One Way to Venice

by Jane Aiken Hodge

It began with the letters. Anonymous taunting, evil letters which not only told her of her missing son, but reminded her of those terrifying days as a young bride in South Carolina when her life was in danger. Now Julia was alone. Her shattered marriage behind her and new terror shaping the future. When the letters told her that the boy was in Venice. She wondered if it were true. Or was it perhaps some horrible fantastic Joke? But she had to go. She had to look for her son. She was very grateful for the helpful young man she happened to meet on the train...

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Gothic, Italy, Suspense, Romantic Suspense

218 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Jane Aiken Hodge was born in the USA, brought up in the UK and read English at Oxford. She received a master's degree from Radcliffe College, Harvard University.

Before her books became her living she worked as a civil servant, journalist, publishers' reader and a reviewer.

She has written lives of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer as well as a book about women in the Regency period, PASSION AND PRINCIPLE. But her main output has been over twenty historical novels set in the eighteenth century, including POLONAISE, THE LOST GARDEN, and SAVANNAH PURCHASE, the beloved third volume of a trilogy set during and after the American War of Independence. More recently she has written novels for Severn House Publishers.

She enjoys the borderland between mystery and novel, is pleased to be classed as a feminist writer, and is glad that there is neither a glass ceiling nor a retiring age in the writers' world. She was the daughter of Conrad Aiken and sister of Joan Aiken.

Reviews

[A.L. Goulden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting premise that began with a bang but I could not believe how many coincidences happened to Julia. The backstory was confusing and I wanted descriptions to be vivid or engrossing to sweep me into the story because I had trouble with the hard to believe plot. This story tries so hard to be a twisted mystery while feeling predictable and didn't give enough plausibility to make the backstory dumps and her actions make sense.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was completely preposterous. It started off reasonably enough, although a bit melodramatically, but then it simply spiralled out of control into a convoluted plot that bore no relation to reality, with red herrings and conspiracies and double dealing galore. The basic plotline is that a young woman who gave up her son for adoption as a baby suddenly receives a one-way ticket to Venice and (naturally?) sets off to find him. I can’t say anything more without giving too much away but essentially the whole things is absurd and I didn’t even want to struggle on to the end to find out what happens. Ridiculous.

[Reading with Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely bonkers
3.5 stars

[Mystica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five years ago Julia was in love and expecting a child. Living in an overpoweringly gothic kind of house with a full family of her husband's relations was not what she had expected. However, he refused to budge saying that it was his responsibility to take care of it all. When she was almost hounded and killed Julia decides to run away and make a life for herself.

Julia was now in a state of almost being at peace. In very turbulent circumstances, a bad decision of giving away her infant son for adoption has derailed her life since. She has come to terms almost with this bad decision until she starts receiving mail and a photograph of her son along with instructions to come to Venice.

The story becomes quite complicated with her arrival in Venice. Despite being instructed to be cautious with strangers Julia seemed overly naïve and open especially in a cloak and dagger situation. It became farcical with the number of coincidences that happened to Julia one after another but she kept doggedly on in her search.

The fact that it ended well despite the danger and histrionics of a mad family hell bent on money added to this mystery.

[Cory Beyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Julia gave up her son to adoption. She has always regretted. Now, she is getting letters saying she has to go to Venice to save him. This story was just a cute mystery! #onewaytovenice #janeaikenhodge

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s an odd feeling to find one of Jane Aiken Hodge’s contemporary romances more old-fashioned than her historical novels, but this novel, which I vaguely remember from the seventies, somehow seems dusty and fussy to me. The plot is on the predictable side, and the travel writing isn’t as mesmerizing as the work Mary Stewart was doing at the same time. Too bad. With a bit more genuine passion, a slightly less convoluted and conventional plot, and less lip service to Mrs. Grundy, this could have been a much better book.

[Helen Bookwoods · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable holiday read. Quite preposterous but fun. Julia travels to Venice to find the son she gave up for adoption (on the strength of an anonymous photograph sent to her and a one-way ticket). We get a convoluted backstory of her marriage to a rich US southerner and his manipulative family. Did he try to murder her, or was it someone else? She's not sure but stays on at the family estate where more danger lurks. We know she eventually leaves and divorces her husband because, at the beginning of the story, she is alone and working in London for the mysterious Sir Charles. In Venice, she is befriended by an Australia who helps her travel around on the canals looking for the balustraded garden seen in the background of the photo of her son. Lots of twists and turns and looming danger. Mary Stewart-lite.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

It began with the letters. Anonymous taunting, evil letters which not only told her of her missing son, but reminded her of those terrifying days as a young bride in South Carolina when her life was in danger. Now Julia was alone. Her shattered marriage behind her and new terror shaping the future. When the letters told her that the boy was in Venice. She wondered if it were true. Or was it perhaps some horrible fantastic Joke? But she had to go. She had to look for her son. She was very grateful for the helpful young man she happened to meet on the train...

The writing of this book was quite confusing most of the time. I did not like any of the male characters in this book and Julia seemed dimwitted.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Not your traditional storyline with several twists and turns. I enjoyed the use of flashbacks to unravel bits of the mysterious events unfolding in Julia's life.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The setup reminds me of Mary Stewart: beautiful location, not knowing whom to trust, danger around every corner. I liked the heroine and Dominic, but found the plot too far-fetched.

[Susan Covino · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but what a five year old was capable of in this book was quite unbelievable.