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 … 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…
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I enjoy this author but found this boot a little tedious.
Having enjoyed Bowen’s other books, I was excited to read THE TUSCAN CHILD. Unfortunately, I was disappointed overall with this tale of World War II pilot Hugo and his daughter Joanna. The story is told in alternating narratives taking place in 1944 and 1973, but it moves along at a glacial pace and feels unbalanced. The World War II part is better, but it lacks the tension and sense of peril one expects from the circumstances in which Hugo finds himself. I never felt invested in any of the characters and found them bland. It’s a bit too predictable, and the ending is too easy and perfect. The best part of the book is the luscious descriptions of the Italian food.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
I LOVED this book. There aren’t many mysteries that can keep me in suspense for very long, but this one did it!
Great historical story. Could not put it down.
Held my attention
I read a lot of WWII era books, history and historical fiction. This storyline is very well thought out and put together. It kept me up a few nights in a row because I just couldn’t put it down. It’s a very worthwhile read!
The characters in this book were simple but genuine. It was a time when the Nazi horde had taken psychological possession of a small Tuscan Village and the villagers were all living in fear and awe of them to the point of not knowing who could be trusted.
The twist at the end of the book provided a real page turner…but don’t rush to read the ending because the development of plot and characters only adds to the unpredictable conclusion .
The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen is great reading !
The here and now search for answers from the past. Characters from the present fin connections with those who lived and fought in Italy in WWII. Interesting and evocative. And a great read.
Loving Italy as much as I do, I was instantly drawn to this book and it did not disappoint. Loved the characters and the beautiful setting.
My favorite book of 2018 so far. The ending was a big surprise
I loved this book. And I love the author, Rhys Bowen, whom I’ve read before and will continue to do so. Well-developed characters, easy to follow plot, interesting toggle between 1942 and 1973. Overall, good read!
This was a very good story set in two time periods, one during WW-ll where a British pilot, Hugo Langley is shot down over Tuscany and the other in 1973 and of Hugo’s daughter Joanna Langley, who when told that her father had died, goes back to her old home to take care of any arrangements and to sort out his few belongings. She and her father had been estranged but while going through his belongings, she finds a letter which he had written to a woman by the name of Sofia Bartoli in Italy, but which had been returned unopened, many many years ago.
Her father had never really talked about his time in Italy and when Joanna, finds that letter she has an urge to see what happened to him in his time there, and to get a better picture of who he really was.
Going through her own tough time in London, she decides she will make the trip, to the small town where his plane went down.
This novel has a good story line on both ends, we meet some very memorable characters and experience, the feel of a small Italian town, with all of its warmth, food, love and mystery. This was a fun read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book.
When Hugo Langley dies, his daughter Joanna finds a letter in his possession addressed to someone named Sofia in Italy. It references “our beautiful boy.” Joanna knows her father was shot down in the Tuscany region during World War II, but does this letter mean she has a half-brother? Intrigued, Joanna sets out to learn about that time in her father’s life. What will she learn?
This book switches back and forth from Hugo’s story in 1944 and Joanna’s journey in 1973. The chapters are clearly labeled, so it is never hard to follow which time period we are in. While this is not a traditional mystery by any means, we do learn what happened back then and how it plays out in the more “modern” setting. This book is just as much about Joanna’s growth, and she lead a cast of very strong characters I quickly fell in love with as I read.
I love her style of writing
Excellently written!!
I finished Rhys Bowen’s THE TUSCAN CHILD this morning; I just couldn’t stop listening to the Audible recording of it. The ending was so satisfying that I actually sighed, but now I miss it and want to go back. I’m left thinking of the wickedness of war, the betrayal of people and values just to survive, balanced by the goodness of most people. I hope that someday we get things right. Sharing simple, good food and friendship and trust would be so much better for all of us.
There had been heavy “me first” competition on my TBR mountain, but this was the clear winner, captivating! I alternated between the “tree book” and the Audible recording, which was so well read, with two great narrators to help clarify the who and when of the dual timelines, that I am still hearing it in my mind.
I really loved this novel. It takes place during World War ll in Italy..
I enjoyed how each chapter told a part of the story from that past and then the present, making it an easy read to follow, and kept my interest and heart jumping.
I was quickly absorbed by the beautiful findings within the monastery, the wonderful recipes shared, and the scenery of Tuscany both in the past and in the present times.
This was truly a love story and will be long remembered by all!
The Tuscan Child is a wonderful blend of mystery, long buried secrets and romance set toward the end of WWII. The story is told in the dual view points of Hugo in the 1940’s and his daughter, Joanna, in the 1970’s. I was quickly pulled into the story and had a hard time putting it down. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I will be checking out her other works.
Not as good as other Rhys Bowen Predictable, toosentimenta, soul searching.
I just finished this book — could not put it down. I have been a student of history and a teacher of history. My father and several uncles were WWII veterans. What intrigued me about this story was the “point of view” from which it was told — that of surviving in a war torn occupied country. I loved the touch of mystery and romance.