The Tuscan Child

Rhys Bowen does a nice job of switching between two stories without confusing the reader. Again her characters are well developed and she makes the countryside into a character in her stories, which makes you want to travel there. I found myself a bit impatient with the main character when I figured things out faster than s she did but that passed. I don’t know why but I was disappointed when things were tied up so nearly at the end. In life that only happens in some fairy tales and Disney movies. But still, Ms Bowen does a masterful job of telling a story and keeps you reading to the end.

I was one of the lucky winners of a Goodreads FirstReads Kindle version of this book. Unlike the cozy mystery series that I've read by this author, this one is set in two time periods: World War II and 1973. Most of the story takes place in 1973, but the past is ever present as the plot unfolds. The book opens in December 1944 with an English pilot, Sir Hugo Langley, being shot down in the Tuscan countryside and finds himself in the village of San Salvatore. Danger is ever-present, as German troops are frequent visitors to the area and Hugo's recovery could jeopardize the safety of anyone willing to help him. The narrator in 1973 is Hugo's estranged daughter Joanna, who has just been informed of her father's passing. As she is clearing out his belongings, she discovers several major bombshells about her father's past, including the fact that he had spent time in Italy during the war. A returned letter to her father from Italy prompts Joanna to take off for Tuscany to unravel that part of his mysterious past. However, she soon discovers that some people in San Salvatore would prefer to leave the past buried. This book is a departure from the humorous cozy mysteries I've previously read by this author. While I've enjoyed those cozy reads, I enjoyed this one even more due to the Italian backdrop and the mysteries that occurred in both the past and the present. Even though the tone in this one was more serious, I found myself reading "just one more chapter" to find out what would happen next. I'm so glad that I had a chance to read this one and would recommend it if you enjoy historical mysteries with a dash of romance, art, and Tuscan beauty. Thanks to the Goodreads FirstReads program for another terrific read!

This story is well written with a couple of stories intertwined to blend together in the last few chapters. It is obviously set in the Tuscan hills in a village and involves a downed English WWII pilot, a romance and the constant threat of discovery. Yet it is, what one could call, "a soft WWII story" in that it does not horrify with gruesome details and constant killing. Yes, the romance makes it a good "chick magnet" but you learn a lot about the village and its people, their resilience and endurance to survive and live again. The modern element helps to bring the story alive and make it more credible all war stories do reflect onto future generations. Any war does not end on a set day but the repercussions continue for a much longer period and this is epitomised in this very readable book. Widely recommended for its vivid descriptions of the village and surrounding countryside and for its noble characters surviving both physical and mentally against a fierce enemy.

The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen follows two separate storylines that help each other develop throughout the novel. With the first storyline being about Hugo, a military pilot, and the other about Joanna, his daughter, a very interesting story is told and revealed from the two different perspectives. It was written in early 2018, but it does a great job at recalling the past settings and characters. I think it also helped that Bowen had recently traveled to Tuscany, as her details were extremely accurate as to what you would truly see and find. Though I did enjoy reading this book, the ending left me feeling disappointed as it was very predictable and the events worked out so well that it was a bit unrealistic. Bowen does a fantastic job with detail, pulling the reader into the universes of both storylines, making one feel as though they are seeing it through their own eyes. It is a very easy read, with simple language and not too many conflicts overlapping at once. The two character’s storylines are layered perfectly and the progression of the given information is expertly crafted. The two storylines build off of each other as they are read and none of the clues go to waste. The pace was fast enough to keep the story entertaining but slow enough to add in proper setting and character detail. There was tension in every chapter and would switch point of view right before a big event happened, so the reader is sure to keep reading to find out what will happen next. I very much enjoyed reading about Hugo’s love for Sophia, it was heartwarming as he learned so much from her. However, it was uncomfortable to read about his relationships with all the other women in his life. It seemed that he was quite inconsistent in how he felt about women, or maybe that Bowen just took shortcuts in these relationships to keep the story simpler. When a murder happens right outside of Joanna’s room, it only seems to affect her for the first day. After that, the only thing she thinks about his death is how that will affect her going home. Though I understand the purpose of this to escalate the risks of Joanna finding out more of her father's story and it keeps her from leaving the town earlier, it seems to be forgotten only until it is convenient for the storyline. The ending of the story wraps up surprisingly quick as Joanna finds Hugo’s hiding place and the painting after only glancing up at the hill and seeing the monastery. This book reminds me of Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson, in the way that the different storylines add purpose and impact to the other stories involved. Overall, I think this book was fun to read and an interesting story, but I do think that it was predictable and ending in a way that was very boring compared to the beginning and middle of the novel.

Joannawho in her search to understand the part her father lived in Italy during WWII uncovered so many secrets, traumas and pain, unimaginable. I loved her joy in getting to know a village and it's people in Italy. Her determination to uncovered the truth was remarkable. The author knows and understands people with perspicacity. She writes with warmth and clarity. Wonderful readable book.

Typically I don’t like books that follow a non-linear narrative. I tend to find them confusing but this author handled the non-linear narrative very well I thought. The plot and character portrayal were well matched in that neither were very complex but still interesting. The book is an enjoyable read. This is the second mystery I’ve read that takes place in Italy. As I read them, I started to think I was reading my Italian Grandmother’s cookbook. Neither was the book to read when you’re hungry.

This is basically a book about love; and war; and suffering; and sadness. And also about finding out the truth about something that happened many years ago. It is a story about a daughter who braves her father’s hidden past to discover his secrets. It was an interesting story that I found myself drawn to. A story that made me want to come back to and to finish. That said, it was not outstanding - but it was good. 3 ¾ Stars. Enjoyed the contrast between England and Italy. Enjoyed the picture depicted of life in a small, somewhat remote, village in Italy. Especially liked the differences in food and values between those in a city in England vs a village in Italy. The simple pleasures that didn’t really depend upon money or things. While the author tied up all the loose ends, I did think there were a few too many coincidences. For example: How many times did an earthquake happen at just the right moment to reveal hidden treasures; to kill a “bad man.” I also liked how the story showed how events can so change the outcome of a life - of a whole family. We all like to think that we are in control of our own destiny - but such is not always the case. In fact, more often than not we are not masters of our universe. It is how we react/handle these situations that really determine how our life will be. I liked how the details of Joanna’s life before her father died are not revealed early on but rather later and then not all at once. I loved how the mystery of “the child” was so casually revealed. While Joanna had every reason to believe the mystery was about a real, live child, when it was really about a very special painting of a very special child - the baby Jesus. When this painting was first discovered I read close to a page more when all of a sudden it dawned on me that this painting was “the Tuscan child.”

Loved the book. Had enough history to make it.feel real and possible. And enough mystery to.make you not wanting to put it down.