1943

Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini’s laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice, she must flee the city to save her life.

Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and her own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart.

Years later...

While sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.

Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her time in Italy, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots. There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also about her own...

Perfect for readers of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop.

Praise for Siobhan Daiko:

A beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won’t want to put down’ Ann Bennett

’I was completely absorbed by … all the characters and intrigue’ Angela Petch

'What a poignant, emotional, thoroughly enjoyable read this was! ... such beautiful prose and such a brilliant story that completely transported me.' Renita D'Silva

‘An exciting, impeccably-researched wartime adventure with lots of heart ... the perfect mixture of tragedy and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

A poignant and emotionally charged novel that explores the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity and I was hooked from start to finish' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

'So much heartache but alongside this the love of the people who did so much in WWII' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘A powerful historical novel that I just could not put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

Siobhan Daiko writes powerful and sweeping historical fiction set in Italy and in the Far East during the second World War, with strong women at its heart. She now lives near Venice, having been a teacher in Wales for many years.