1993: in a country rocked by corruption trials involving government, big business and the Vatican, people in the idyllic small city of Urbino, Raphael's birthplace, appear more concerned with love affairs than politics, their only worry an outbreak of spurious miracles. Then Count Malaspino returns after years away and his support for the restoration of Raphael's La Muta ('the mute woman') drives a living mute to an act of violence that triggers ugly rumours. Does this woman know something terrible about Malaspino's past? Did she witness a literally 'unspeakable' crime that could shatter the peace of Urbino? Her continued silence seems to be in everyone's interest except that of the gentle art restorer Charlotte Penton - and a television crew fronted by Donna Ricco, who can't shut up to save her life...or anyone else's. There are as many liars as 'mutes' in WAKING RAPHAELl - Charlotte's bitter divorce has left her incapable of expressing herself except through painting; her assistant, Paolo, won't confess his infatuation to the glamorous Donna for fear of exposing his dangerous private schemes; Donna, in turn, lies about her feelings for him; Fabio's response to his fascist grandfather is to pose mutely as a statue of Raphael. Francesco, the ice-cream maker, knows it is suicide to speak out against Count Malaspino, who has always remained silent about his past - and present - life. But things cannot stay the same. The result is a case which involves Italy's foremost investigators of miracles, causes charges to be made to the Italian Committee for Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, turns Urbino into a circus of charlatans and gurus, and requires testimonies from several unlikely witnesses - two of them dead. WAKING RAPHAEL passionately evokes an Italy on the verge of a second Renaissance while illustrating the often fatal, yet redemptive, consequences of telling the truth.

A thriller set in Urbino, which was the painter Raphael's birthplace. The tale is related as a series of miracles, which culminate in what happened at San Rocco during the Second World War. It is a magical story and involves many people, including Muta the enigmatic mute, Donna the Canadian TV presenter who is lusted after by the Count and poses naked for him, Charlotte the picture restorer and Francesco the ice-cream maker who knows he must not reveal his secret. The characters are drawn with great skill and the whole book is a marvellous experience.

Born in Canada, Leslie Forbes has worked in London as a writer, artist and broadcaster for over 20 years. She is the author of four award-winning travel books, including the worldwide bestseller A Table in Tuscany and the presenter of many celebrated BBC radio series, several based in Italy. Her first novel, Bombay Ice, published in 1998, was an international bestseller and her second, Fish, Blood & Bone (2000) was nominated for the Orange prize.