The Tuscan Child

Description

From New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen comes a haunting novel about a woman who braves her father's hidden past to discover his secrets... In 1944, British bomber pilot Hugo Langley parachuted from his stricken plane into the verdant fields of German-occupied Tuscany. Badly wounded, he found refuge in a ruined monastery and in the arms of Sofia Bartoli. But the love that kindled between them was shaken by an irreversible betrayal. Nearly thirty years later, Hugo's estranged daughter, Joanna, has returned home to the English countryside to arrange her father's funeral. Among his personal effects is an unopened letter addressed to Sofia. In it is a startling revelation. Still dealing with the emotional wounds of her own personal trauma, Joanna embarks on a healing journey to Tuscany to understand her father's history-and maybe come to understand herself as well. Joanna soon discovers that some would prefer the past be left undisturbed, but she has come too far to let go of her father's secrets now...

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness, Molly Murphy, and Constable Evans mystery series, as well as the #1 Kindle bestseller In Farleigh Field. She has won the Agatha Award for Best Novel and has been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel, among numerous other awards, nominations, and starred reviews. Bowen was born in Bath, England, studied at London University, married into a family with historic royal connections, and now divides her time between Northern California and Arizona.

A Goodreads Choice Award Semifinalist, Historical Fiction A New York Post Must-Read Selection "Pass the bread, the olives, and the wine. Oh, and a copy of The Tuscan Child to savor with them." -NPR "The next best thing to going to Italy right now." -HelloGiggles "Readers who enjoy World War II historical fiction and rural Italian culture will appreciate this story by a master of her genre." -Library Journal "The alternating narratives keep the story moving along, and the pastoral setting is transporting." -Booklist "Besides being an action-packed story that is intense and haunting, Bowen also brings to life the setting where the reader can smell the cooking scents, see the brilliant olive groves, and hear the Italian chatter." -Crimespree "This novel is well plotted with characters that are so compelling, with their attributes and flaws, that the reader can almost feel as if they had sat down and shared a glass of vin santo with them." -Historical Novel Society "The interwoven mystery is expertly crafted and unravels at a pace that will keep readers guessing until the end. This is an overall enjoyable trip to the Tuscan countryside and readers will be reluctant to leave this charming and intriguing place." -RT Book Reviews "That Rhys Bowen is the consummate storyteller is a given-from her insightful characterizations to her plotting wizardry, she is a wonderful writer. But now Rhys has outdone herself-The Tuscan Child is a poignant story of love in wartime, woven into a compelling search for the truth when mysteries consigned to the past begin to unravel. The Tuscan Child presented me with a conundrum-didn't want the book to end, yet I couldn't put it down. Best read with a glass of Chianti beside a roaring fire. Brava Rhys Bowen-brava!" -Jacqueline Winspear, New York Times bestselling author of the Maisie Dobbs historical mystery novels