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…
more
I loved this cozy mystery. It’s full of history and romance, as well as mystery and heartbreak. A feel-good read.
4.5 stars not 5 only because I found one sequence of uncovering the mystery to be a bit of a stretch of the imagination. On the other hand, Ms Bowen set it up to be believable as possible.
PG -13
No sex described in detail
Little or no harsh language
Wartime danger and reference to Nazi atrocities
Setting switches between 1944 and 1973 – seen through the eyes of a British airman whose plane was shot down and those of his daughter searching for answers. Did he leave a child behind, and what became of its mother?
Well-told. Engaging characters. Held my interest throughout.
I think I need to go to Tuscany.
Overall, a delightful story, well told.
This is my 2nd novel from bestselling author, Rhys Bowan. The other was In Farleigh Field. Both are wonderful WW2 stories. Highly recommend this one. She’s a real pro.
This story toggles between Hugo, an English pilot who was shot down near San Salvatore somewhere near Tuscany in Italy in December 1944. Hugh is rescued by Sophia and hidden in an old monastery where she sneaks to in order to look after him. Skip to England in April of 1973 where Joanna has just parted company with her boyfriend and is getting read to take her bar exam. Her father, Hugo, dies suddenly and Joanna has to dispose of his things. She finds a letter he had mailed to Sophia after the war that was returned to him undelivered. Joanna opens it and decides to go to San Salvatore to try and find out about her father’s relationship with Sophia. This story has a number of surprising twists and turns in it and I really enjoyed it. I could have done with a little less Italian cooking/recipes but overall it is a really good book.
Enjoyed a great deal.
I loved this book for it’s compelling story line and well developed characters, but I especially loved the setting in Tuscany. Set in a remote village, where all the inhabitants have gardens and live primarily off the land. This leads to anecdotal recipes, as a Tuscan woman tries to teach an English woman how to cook “from the garden”. Reading about picking herbs and vegetables and sautéing ingredients in olive oil with crusty bread makes you want to run to your kitchen to try out this simple way to eat.
Well-plotted and thoroughly entertaining. Characters that are well developed, you can imagine really meeting them. The readers are drawn into the era and feel the sacrifices and the hardship the people had to deal with. This novel keeps you deeply involved till the very end.
This was a wonderful read, that was hard to put down. I especially liked the two narrators as I felt it shared more of the story than one narrator could. I wish there was one more chapter in the book so we could know what Joanna ultimately decided to do.
What a book! It was a little slow for me at first, but it was great! I love that someone who is as bruised and broken as Joanna is could come to a place that her dad loved and feel like she’s found home. I thought her dad’s story was really interesting! It seemed unlikely to me that she could actually find out almost everything that happened to him, but I really enjoyed the story! It’s got so many good elements: World War 2, romance, murder, art, and good food. I thought it was well-written!
I’ve never been to Tuscany but this one makes me want to plan a trip there. Wonderful story, fascinating characters. I love the links between past and present.
Bowen writes a totally intriguing story that snares you from the first sentence to the last. I love books that are cross generational and he does a stellar job of interconnecting the generations and their secrets.
This WWII mystery was a quiet cozy with beautiful descriptions of the Italian countryside and customs, interpersonal relationships, delicious food and a somewhat slower pace. That being said, I still enjoyed the journey to discovery. I recommend this book to others who enjoy a slower paced story line that is not lacking in heart or warmth.
An interesting read from a lesser-known era but a little too contrived.
You can never go wrong with any book by Rhys Bowen! Excellent historical detail, a story that will involve you and keep you engaged all the way through.
This was a great read. It was hard to put down. Well written and exciting.
This is a story about Italy in WWII that I knew nothing about. Loved it from beginning to end.
A delight from beginning to end.
Tuscany….just the mere mention of it, brings forth emotional discovery; it’s people, it’s food, it’s faith, it’s charm and…….it’s troubles?
The Tuscan Child brings us a story of secrets and mystery within its romantic setting, full of complex characters and the twists and turns you won’t see coming.
The main characters, Hugo and Joanna are father and daughter and also, the story’s narrator’s. The time frame meshes beautifully between 1944 and 1973.
It’s a time of survival for Hugo and a time for Joanna to uncover who he truly was as a person. Just what were his past ties to this Italian community, truly, during the turmoil of WWII? This has become Joanna’s mission in life after her father’s death, and in doing so, her own self-discovery of whom she is becoming is brought forth.
Rhys Bowen has captured a world within this adventure sure to keep you wanting more. Very well written and captivating. A tale of Historical Fiction not to disappoint.
Novels & Latte Book Blog
Novels & Latte Book Club
Joanna, after the death of her father finds that 30 years before during WW2, her father had a great love and perhaps a child. So, she sets off to find both and has a grand adventure and another great Rhys Bowen book.
This author held my attention and I quickly finished this lovely beautiful book. Recommended to several friends and my copy is now circulating. Also recommended to book club. A sequel would be welcomed!
The Tuscan Child is set in WWII Italy and the 1970’s. While the story goes back and forth between the two eras’ there is no confusion as to what is happening.
WWII is told from a pilot, Hugo, whose plane has been shot down and he has landed in enemy territory where he is hidden in a monastery that had been destroyed by bombs and taken care of by a local woman whose husband is off fighting in the war. The 1970’s centers around the pilot’s daughter, Joanna, who is searching for the beautiful boy who is mentioned in a letter she finds after her father’s death. The beautiful boy is assumed to be the pilot and the woman’s son so she is looking for her brother.
Rhys Bowen is a talented author. She describes the scenery, the food, and the local is such detail that I could easily picture the story as I was reading. I could smell the wonderful dishes the Italian woman, Paola, makes. I could hear the men at the restaurant telling their tales. I was picturing the monastery where Hugo stayed, the mountains surrounding the town, and washed out mud roads that had to be travelled to get around.
The Tuscan Child is amazing. I fell into the story, got to know the characters, and loved every minute of my time reading. I recommend picking up your own copy.