’t sparkle for me as much as others I’ve read by her. Nancy’s story was very interesting, and some of the details of how women scientists were treated in the 1950s were depressingly familiar. I felt less invested in Stef however - I found her lack of empathy for her sister annoying, and she could be judgemental of other people’s relationships. A solid read, but not my favourite Rachel Hore.

A lovely story intertwined with the present and past. I found it fascinating how women were treated (and still are to a lesser extent) in what is though to be a male environment as surely women can't understand the complexities of science. I can't imagine the frustration of only being taken seriously when partnering with a man. A great tale.

An absolutely wonderful read which was difficult to put down - a real page turner. It was a beautifully written dual time line story. I loved reading bout Nancy's like both during her time as an undergraduate it what must have been a difficult time for women both in every day life but even more so in education especially as a budding scientist. Nancy was a wonderful lady who found herself in a difficult situation in her work. Steph was a great character and her friendship with Nancy was lovely to watch grow.