I think this is possibly my favourite of Rachel's books to date (and I've read all of them).

It's the story of journalist Stef, at a crossroads in her life after going freelance and a relationship breakup; and Nancy, an elderly woman living at the edge of a nature reserve. Stef hears Nancy's talk and thinks her story would be perfect in her new book about the lives of women scientists, and gradually persuades Nancy to tell her the story.

The period details are spot on (we are so, so lucky that the glass ceiling isn't as low now as it was back in the 40s and 50s), and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Nancy's confidence grow along with her friendships.

There are some parallels between the women's lives - particularly the difficult sibling relationship - and they were drawn beautifully. The characterisation is fantastic; and both of them are aware that their lives aren't how they want it to be, but neither whine or expect someone else to sort it out for them. They're strong and purposeful, and very relatable. The setting is gorgeous, too. (I live in Norfolk, so am a teeny bit biased, but it's beautifully done and reminded me very much of Wheatfen Broad.)

The ending, too, is very satisfying: Nancy's story being told, a mystery cleared up, and a slow-burn romance that really has worked.

A gripping five-star read. Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review - all views my own.

I enjoyed this book it was a teeny bit predictable but nevertheless very enjoyable and interesting.
Centring around Nancy a zoologist struggling in a man's world it was really well researched and gave an insight into the outdated ideas of people back in the 1940s and 50s.
If you are a fan of Lucinda Riley , Katherine Webb and of course Rachel's other nooks you will love this.

The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge by Rachel Hore
I felt This was a slight deviation from her usual way of writing but equally as readable as the others .
Two women , both with a love of nature , and struggling to make their life work heard .
I really enjoyed it and seeing how they overcame those struggles . An excellent read.

nancy foster has harboured a devastating secret from the mid 1950s that shattered her professional and personal life. on meeting her, journalist Stef lansdown realises that she has the power to restore nancy's reputation and to heal the wounds, if only Nancy trusts her. but someone else wants to get to the bottom of the story first, someone who doesn't want it to be told.

Everyone has a story and everyone has a past. As this story unravels we read about the secret that Nancy has kept for most of her life. Studying zoology in a male dominated career Nancy believes her story ruined her life. It is only when she meets Steph, a journalist, that a friendship develops and Nancy feels the time is right to share her story.
The secret itself is a fascinating and insightful story. Set against the backdrop of the Norfolk broads the reader can feel that they themselves are in this beautiful reserve.
Well written. An absorbing and magical read that had me gripped from the start.

Rachel Hore’s ‘The secrets of Dragonfly Lodge’ tells the stories of two women. Stef is a journalist who is at a crossroads in her life after going freelance and also becoming single after the breakdown of her relationship. Nancy is living alone in a cottage at the edge of a nature reserve, surrounded by the flora and fauna that she loves. After attending a talk given by Nancy, Stef is eager to include her story in her new book about the lives and struggles of women scientists.
A dual timeline then emerges as Nancy relives her history through her conversations with Stef.

I really enjoyed ‘The secrets of dragonfly lodge’ and admired Nancy’s spirit amidst the difficulties she faced and the attitudes she had to live with. The story was engrossing and I would definitely recommend it.

I loved this. Rachel Hore at her best. You moved back and forward in time but it worked .You had a slow burn love story in the back ground. It made you realise how lucky we are as woman to be born when we were.. You learn the history of how hard it was for woman scientists to make their mark and be taken seriously .Even at university they were second class citizens . A gripping story that made you think. Read it

This is a wonderful wonderful read.

Historical and well written it is a book i enjoyed. I loved Nancy. her life is filled with interest and Stef discovering her life history was a joy to to read.

Nancy has a secret that has ruined her life in so many ways and to trust Stef means that she will begin to heal and live again

Friendship, love and betrayal are the theme and I adored every line. It is a gripping and complex tale set in a beautiful location. Past and present collide and I felt every emotion of the women and their story.

Simply amazing

I loved this book - a moving and absorbing story.

Stef, a journalist, is escaping her own heartache by visiting her mother in the Norfolk Broads. Here she meets Nancy Foster a dragonfly specialist with a secret which had a devastating impact on her professional and personal life. The novel moves between Nancy’s life as a research scientist in the 1950s and Stef’s life in the 2010s.

Stef has to build a friendship with Nancy so she can be trusted to tell her story. In the process Stef finds some resolution in her own life.

A delightful heartwarming story of resilience and love.

This was a wonderful read which I was fascinated to read was inspired by the authors own family. Told over dual time frames with journalist Stef researching female scientists and back in the 1940s when Nancy studies zoology and over the course of the book we discover both how she fell in love with the subject and why she walked away from it. I really enjoyed Nancy’s story as it really opened my eyes as to not only the treatment of female scientists but also the effects of WWII. If comparison to Nancy Stef paled in comparison, she was a lovely person and served a great job of tying the story together but this really is Nancy's story. The subject was fantastic and I loved the descriptions of life for women in the 1940s not to mention relationships and research, it was a very refreshing subject and a brilliant character read.

A marvellous 5* read as always with Rachel Hore’s novels. This one is full of very interesting well researched facts about the injustices to women in the 40’s and 50’s - thought provoking and beautifully written, a book that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. The characters are well formed, both good and bad types, relationships explored and a lovely ending. Just perfect

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review