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Murder Under the Tuscan Sun
An isolated castle, a deadly crime. Is this real or nightmare?
In a remove castle high up in the Tuscan hills secrets are simmering among its glamorous English residents:
The ailing gentleman art-dealer
His dazzling niece
Her handsome Fascist husband
Their neglected young daughter
The housekeeper who knows everything
and Connie, the English widow working for them.
Every night, Connie hears sinister noises and a terrible wailing inside the walls. Is she losing her grip on reality?
Or does someone in the castle want her gone?
In a remove castle high up in the Tuscan hills secrets are simmering among its glamorous English residents:
The ailing gentleman art-dealer
His dazzling niece
Her handsome Fascist husband
Their neglected young daughter
The housekeeper who knows everything
and Connie, the English widow working for them.
Every night, Connie hears sinister noises and a terrible wailing inside the walls. Is she losing her grip on reality?
Or does someone in the castle want her gone?
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2023
28 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Rhys
4 books196 followersRachel Rhys is the pen-name of a successful psychological suspense author. A Dangerous Crossing is her debut novel under this name. The story is inspired by a real diary which the author discovered by accident while helping her mother move house. It was written with care and attention by a servant girl who travelled from England to Australia on a cruise liner in the late 1930s.
Rachel Rhys lives in North London with her family, including a much-loved dog.
Rachel Rhys lives in North London with her family, including a much-loved dog.
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May 4, 2025I’m giving up on this as an audiobook. Horrible narration. Too lonwinded to boot, so it can’t get much worse. For the same reason I’m not rating it, I don’t Think it is fair even though I have listened to a quarter of it by now.
March 31, 2023
The story:
Nearly 10 years have passed since the end of the Great War, and the world is still recovering. In her unremarkable home in a quiet London suburb, recently widowed Constance Bowen is still mourning the loss of her daughter to tuberculosis. So when the position of companion to an invalid English gentleman living in a castle in Tuscany is advertised, she jumps at the chance of adventure.
At first the Castello di Roccia Nera is everything Constance hoped for, with its beautiful surroundings and interesting inhabitants. But there are secrets just below the surface in the castle… Is Constance losing her mind, or is there real danger in the idyllic Tuscan hills?
My thoughts:
I love books set between the Wars, and Agatha Christie is one of my all-time favourite authors. So the description of “Murder Under the Tuscan Sun” by Rachel Rhys (AKA @tammycohenwriter) appealed to me straight away.
We first join the story in 1946, when an unknown character is returning to the castle near Florence. I was immediately drawn into the atmospheric description of the castle, with its crumbling stone dragons, left devastated after occupation by German soldiers. Something terrible obviously happened here, but what?
We then jump back in time to 1927, and meet Constance, a widow disappointed by her life and grieving the loss of her daughter. While the world seems content to pass her by, Constance hasn’t given up yet, and when the chance of an adventure comes her way, she grabs it.
At first, life in the remote castle outside Florence seems wonderful, but the longer Constance remains at the castle, the more she seems to unravel...
I really enjoyed the way this book played out, slowly increasing the dread — to me it felt part Agatha Christie, part Daphne du Maurier! It also has a very satisfying conclusion that didn’t disappoint. Definitely to be recommended to all historical mystery and and thriller fans!
Nearly 10 years have passed since the end of the Great War, and the world is still recovering. In her unremarkable home in a quiet London suburb, recently widowed Constance Bowen is still mourning the loss of her daughter to tuberculosis. So when the position of companion to an invalid English gentleman living in a castle in Tuscany is advertised, she jumps at the chance of adventure.
At first the Castello di Roccia Nera is everything Constance hoped for, with its beautiful surroundings and interesting inhabitants. But there are secrets just below the surface in the castle… Is Constance losing her mind, or is there real danger in the idyllic Tuscan hills?
My thoughts:
I love books set between the Wars, and Agatha Christie is one of my all-time favourite authors. So the description of “Murder Under the Tuscan Sun” by Rachel Rhys (AKA @tammycohenwriter) appealed to me straight away.
We first join the story in 1946, when an unknown character is returning to the castle near Florence. I was immediately drawn into the atmospheric description of the castle, with its crumbling stone dragons, left devastated after occupation by German soldiers. Something terrible obviously happened here, but what?
We then jump back in time to 1927, and meet Constance, a widow disappointed by her life and grieving the loss of her daughter. While the world seems content to pass her by, Constance hasn’t given up yet, and when the chance of an adventure comes her way, she grabs it.
At first, life in the remote castle outside Florence seems wonderful, but the longer Constance remains at the castle, the more she seems to unravel...
I really enjoyed the way this book played out, slowly increasing the dread — to me it felt part Agatha Christie, part Daphne du Maurier! It also has a very satisfying conclusion that didn’t disappoint. Definitely to be recommended to all historical mystery and and thriller fans!
January 23, 2023
This is an atmospheric and evocative read set in Tuscany in the late 1920s just as Mussolini is coming to power.
Connie lives in Pinner with her adult son , James; grieving the loss of her daughter and recently widowed, she decides to apply for a job in Tuscany caring for invalid, William, who has suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.
Much to her son James’s annoyance her application is successful and she accepts the position, quickly setting off for Italy, arriving at an old castle and meeting Evelyn and Roberto, her new employers.
Evelyn is a strange character, brittle and moody whilst Roberto devotes himself to the fascist cause. Evelyn’s young daughter, Nora, is completely ignored and left to her own devices and Connie soon feels a great sadness for the child.
Evelyn starts to develop a relationship with William as she cares for him but then a strange atmosphere develops in the castle and after a while William’s health declines further despite an initial improvement.
There seems to be some sort of darkness hanging over the household and Connie is both drawn to them as well as feeling repelled by what is happening in the castle. She fears that she is losing her mind but gets little help from her employers who seem completely obsessed with each other and the local expat community.
I liked the characters of Connie and William both suffering from grief after the death of a child; Connie in particular has had a very sad existence , dominated by her late husband, unable to lead the life she wants and then losing the daughter she loved. However her Italian adventure, at first so full of promise, soon leads to danger and she has to use all her inner resources to survive intact.
The background of Mussolini’s Italy is fascinating and very evocative whilst the Summer sun of Tuscany is both beautiful and oppressive.
This was an enjoyable and compelling read with some interesting characters giving the reader a lot to ponder when thinking about motivation.
I have read previous books by Rachel Rhys and “Murder Under the Tuscan Sun”is definitely every bit as good as her earlier novels. I raced through it in a couple of days and recommend it to lovers of atmospheric historical mysteries with beautiful settings.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
Connie lives in Pinner with her adult son , James; grieving the loss of her daughter and recently widowed, she decides to apply for a job in Tuscany caring for invalid, William, who has suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.
Much to her son James’s annoyance her application is successful and she accepts the position, quickly setting off for Italy, arriving at an old castle and meeting Evelyn and Roberto, her new employers.
Evelyn is a strange character, brittle and moody whilst Roberto devotes himself to the fascist cause. Evelyn’s young daughter, Nora, is completely ignored and left to her own devices and Connie soon feels a great sadness for the child.
Evelyn starts to develop a relationship with William as she cares for him but then a strange atmosphere develops in the castle and after a while William’s health declines further despite an initial improvement.
There seems to be some sort of darkness hanging over the household and Connie is both drawn to them as well as feeling repelled by what is happening in the castle. She fears that she is losing her mind but gets little help from her employers who seem completely obsessed with each other and the local expat community.
I liked the characters of Connie and William both suffering from grief after the death of a child; Connie in particular has had a very sad existence , dominated by her late husband, unable to lead the life she wants and then losing the daughter she loved. However her Italian adventure, at first so full of promise, soon leads to danger and she has to use all her inner resources to survive intact.
The background of Mussolini’s Italy is fascinating and very evocative whilst the Summer sun of Tuscany is both beautiful and oppressive.
This was an enjoyable and compelling read with some interesting characters giving the reader a lot to ponder when thinking about motivation.
I have read previous books by Rachel Rhys and “Murder Under the Tuscan Sun”is definitely every bit as good as her earlier novels. I raced through it in a couple of days and recommend it to lovers of atmospheric historical mysteries with beautiful settings.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
April 3, 2023
Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is the brand new sinister and tantalising mystery from Rachel Rhys. Set during the late 1920’s in a castle in the Tuscan hills near Florence, this is a slow burner which sucks you in and builds to a crescendo of revelations. Constance (Connie) Bowen is an English widow who accepts a job in Italy as companion to an invalid. She has been on her own for a year although the reader gets glimpses that perhaps she was not always happy in her marriage and sad and grieving though she may be you sense there is a small element of freedom surrounding her. Of wanting to try and experience new things. Connie’s son James is not happy with her decision but she needs to do something for herself. To remove herself from her mundane existence in England and the shadows that still haunt her connected to the death of her daughter Millie several years ago. As Connie arrives in Italy, little does she realise the job she has signed up will provide her with a lot more mysterious, disturbing and unsettling goings on than she could ever have hoped for.
William North is a respected art connoisseur who has suffered a brain injury and needs assistance. He resides in the castle with his niece Evelyn Manetti, her husband Roberto and Nora, her young daughter from a previous relationship. As Connie settles into her new routine, the setting of the castle and the surrounding countryside come alive. The reader gets a real sense for the food, the climate, the architecture and the artworks. She explores the castle and its grounds but Connie just can’t shake off the feeling that there is a lot left unspoken and that the residents are all hiding something. Connie and William do not get off to a good start.He views her with disdain and I suppose this was because he was suffering but felt he didn’t need someone to look after him rather that he craved the independence that he once had. William is not old and decrepit but in fact is only in his mid 50’s. He has suffered tragedy in his life having lost his wife and son. He is brusque and offhand with Connie and she feels she can’t do anything right but she persists in assisting him through keeping him company, reading to him, writing correspondence and administering medication as recommended by the visiting doctor.
The story is told through Connie’s point of view for the entire length of the book and this does work very well. We see her unease and at times growing confusion as strange things start to occur. Incidents which she can’t provide a reasonable explanation for. She feels the sadness within the castle especially with Nora who comes across as a strange child who is more or left to her own devices whilst her mother flits around the city with her new husband. Although when Connie spots Roberto with some Fascists she is aghast that he is apparently on their side. Nora is lonely and needs guidance as her mother dismisses her as being rather an inconvenience as opposed to someone to love, cherish and nurture. But Nora is watchful, odd but endearing and maybe she sees and remembers an awful lot more than she is given credit for. Connie strikes up a friendship with her as I felt she did with William the further the book progressed. But William is a closed book and as his health begins to deteriorate despite the best care afforded by Connie he becomes more angry, incapacitated and unable to communicate properly. They do develop a tentative connection of sorts but as things turn against Connie she feels as if she is in a desperate situation which is rapidly spiralling out of her control.
Connie starts to feels as if the walls are closing in on her and that she is not the right person for the job. The castle and its residents seem to be turning against her. At some points she starts to think is she losing her mind as she knows she has done such a thing correctly or placed something somewhere and then it turns out to be the opposite. She is making mistakes that she would never have made before and not sleeping as she hears unusual sounds echoing throughout the castle. Sounds which no one else seems to hear. I never thought Connie was losing her mind but rather that there were sinister forces at work and this led to a feeling of mistrust regarding every character. I started not to take any statement or event at face value rather that I had to dig deeper and try and suss out the meaning behind it.
I will admit given the title I was constantly waiting for a murder to occur. With each turn of the page I expected to find a character dead and then the discovering of who did it was set in motion. This didn’t occur and I didn’t think I would ever say this but I wasn’t let down that this did not occur in the traditional format of a mystery/crime book. Instead, Rachel Rhys has woven a wonderful tapestry of a mystery with such subtle incidents occurring that bit by bit a twisted story starts to emerge. I never guessed as to who was the culprit and the reasons for it and I found myself racing through the final few chapters as things came to a head. They were tense and action packed, real edge of your seat stuff with your mouth agape at what was unfolding. That’s the way a good mystery should be you’re left guessing until the last possible moment. Delighted if you have guessed correctly as to what is going on but equally satisfied when the wool has been pulled over your eyes.
I had adored A Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys but found that Island of Secrets didn’t have me as gripped but with Murder Under a Tuscan I believe the author has returned to her earlier form and this was an excellent and gripping read which provided the reader with the perfect ending. More like this in the future please as it was a pleasure to read.
William North is a respected art connoisseur who has suffered a brain injury and needs assistance. He resides in the castle with his niece Evelyn Manetti, her husband Roberto and Nora, her young daughter from a previous relationship. As Connie settles into her new routine, the setting of the castle and the surrounding countryside come alive. The reader gets a real sense for the food, the climate, the architecture and the artworks. She explores the castle and its grounds but Connie just can’t shake off the feeling that there is a lot left unspoken and that the residents are all hiding something. Connie and William do not get off to a good start.He views her with disdain and I suppose this was because he was suffering but felt he didn’t need someone to look after him rather that he craved the independence that he once had. William is not old and decrepit but in fact is only in his mid 50’s. He has suffered tragedy in his life having lost his wife and son. He is brusque and offhand with Connie and she feels she can’t do anything right but she persists in assisting him through keeping him company, reading to him, writing correspondence and administering medication as recommended by the visiting doctor.
The story is told through Connie’s point of view for the entire length of the book and this does work very well. We see her unease and at times growing confusion as strange things start to occur. Incidents which she can’t provide a reasonable explanation for. She feels the sadness within the castle especially with Nora who comes across as a strange child who is more or left to her own devices whilst her mother flits around the city with her new husband. Although when Connie spots Roberto with some Fascists she is aghast that he is apparently on their side. Nora is lonely and needs guidance as her mother dismisses her as being rather an inconvenience as opposed to someone to love, cherish and nurture. But Nora is watchful, odd but endearing and maybe she sees and remembers an awful lot more than she is given credit for. Connie strikes up a friendship with her as I felt she did with William the further the book progressed. But William is a closed book and as his health begins to deteriorate despite the best care afforded by Connie he becomes more angry, incapacitated and unable to communicate properly. They do develop a tentative connection of sorts but as things turn against Connie she feels as if she is in a desperate situation which is rapidly spiralling out of her control.
Connie starts to feels as if the walls are closing in on her and that she is not the right person for the job. The castle and its residents seem to be turning against her. At some points she starts to think is she losing her mind as she knows she has done such a thing correctly or placed something somewhere and then it turns out to be the opposite. She is making mistakes that she would never have made before and not sleeping as she hears unusual sounds echoing throughout the castle. Sounds which no one else seems to hear. I never thought Connie was losing her mind but rather that there were sinister forces at work and this led to a feeling of mistrust regarding every character. I started not to take any statement or event at face value rather that I had to dig deeper and try and suss out the meaning behind it.
I will admit given the title I was constantly waiting for a murder to occur. With each turn of the page I expected to find a character dead and then the discovering of who did it was set in motion. This didn’t occur and I didn’t think I would ever say this but I wasn’t let down that this did not occur in the traditional format of a mystery/crime book. Instead, Rachel Rhys has woven a wonderful tapestry of a mystery with such subtle incidents occurring that bit by bit a twisted story starts to emerge. I never guessed as to who was the culprit and the reasons for it and I found myself racing through the final few chapters as things came to a head. They were tense and action packed, real edge of your seat stuff with your mouth agape at what was unfolding. That’s the way a good mystery should be you’re left guessing until the last possible moment. Delighted if you have guessed correctly as to what is going on but equally satisfied when the wool has been pulled over your eyes.
I had adored A Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys but found that Island of Secrets didn’t have me as gripped but with Murder Under a Tuscan I believe the author has returned to her earlier form and this was an excellent and gripping read which provided the reader with the perfect ending. More like this in the future please as it was a pleasure to read.
March 5, 2023
I read and loved Rachel Rhys' 'A Dangerous Crossing' so I had high hopes for this one! Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book.
The story focuses on Connie Bowen, an English widow who - against her son's wishes - seizes the opportunity to travel to Tuscany to be a companion for William North, an ailing man living in an art-filled castle. It's 1927 and Fascism is on the rise in the beautiful country that Connie comes to love - and even present in the castle in the form of the handsome young Roberto who is married to Evelyn, William's niece. Also living in the castle is Nora, Evelyn's child by her first husband - who seems to be mainly an inconvenience to her mother now Evelyn is caught up with her new man. As the dynamic of the group shifts over the months of William's illness, Connie is forced to confront the fact that things in the castle aren't as they seem - and in fact are more immediately dangerous than the gathering political storm cloud.
This book exceeded all my expectations! I knew that Rhys was excellent at writing complex and interesting characters plus simmering tension, but 'Murder under the Tuscan Sun' proved to be even more nuanced, compelling and moving than I'd hoped.
In particular, I absolutely loved that the main character was an older woman. Connie has already faced hardships and intense grief, so the reader is completely rooting for her right from the start as she takes the job that her adult son thinks is so ill-advised. She's so strong and worldly, even in the face of some weird and spooky happenings in the castle, and I liked that she tackled tricky situations with fortitude and courage. Life has already been tough so she isn't going to shrink at Fascists, gold-diggers, a cantankerous charge, unpleasant social situations or the eerie music that fills the corridors of the castle at night...
Another joy within the novel is the Tuscan setting. The castle surrounded by lush Italian countryside and backed by the creepy Black Rock hill is beautifully evoked, as is the folklore surrounding the spot where local witches were killed. This all adds a gloriously vivid but sinister feel to the castle. The city of Florence is also described with such authenticity and colour that I could imagine I was walking the streets along with Connie. It made me both desperate to get my feet back on Florentine soil and astounded that Rhys wrote this book at home in lockdown rather than sitting in an Italian piazza!
Without giving away too much of the plot - a plot I thought was cleverly managed and one that kept me reading avidly - I think it's worth noting that the novel's title isn't the most enlightening. Anyone coming to this expecting an Agatha Christie-style country house (Italian castle?) murder maybe isn't getting what they thought. I don't think anyone would be disappointed, but it's best to come to the book without preconceptions of genre and be pleasantly surprised.
There's so much I enjoyed about this book that I can't even squeeze it all into a review. Those who have read the book will understand when I say that I also loved Alina's story, the glamorous parties and the fabulous ending of the novel.
Readers of intelligent historical fiction, lovers of all things Italian and fans of immersive storytelling will love this book. It's a beguiling mix of so many fabulous ingredients - not least the fascinating historical moment, sumptuous travel writing, a strong female lead, buckets of tension and trickery, plus a hint of the supernatural. For me, it worked perfectly and I recommend it whole-heartedly.
The story focuses on Connie Bowen, an English widow who - against her son's wishes - seizes the opportunity to travel to Tuscany to be a companion for William North, an ailing man living in an art-filled castle. It's 1927 and Fascism is on the rise in the beautiful country that Connie comes to love - and even present in the castle in the form of the handsome young Roberto who is married to Evelyn, William's niece. Also living in the castle is Nora, Evelyn's child by her first husband - who seems to be mainly an inconvenience to her mother now Evelyn is caught up with her new man. As the dynamic of the group shifts over the months of William's illness, Connie is forced to confront the fact that things in the castle aren't as they seem - and in fact are more immediately dangerous than the gathering political storm cloud.
This book exceeded all my expectations! I knew that Rhys was excellent at writing complex and interesting characters plus simmering tension, but 'Murder under the Tuscan Sun' proved to be even more nuanced, compelling and moving than I'd hoped.
In particular, I absolutely loved that the main character was an older woman. Connie has already faced hardships and intense grief, so the reader is completely rooting for her right from the start as she takes the job that her adult son thinks is so ill-advised. She's so strong and worldly, even in the face of some weird and spooky happenings in the castle, and I liked that she tackled tricky situations with fortitude and courage. Life has already been tough so she isn't going to shrink at Fascists, gold-diggers, a cantankerous charge, unpleasant social situations or the eerie music that fills the corridors of the castle at night...
Another joy within the novel is the Tuscan setting. The castle surrounded by lush Italian countryside and backed by the creepy Black Rock hill is beautifully evoked, as is the folklore surrounding the spot where local witches were killed. This all adds a gloriously vivid but sinister feel to the castle. The city of Florence is also described with such authenticity and colour that I could imagine I was walking the streets along with Connie. It made me both desperate to get my feet back on Florentine soil and astounded that Rhys wrote this book at home in lockdown rather than sitting in an Italian piazza!
Without giving away too much of the plot - a plot I thought was cleverly managed and one that kept me reading avidly - I think it's worth noting that the novel's title isn't the most enlightening. Anyone coming to this expecting an Agatha Christie-style country house (Italian castle?) murder maybe isn't getting what they thought. I don't think anyone would be disappointed, but it's best to come to the book without preconceptions of genre and be pleasantly surprised.
There's so much I enjoyed about this book that I can't even squeeze it all into a review. Those who have read the book will understand when I say that I also loved Alina's story, the glamorous parties and the fabulous ending of the novel.
Readers of intelligent historical fiction, lovers of all things Italian and fans of immersive storytelling will love this book. It's a beguiling mix of so many fabulous ingredients - not least the fascinating historical moment, sumptuous travel writing, a strong female lead, buckets of tension and trickery, plus a hint of the supernatural. For me, it worked perfectly and I recommend it whole-heartedly.
April 5, 2023
4⭐️
AD-PR PRODUCT ~ Book Tour
An enticing slow burner set in the delightful Tuscan hills! ☀️
Rhys is an exceptional writer who has developed a very beautiful and composed read that thrived with vitality. The embedded history in this book was well researched and made the Italian post-war and Fascist setting seem incredibly real.
The tantalising descriptions of the Tuscan landscapes were impressive and made me very jealous of Connie. This landscape is quickly overlooked by a feeling that things are not what they seem and this was very clever. The accompanying strange nocturnal noises, heard by Connie, provided a sinister edge to this read and enhanced the unsettling feeling the book created.
The characters were amazing, well fleshed out and very necessary. Connie was wonderful and really made this read what it is. Her position in the castle was ambiguous as she wasn’t treated like the luxurious Evelyn or like the working servant women. This tumultuous way of living really echoed the read and how it makes you uncertain what to expect throughout. I really felt for little Nora. She was just completely ignored and disregarded, but was actually a very intelligent young girl.
The only issue I had with this read was the misleading title. However, the read was brilliant and the final chapters and epilogue positively shocked me. I highly recommend this read! 😍
A huge thank you Random Things Tours, Penguin Random House and Penguin UK Books for my proof copy and place on the Book Tour. 🥰
💬 'Women are not required to be original, my darling. Just agreeable and easy on the eye.' - (Please note this is quoted from the uncorrected proof copy).
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
AD-PR PRODUCT ~ Book Tour
An enticing slow burner set in the delightful Tuscan hills! ☀️
Rhys is an exceptional writer who has developed a very beautiful and composed read that thrived with vitality. The embedded history in this book was well researched and made the Italian post-war and Fascist setting seem incredibly real.
The tantalising descriptions of the Tuscan landscapes were impressive and made me very jealous of Connie. This landscape is quickly overlooked by a feeling that things are not what they seem and this was very clever. The accompanying strange nocturnal noises, heard by Connie, provided a sinister edge to this read and enhanced the unsettling feeling the book created.
The characters were amazing, well fleshed out and very necessary. Connie was wonderful and really made this read what it is. Her position in the castle was ambiguous as she wasn’t treated like the luxurious Evelyn or like the working servant women. This tumultuous way of living really echoed the read and how it makes you uncertain what to expect throughout. I really felt for little Nora. She was just completely ignored and disregarded, but was actually a very intelligent young girl.
The only issue I had with this read was the misleading title. However, the read was brilliant and the final chapters and epilogue positively shocked me. I highly recommend this read! 😍
A huge thank you Random Things Tours, Penguin Random House and Penguin UK Books for my proof copy and place on the Book Tour. 🥰
💬 'Women are not required to be original, my darling. Just agreeable and easy on the eye.' - (Please note this is quoted from the uncorrected proof copy).
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
February 21, 2023
Evocative mystery set in a remote castle in Tuscany. I enjoyed the setting of the castle Tuscany has always been somewhere I've wished to go. Connie leaves London after the death of her husband to become a nurse/companion to William North, but it soon becomes clear he doesn't want her there. His niece is flighty and only interested in her fascist husband, neglecting her daughter along the way. There's a dark brooding atmosphere within the castle and this adds to the mystery.
An enjoyable read
An enjoyable read
March 27, 2023
Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a gripping and atmospherical mystery thriller set in Tuscany in the 1920’s. I’m a massive fan of historical fiction and this read for me was just fabulous. As soon as I started this book I could feel the atmosphere of the place creeping in on me and I was utterly absorbed in the story. A gripping and page turning read with wonderful characters that will engage you right from the very beginning. As mentioned I’ve not read anything by Rachel Rhys before so I’m straight off to purchase her previous books .
A massive 5⭐️ read for me.
A massive 5⭐️ read for me.
April 19, 2023
I read this in the run up to and during a holiday in Tuscany so I was able to have an immersive experience so to speak!
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and I felt the characters were written very well and were believable.
The murder mystery in the story was slow building- I caught on about two thirds in what was going on although I didn’t get it completely right!
I always enjoy an epilogue to tie up loose ends so I was rewarded in book.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and I felt the characters were written very well and were believable.
The murder mystery in the story was slow building- I caught on about two thirds in what was going on although I didn’t get it completely right!
I always enjoy an epilogue to tie up loose ends so I was rewarded in book.
May 7, 2023
I didn't like this book at all. I found it slow and boring. I didn't like any of the characters either. It's not my cup of tea at all. Wish I hadn't bothered to read it.
April 3, 2023
The writing was good. It was descriptive and gave you a well rounded picture of what was going on. There were lots of different ways that the story could have gone and so the ending for me was a surprise!
I enjoyed the time period that it was written in. It's not a time or a country that I have read much about, so it was interesting from that point of view (although I must note here that the story was focused on a character working in another country and so there was only a little political detail).
The chapters were fairly long and detailed which enabled lots of small things to happen. You really got to know the main character, her thoughts and her feelings which I liked.
The characters were excellent. They were all suspicious in their own way with their own unique backstories that gradually came to light.
Lastly the settings. I loved it being in Italy. The description of the scenery was excellent, it made me want to visit again!
Overall a good read.
✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com
I enjoyed the time period that it was written in. It's not a time or a country that I have read much about, so it was interesting from that point of view (although I must note here that the story was focused on a character working in another country and so there was only a little political detail).
The chapters were fairly long and detailed which enabled lots of small things to happen. You really got to know the main character, her thoughts and her feelings which I liked.
The characters were excellent. They were all suspicious in their own way with their own unique backstories that gradually came to light.
Lastly the settings. I loved it being in Italy. The description of the scenery was excellent, it made me want to visit again!
Overall a good read.
✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com
April 1, 2023
Review to follow…
July 5, 2023
Predictable, generic but reasonably engaging. A reasonable holiday read but nothing special. A bit Rebecca, a bit Gaslight and a bit Christie.
April 7, 2023
Having read previous books by Rachel Rhys I was really excited to be part of the blog tour for her new book Murder Under the Tuscan Sun. I have loved her previous books and with her new book set just outside Florence, my favourite place to visit, and in a castle with some wonderful art and the setting of 1927 this was a book I had to read.
What dawned on me as I was reading Murder Under the Tuscan Sun was that it reminded me of an Agatha Christie thriller, both in plot and the characters. There is the older Uncle, rich, an art expert, widowed and currently unwell. Then there is his niece Evelyn, young, beautiful, a social butterfly and newly married to the handsome Roberto. Evelyn’s eight year old daughter, who is awkward and neglected by her mother and Alina, the housekeeper who seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. Into this disfunctional family comes Constance Bowen, employed as a companion to William North, the Uncle. Consance is looking to spread her wings after the death of her husband and daughter but instead of flourishing under the Tuscan sun she seems to loose sight of herself, hearing noises, seeing things and starts to question her own sanity. This wonderful and eclectic cast of characters are not who they first seem.
Rachel Rhys’s writting and storytelling is beguiling. As soon as I started reading I was completely lost in the story, lives of the characters and of course the beautiful Tuscan landscape that I love so much. Whilst life at the castle at first seems quite glamorous and tranquil, with the characters enjoying la dolce vita after the War, Rachel Rhys soon starts to slowly drop in points of darkness that build up so there is an undercurrent of suspense and suspicion; no one is really who they seem, like an old painting as the varnish erodes the truth is revealed. I have a love of Florence and Tuscany and Rachel Rhys made me feel I was there with the characters; the warmth of sun, the lemon trees, the blooming flowers, the beautiful villas and the soft golden light that seems to touch everything in Tuscany. Then there is the castle itself, set in a beautiful landscape, but interestlingly seems more gothic, with it’s turrets and gargoyles than the usual Renaissance architecture, which suits the plot line with it’s darker undercurrent.
You can probably guess that I adored this book. The cast of characters and their back stories was fascinating, seeing them develop and change like the seasons in the book had me questioning who they really were. The setting was stunning and gave me wanderlust for the beautiful city of Florence, the heat and the architecture. There was suspense throughout, strange happenings and the feeling of ‘the other’ in true Agatha Christie style. Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a marvelous mystery with a touch of malevolence and totally magnificent.
What dawned on me as I was reading Murder Under the Tuscan Sun was that it reminded me of an Agatha Christie thriller, both in plot and the characters. There is the older Uncle, rich, an art expert, widowed and currently unwell. Then there is his niece Evelyn, young, beautiful, a social butterfly and newly married to the handsome Roberto. Evelyn’s eight year old daughter, who is awkward and neglected by her mother and Alina, the housekeeper who seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. Into this disfunctional family comes Constance Bowen, employed as a companion to William North, the Uncle. Consance is looking to spread her wings after the death of her husband and daughter but instead of flourishing under the Tuscan sun she seems to loose sight of herself, hearing noises, seeing things and starts to question her own sanity. This wonderful and eclectic cast of characters are not who they first seem.
Rachel Rhys’s writting and storytelling is beguiling. As soon as I started reading I was completely lost in the story, lives of the characters and of course the beautiful Tuscan landscape that I love so much. Whilst life at the castle at first seems quite glamorous and tranquil, with the characters enjoying la dolce vita after the War, Rachel Rhys soon starts to slowly drop in points of darkness that build up so there is an undercurrent of suspense and suspicion; no one is really who they seem, like an old painting as the varnish erodes the truth is revealed. I have a love of Florence and Tuscany and Rachel Rhys made me feel I was there with the characters; the warmth of sun, the lemon trees, the blooming flowers, the beautiful villas and the soft golden light that seems to touch everything in Tuscany. Then there is the castle itself, set in a beautiful landscape, but interestlingly seems more gothic, with it’s turrets and gargoyles than the usual Renaissance architecture, which suits the plot line with it’s darker undercurrent.
You can probably guess that I adored this book. The cast of characters and their back stories was fascinating, seeing them develop and change like the seasons in the book had me questioning who they really were. The setting was stunning and gave me wanderlust for the beautiful city of Florence, the heat and the architecture. There was suspense throughout, strange happenings and the feeling of ‘the other’ in true Agatha Christie style. Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a marvelous mystery with a touch of malevolence and totally magnificent.
March 28, 2023
Poor Constance! Too ‘old and fat’ to be any threat to the ‘ailing gentleman art dealer’, recovering from a bleed to the brain. That’s the view of the selfish, air-head Evelyn, who sees women’s only worth being decorative, forgetting that it takes more than that to be a good ‘companion’ to an intelligent man like William North. A man who disapproves of Mussolini’s black shirts, and Evelyn’s husband Roberto happens to be one of them.
Not that Constance has any designs on her wealthy employer. Though after a year as a widow and many more since she had a proper relationship with her late husband, it’s difficult not to be attracted. Even in illness William is an imposing, handsome figure. But Constance has travelled alone to Italy to be his companion and nothing more.
Evelyn’s eight-year-old daughter Nora from her first marriage is a stick-thin child with a crooked nose. Desperate for her mother to notice her, she soon forms an attachment of sorts to Constance, who has warmed to the child’s intelligence and wit.
I am not usually a reader of historical fiction, but every now and again, a location, a description, a setting or a historical event takes my fancy. Murder Under The Tuscan Sun is one of those. A castle in Tuscany with secrets hidden in its walls, eerie music in the night, ghosts even, but are they real or a figment of Constance’s imagination? Or is it something far more sinister?
Set mainly in 1927, when the ‘bright young things’ were partying between the two world wars, Constance knows she doesn’t fit in. As a widow in her late forties, her life is a daily grind. Her son James can’t believe she’s going to Italy to take up a position in a castle full of strangers, or is he just a little bit jealous?
I loved this book and read it in virtually one sitting. It has everything. Interesting characters, a beautiful setting described in perfect detail, intrigue and a giant dog called Solomon. Wonderful!
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
Not that Constance has any designs on her wealthy employer. Though after a year as a widow and many more since she had a proper relationship with her late husband, it’s difficult not to be attracted. Even in illness William is an imposing, handsome figure. But Constance has travelled alone to Italy to be his companion and nothing more.
Evelyn’s eight-year-old daughter Nora from her first marriage is a stick-thin child with a crooked nose. Desperate for her mother to notice her, she soon forms an attachment of sorts to Constance, who has warmed to the child’s intelligence and wit.
I am not usually a reader of historical fiction, but every now and again, a location, a description, a setting or a historical event takes my fancy. Murder Under The Tuscan Sun is one of those. A castle in Tuscany with secrets hidden in its walls, eerie music in the night, ghosts even, but are they real or a figment of Constance’s imagination? Or is it something far more sinister?
Set mainly in 1927, when the ‘bright young things’ were partying between the two world wars, Constance knows she doesn’t fit in. As a widow in her late forties, her life is a daily grind. Her son James can’t believe she’s going to Italy to take up a position in a castle full of strangers, or is he just a little bit jealous?
I loved this book and read it in virtually one sitting. It has everything. Interesting characters, a beautiful setting described in perfect detail, intrigue and a giant dog called Solomon. Wonderful!
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
March 29, 2023
‘Murder Under The Tuscan Sun’ is an unsettling and engrossing mystery set in 1920’s Tuscany. I devoured this book in a few sittings and it strongly reminded me of the golden age crime from the period. A book about its characters as much as the mystery. It was an evocative read that places the reader deep within the story, you feel as if you can feel the heat of the Tuscan sun and hear the violins! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will definitely be looking out the authors other books as the writing in this one was superb.
Constance Bowen’s husband has recently died and she is feeling unsettled. Her daughter also died 5 years earlier and her relationship with her son isn't on the best terms. So she does something wild and answers an ad in The Lady to be a companion to William North, a stroke victim in Tuscany. When she gets the position she packs up and heads to meet the family. The advert had been placed by his niece Evelyn who is a flighty young woman. She is married to Roberto who is a black shirt, something Constance finds hard to stomach. Evelyn has a daughter Nora, a lonely child from a previous marriage. When Constance meets her charge William is surprised to see his nearer to her age and less ill than she thought he would be.
Constance finds herself in that strange position of not being a servant but not on par with the family who owns this huge castle and her interactions with the family highlight this. Then when strange events cause Constance to begin to question her sanity she starts to question what is going on around her!
This is one of those beautiful slow burn of a story. Its excellent characters and writing make you question everything you are reading. Can Constance really be making these mistakes or will she prove to be an unreliable narrator? I really liked Constance and I hope that I am still having adventures at her age. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as you see quickly drawn into the story and then you never want to leave these characters alone. This was a great read.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
Constance Bowen’s husband has recently died and she is feeling unsettled. Her daughter also died 5 years earlier and her relationship with her son isn't on the best terms. So she does something wild and answers an ad in The Lady to be a companion to William North, a stroke victim in Tuscany. When she gets the position she packs up and heads to meet the family. The advert had been placed by his niece Evelyn who is a flighty young woman. She is married to Roberto who is a black shirt, something Constance finds hard to stomach. Evelyn has a daughter Nora, a lonely child from a previous marriage. When Constance meets her charge William is surprised to see his nearer to her age and less ill than she thought he would be.
Constance finds herself in that strange position of not being a servant but not on par with the family who owns this huge castle and her interactions with the family highlight this. Then when strange events cause Constance to begin to question her sanity she starts to question what is going on around her!
This is one of those beautiful slow burn of a story. Its excellent characters and writing make you question everything you are reading. Can Constance really be making these mistakes or will she prove to be an unreliable narrator? I really liked Constance and I hope that I am still having adventures at her age. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as you see quickly drawn into the story and then you never want to leave these characters alone. This was a great read.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
April 5, 2023
In Murder Under the Tuscan Sun by Rachel Rhys, readers will be transported to the Italian landscape of Tuscany in the 1920s, where the book is set in a grand castle, home to William North, a once powerful man, who has, in recent months, deteriorated due to ill health. This is where we meet Connie who takes up a position in the house as a companion to William, after she has recently been made a widow. Connie is also still grieving the loss of her daughter a few years ago, who died from Tuberculosis.
I loved the landscape of Tuscany that Rachel Rhys describes as Connie settles into her new life in William North’s home, and Rachel Rhys captures the grandeur of the time as well. Although there are simmering tensions in the background with the rise of the new fascist government, and this seeps into every day conversations.
I felt as though I really connected with Connie and I was intrigued to follow her journey. It
was fascinating to watch her relationship with the inhabitants of the castle grow, particularly with William and his niece, Nora. William’s health is failing and it is unclear how long he might have left. It is also clear to see that, at first, he doesn’t welcome Connie being there at all. Nora was a character, who I also felt for, particularly as her mother, Roberto seemed to be far more concerned about Nora’s looks and how they could be improved. I could really sense Nora’s growing attachment to Connie, and I was glad that Connie was there to look out for Nora, whose character really shines in this book.
As the weeks roll on, I could see that Connie was beginning to feel that something not quite right was going on at the castle, and some of the inhabitants clearly showed that they didn’t like her being there. The tension in the castle really begins to pick up when Connie’s son arrives unexpectedly at the castle for a holiday, and he too notices that something strange is going on. This creates tension between him and his mother.
I flew through Murder Under the Tuscan Sun. The story is beautifully written, I really enjoyed it.
I loved the landscape of Tuscany that Rachel Rhys describes as Connie settles into her new life in William North’s home, and Rachel Rhys captures the grandeur of the time as well. Although there are simmering tensions in the background with the rise of the new fascist government, and this seeps into every day conversations.
I felt as though I really connected with Connie and I was intrigued to follow her journey. It
was fascinating to watch her relationship with the inhabitants of the castle grow, particularly with William and his niece, Nora. William’s health is failing and it is unclear how long he might have left. It is also clear to see that, at first, he doesn’t welcome Connie being there at all. Nora was a character, who I also felt for, particularly as her mother, Roberto seemed to be far more concerned about Nora’s looks and how they could be improved. I could really sense Nora’s growing attachment to Connie, and I was glad that Connie was there to look out for Nora, whose character really shines in this book.
As the weeks roll on, I could see that Connie was beginning to feel that something not quite right was going on at the castle, and some of the inhabitants clearly showed that they didn’t like her being there. The tension in the castle really begins to pick up when Connie’s son arrives unexpectedly at the castle for a holiday, and he too notices that something strange is going on. This creates tension between him and his mother.
I flew through Murder Under the Tuscan Sun. The story is beautifully written, I really enjoyed it.
February 16, 2023
This is a hugely atmospheric mystery set in the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. Recently widowed Constance Bowen takes the plunge to escape her drab lifestyle in London by taking the job as the carer/companion to William North who has suffered a brain haemorrhage. William lives in a castle near Florence with his niece Evelyn, her husband and daughter and at first Constance is entranced by the castle, its inhabitants and the glorious Italian sunshine. However, she soon begins to feel uneasy and realise that not everything is quite as it should be.
The author does a brilliant job of creating a haunting atmosphere where neither Constance nor the reader are sure what is happening and who is behind it. Evelyn and Roberto seem welcoming but are completely wrapped up in each other leaving Evelyn’s daughter Nora to occupy herself for most of the time. William was making good progress after his illness but then mysteriously begins to worsen and Constance appears to be responsible for this.
I loved the depiction of Constance. Her confusion as the events of the castle unfolded and she began to doubt her actions and memories felt very real. I also loved the relationship between her and her son James as they began to understand each other and regain their closeness. I also enjoyed the fact that the main character was an older woman who was not obviously attractive.
The setting of the story both in place and time was brilliantly done. The Italian sunshine and countryside are both beautiful but the intense heat can also be oppressive and add to the dark atmosphere in the castle. The growing strength of fascism in Italy at that time also adds to the uneasiness that lays over everything.
This was a gripping read and I’m really grateful to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC.
The author does a brilliant job of creating a haunting atmosphere where neither Constance nor the reader are sure what is happening and who is behind it. Evelyn and Roberto seem welcoming but are completely wrapped up in each other leaving Evelyn’s daughter Nora to occupy herself for most of the time. William was making good progress after his illness but then mysteriously begins to worsen and Constance appears to be responsible for this.
I loved the depiction of Constance. Her confusion as the events of the castle unfolded and she began to doubt her actions and memories felt very real. I also loved the relationship between her and her son James as they began to understand each other and regain their closeness. I also enjoyed the fact that the main character was an older woman who was not obviously attractive.
The setting of the story both in place and time was brilliantly done. The Italian sunshine and countryside are both beautiful but the intense heat can also be oppressive and add to the dark atmosphere in the castle. The growing strength of fascism in Italy at that time also adds to the uneasiness that lays over everything.
This was a gripping read and I’m really grateful to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC.
November 30, 2022
Murder Under the Tuscan Sun by Rachel Rhys
This is the story of Constance who is feeling alone in the world following the death of her daughter and her husband. She decides, against the wishes of her son James, to take up the post of caring for a man in Florence who has suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. She arrives in Florence to discover that she is to live in a huge castle and that her charge is an irascible man called William. She also shares the castle with Evelyn (William’s niece) Roberto (her Fascist husband) and her daughter Nora.
All is not well at the castle and Constance’s sleep is disturbed by the sound of a violin playing and a child crying. The atmosphere in the castle is beautifully evoked and the difficulty of living under the fear of the Fascists is potent. There are beautiful descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and we become involved with the plight of Constance trapped amongst these self-obsessed, privileged and thoughtless people. The plight of poor Nora, who is largely ignored by her mother, is beautifully evoked. It is a genuinely unsettling read but grips you to the end. I will be recommending it to my various book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.
This is the story of Constance who is feeling alone in the world following the death of her daughter and her husband. She decides, against the wishes of her son James, to take up the post of caring for a man in Florence who has suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. She arrives in Florence to discover that she is to live in a huge castle and that her charge is an irascible man called William. She also shares the castle with Evelyn (William’s niece) Roberto (her Fascist husband) and her daughter Nora.
All is not well at the castle and Constance’s sleep is disturbed by the sound of a violin playing and a child crying. The atmosphere in the castle is beautifully evoked and the difficulty of living under the fear of the Fascists is potent. There are beautiful descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and we become involved with the plight of Constance trapped amongst these self-obsessed, privileged and thoughtless people. The plight of poor Nora, who is largely ignored by her mother, is beautifully evoked. It is a genuinely unsettling read but grips you to the end. I will be recommending it to my various book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.
April 13, 2023
Despairing at the mundanity of her life in Pinner, widow Connie answers an advertisement for a companion to gentleman in Italy. Her son disapproves but Connie travels to Tuscany to work for a rich art dealer who has recently had a stroke. At the castle are the glamorous niece and her husband, a younger Fascist sympathiser, along with a less glamorous, neglected daughter and loyal family staff. Haunted by tales of a ghost in the castle, Connie finds her professional efforts questioned as her charge deteriorates in condition. Is she losing it, or are there more sinister goings on?
I do like Rhys as a writer, she manages to produce period pieces that not pastiches but also true to the period. Here there is a real Agatha Christie vibe with the psychological plotline alongside the 1927 setting. The plot isn't that great and the ending is far too romantic but it's a solid read.
I do like Rhys as a writer, she manages to produce period pieces that not pastiches but also true to the period. Here there is a real Agatha Christie vibe with the psychological plotline alongside the 1927 setting. The plot isn't that great and the ending is far too romantic but it's a solid read.
March 25, 2023
Reading a Rachel Rhys book always means being transported to another time and place; her stories are such a treat and despite some strong competition, I think Murder Under the Tuscan Sun might just be my favourite to date.
While most of the novel is set in 1927, the prologue takes place in 1946 and finds an older Constance making an emotional return to somewhere clearly teeming with memories for her. It's notable too that this scene is set shortly after the Second World War and the main storyline examines lives irrevocably affected by the First World War – and with the shadow of fascism and all the horrors to follow looming over everything. Rachel Rhys conjures up a time of immense change and yet still captures the timeless beauty of Tuscany, and particularly Florence.
The younger Connie of 1927 is actually a middle-aged woman who has experienced the worst life can throw at a person. She is widowed with an adult son and is still grieving a tragic loss which turned her world upside down. It becomes evident that she was once the sort of person who rallied for change and had taken part in suffrage marches, but at nearly fifty, she seems to have almost stagnated and so it's perhaps not surprising that her son, James should be incredulous about her accepting a position as a companion for an invalided Englishman living in a castle near Florence. However, while he worries about what people might think of his mother taking up paid employment, it's clear to see that Connie feels unfulfilled and stultified by her life in Pinner.
Even at this early stage in the novel, I was drawn to Connie and intrigued to know more about her. During the course of the book she discovers what she is capable of and although this is a gripping – and rather creepy mystery – it is also a compelling character portrait. The other characters are just as vividly brought to life and perfectly evoke the period between the wars when the socialites of the age competed to host the wildest, most flamboyant parties. There is a sense of change in the air too, however, perhaps most chillingly personified by the apparently charming Roberto, who is in fact, a Fascist blackshirt. Roberto and his wife, Evelyn brashly welcome Connie to their castle but the same can't be said for the man she has been engaged to take care of. Despite his difficulties communicating, William North makes his feelings clear and it's to the author's credit that a man who was evidently once a powerful, influential figure remains a force to be reckoned with in spite of his diminished state, and became a character I was able to empathise with following an inauspicious introduction. A number of other characters fill the book with light and shade but it wouldn't be fair not to single out Evelyn's young daughter, Nora. There are a number of scenes which made my heart ache for this little girl but for all her suffering, there's a story attached to the castle about another young girl which is too horrific to even contemplate.
The building's dark history and fevered present is the perfect location for a mystery redolent of the Golden Age. The sense of place goes beyond just Connie's adopted home, however, and the area is brought so evocatively to life, I could almost smell the herbs and flowers of the Tuscan countryside. The contrast between the increasingly unsettling events which occur here and the stunning location is beautifully realised throughout and I couldn't tear my eyes from the page.
Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a suspenseful, perceptive and haunting read – historical fiction at its absolute finest. I thought it was wonderful and can't recommend it highly enough.
While most of the novel is set in 1927, the prologue takes place in 1946 and finds an older Constance making an emotional return to somewhere clearly teeming with memories for her. It's notable too that this scene is set shortly after the Second World War and the main storyline examines lives irrevocably affected by the First World War – and with the shadow of fascism and all the horrors to follow looming over everything. Rachel Rhys conjures up a time of immense change and yet still captures the timeless beauty of Tuscany, and particularly Florence.
The younger Connie of 1927 is actually a middle-aged woman who has experienced the worst life can throw at a person. She is widowed with an adult son and is still grieving a tragic loss which turned her world upside down. It becomes evident that she was once the sort of person who rallied for change and had taken part in suffrage marches, but at nearly fifty, she seems to have almost stagnated and so it's perhaps not surprising that her son, James should be incredulous about her accepting a position as a companion for an invalided Englishman living in a castle near Florence. However, while he worries about what people might think of his mother taking up paid employment, it's clear to see that Connie feels unfulfilled and stultified by her life in Pinner.
Even at this early stage in the novel, I was drawn to Connie and intrigued to know more about her. During the course of the book she discovers what she is capable of and although this is a gripping – and rather creepy mystery – it is also a compelling character portrait. The other characters are just as vividly brought to life and perfectly evoke the period between the wars when the socialites of the age competed to host the wildest, most flamboyant parties. There is a sense of change in the air too, however, perhaps most chillingly personified by the apparently charming Roberto, who is in fact, a Fascist blackshirt. Roberto and his wife, Evelyn brashly welcome Connie to their castle but the same can't be said for the man she has been engaged to take care of. Despite his difficulties communicating, William North makes his feelings clear and it's to the author's credit that a man who was evidently once a powerful, influential figure remains a force to be reckoned with in spite of his diminished state, and became a character I was able to empathise with following an inauspicious introduction. A number of other characters fill the book with light and shade but it wouldn't be fair not to single out Evelyn's young daughter, Nora. There are a number of scenes which made my heart ache for this little girl but for all her suffering, there's a story attached to the castle about another young girl which is too horrific to even contemplate.
The building's dark history and fevered present is the perfect location for a mystery redolent of the Golden Age. The sense of place goes beyond just Connie's adopted home, however, and the area is brought so evocatively to life, I could almost smell the herbs and flowers of the Tuscan countryside. The contrast between the increasingly unsettling events which occur here and the stunning location is beautifully realised throughout and I couldn't tear my eyes from the page.
Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a suspenseful, perceptive and haunting read – historical fiction at its absolute finest. I thought it was wonderful and can't recommend it highly enough.
March 27, 2023
This novel would be an ideal summer read, not one for the beach or around the pool, but rather one to be read in the shade in a lush garden or park with a long cool drink. Its an immersive book, one that is low on action and incident but draws the reader in with intrigue and its setting. It’s a slow read, in a way mimicking the lifestyle of the Tuscan hills where life is unhurried and travels at its natural pace, where time is taken to observe and experience what is happening around you. What makes this truly remarkable is that the novel was written during the Covid lockdown but not actually in Tuscany.
The storyline is split, starting with an introduction set in spring 1946, where we are introduced to a castle broken by war and then a continuation in the epilogue. The heart of the novel though is set in the spring and summer of 1927, with Europe still reeling from a war that ended only nine years ago, a Britain that had just the previous year had a general strike and an Italy dividend between those with communist sympathies and a rising Black shirts fascist movement. A world where change is all around which proves central to the plot.
The principal character is Constance Bowen and the story is told from her perspective. In 1927 people were probably not indulged with what we would now regard as a mid-life crisis, this being a time of knuckle down and get on with it. Constance is troubled though and feeling unsettled. Now a widow, her daughter succumbed to tuberculosis and her son increasingly distant she is feeling suffocated in her house in Pinner. She wants new experiences while she still has the time. Opportunity arises when she sees a job posting for a companion to Mr William North, a celebrated art expert and dealer, who has suffered a brain haemorrhage and whose recovery is expected to be slow. Whilst dealing with his daily needs, his correspondence and reading to him might not seem too appealing, he does live in a castle in Tuscany, which should enrich her time there. Ignoring the protestations of her son James she accepts the job and sets out on an adventure.
The first weeks are promising as Constance settles in, is accepted as being valuable to the family by Evelyn (William’s niece) and husband Roberto, and William’s condition starts to improve. However, this idyllic start doesn’t last long though. After a party William starts to deteriorate rapidly, it transpires Roberto is a senior Black shirt and Evelyn increasingly treats daughter Nora with distain. Constance is troubled by night-time disturbances, woken by strange noises she cannot trace, a violin playing and a child crying. This is the start of a downward spiral where Constance begins to doubt her sanity and Evelyn puts her under increasing pressure.
The central portion of the novel builds up the suspense as Constance is wracked with self-doubt but this is interleaved with rich descriptions of life in the Tuscan countryside, together with the opulent and slightly decadent parties of the rich. Elements of the supernatural add to the psychological pressure and in the background, there is a legend of gothic horror which could come straight from straight from Edgar Allan Poe. All the while there is a sense that something is not quite right, that there’s something more happening in the background, not quite tangible but real enough. The unwind to the reveal is rapid and you may get a step or two ahead but there are still surprises in store. Ultimately though, this remains very much an historical drama rather than a true thriller.
The storyline is split, starting with an introduction set in spring 1946, where we are introduced to a castle broken by war and then a continuation in the epilogue. The heart of the novel though is set in the spring and summer of 1927, with Europe still reeling from a war that ended only nine years ago, a Britain that had just the previous year had a general strike and an Italy dividend between those with communist sympathies and a rising Black shirts fascist movement. A world where change is all around which proves central to the plot.
The principal character is Constance Bowen and the story is told from her perspective. In 1927 people were probably not indulged with what we would now regard as a mid-life crisis, this being a time of knuckle down and get on with it. Constance is troubled though and feeling unsettled. Now a widow, her daughter succumbed to tuberculosis and her son increasingly distant she is feeling suffocated in her house in Pinner. She wants new experiences while she still has the time. Opportunity arises when she sees a job posting for a companion to Mr William North, a celebrated art expert and dealer, who has suffered a brain haemorrhage and whose recovery is expected to be slow. Whilst dealing with his daily needs, his correspondence and reading to him might not seem too appealing, he does live in a castle in Tuscany, which should enrich her time there. Ignoring the protestations of her son James she accepts the job and sets out on an adventure.
The first weeks are promising as Constance settles in, is accepted as being valuable to the family by Evelyn (William’s niece) and husband Roberto, and William’s condition starts to improve. However, this idyllic start doesn’t last long though. After a party William starts to deteriorate rapidly, it transpires Roberto is a senior Black shirt and Evelyn increasingly treats daughter Nora with distain. Constance is troubled by night-time disturbances, woken by strange noises she cannot trace, a violin playing and a child crying. This is the start of a downward spiral where Constance begins to doubt her sanity and Evelyn puts her under increasing pressure.
The central portion of the novel builds up the suspense as Constance is wracked with self-doubt but this is interleaved with rich descriptions of life in the Tuscan countryside, together with the opulent and slightly decadent parties of the rich. Elements of the supernatural add to the psychological pressure and in the background, there is a legend of gothic horror which could come straight from straight from Edgar Allan Poe. All the while there is a sense that something is not quite right, that there’s something more happening in the background, not quite tangible but real enough. The unwind to the reveal is rapid and you may get a step or two ahead but there are still surprises in store. Ultimately though, this remains very much an historical drama rather than a true thriller.
March 28, 2023
Rachel Rhys has written a beautifully described mystery set in Tuscany in the 1920’s. So beautifully described that you can feel the Tuscan heat on your shoulders and imagine yourself in the castle in which the action takes place.
Written as a first person narrative, the story is told by Constance Bowen, a woman whose husband has recently died. A woman with nursing experience during the war, and with suffragette sympathies, Constance’s marriage was not a loving one and the loss of her daughter, leaving her with only her son James, now in his early 20’s, has left her looking for something to do with her life.
On a spur of the moment decision, she answers an advertisement in The Lady to be a companion to William North, a stroke victim in Tuscany. The ad has been placed by North’s niece, Evelyn who together with her husband, Roberto, live in and have charge of the castle.
To Constance’s surprise she is offered the role and plucking up her courage, she determines a change will be good for her and accepts.
When she gets there, she finds that not everything is as she had imagined. Evelyn seems to be a flighty young woman whose approach to her young child Nora is one of careless regret. Evelyn is married to the darkly handsome Roberto who is rather closer to the blackshirt movement than Evelyn is comfortable with. Meeting her charge, William is another surprise, for although he has had a cerebral haemorrhage which has affected both his speech and his movement, North is rather younger than she had anticipated.
From the outset, the welcome she receives and the interactions with the castle’s occupants are deeply unsettling. Things happen which cannot be explained and Constance finds that though she knows perfectly well that she is competent, nevertheless she begins to lose any confidence she has as strange occurrences, disappearances and odd happenings all seem to undermine her judgement.
Evelyn is mercurial; at one moment all smiles and happiness, lavishing affection on Constance and at another, questioning everything Constance does. William is a taciturn charge who puts up with her ministering to him but seems wary of everyone around him.
Rhys creates a vivid set of characters in and around this castle with some pretty loathsome characters, some pretty gruesome expat behaviour and a decidedly off kilter existence that overshadows everything that happens in this Tuscan idyll. It’s not just the blackshirts that are causing a shadow.
The writing is briskly paced and she really does do the unsettling elements very well indeed. So much so that you begin to question Constance’s reliability as a narrator when she cannot seem to remember whether she has been following instructions as they were given or not.
Verdict: An easy, flowing narrative quickly gets the reader into the central plot and the mystery and intrigue all build up to a crescendo where you begin to wonder who is innocent and who, is anyone, is responsible for some life threatening moments. Hugely enjoyable, suspenseful and very much embedded in the life and times of the period, this is a great read and one that I’d recommend for excellent holiday reading.
Written as a first person narrative, the story is told by Constance Bowen, a woman whose husband has recently died. A woman with nursing experience during the war, and with suffragette sympathies, Constance’s marriage was not a loving one and the loss of her daughter, leaving her with only her son James, now in his early 20’s, has left her looking for something to do with her life.
On a spur of the moment decision, she answers an advertisement in The Lady to be a companion to William North, a stroke victim in Tuscany. The ad has been placed by North’s niece, Evelyn who together with her husband, Roberto, live in and have charge of the castle.
To Constance’s surprise she is offered the role and plucking up her courage, she determines a change will be good for her and accepts.
When she gets there, she finds that not everything is as she had imagined. Evelyn seems to be a flighty young woman whose approach to her young child Nora is one of careless regret. Evelyn is married to the darkly handsome Roberto who is rather closer to the blackshirt movement than Evelyn is comfortable with. Meeting her charge, William is another surprise, for although he has had a cerebral haemorrhage which has affected both his speech and his movement, North is rather younger than she had anticipated.
From the outset, the welcome she receives and the interactions with the castle’s occupants are deeply unsettling. Things happen which cannot be explained and Constance finds that though she knows perfectly well that she is competent, nevertheless she begins to lose any confidence she has as strange occurrences, disappearances and odd happenings all seem to undermine her judgement.
Evelyn is mercurial; at one moment all smiles and happiness, lavishing affection on Constance and at another, questioning everything Constance does. William is a taciturn charge who puts up with her ministering to him but seems wary of everyone around him.
Rhys creates a vivid set of characters in and around this castle with some pretty loathsome characters, some pretty gruesome expat behaviour and a decidedly off kilter existence that overshadows everything that happens in this Tuscan idyll. It’s not just the blackshirts that are causing a shadow.
The writing is briskly paced and she really does do the unsettling elements very well indeed. So much so that you begin to question Constance’s reliability as a narrator when she cannot seem to remember whether she has been following instructions as they were given or not.
Verdict: An easy, flowing narrative quickly gets the reader into the central plot and the mystery and intrigue all build up to a crescendo where you begin to wonder who is innocent and who, is anyone, is responsible for some life threatening moments. Hugely enjoyable, suspenseful and very much embedded in the life and times of the period, this is a great read and one that I’d recommend for excellent holiday reading.
October 9, 2023
Against her son’s wishes, widow Constance Bowen travels to Tuscany to take a job as companion to an ill English gentleman in the Castello di Roccia Nera just outside Florence. ‘Murder Under the Tuscan Sun’ by Rachel Rhys is set in an exquisitely beautiful place and the change of scenery is exactly what Constance believes she needs. It is very different from Pinner.
Carrying with her a double grief – for her husband, dead a year, and daughter Millie, five years earlier – Constance is wracked with nerves and doubt. Her patient, stroke-sufferer William North, proves irascible and sparing in his conversation. Constance has been employed by William’s niece, Evelyn Manetti. A flighty beautiful creature devoted to her Italian-American husband Roberto, Evelyn seems less enchanted with Nora, her daughter with her first husband.
The setting is voluptuous and it’s easy to fall for the delights of this Tuscan summer, as Constance quickly does. But all is not happy in this beautiful place and there are occasional unkindnesses and cruelty that make it uncomfortable. It is 1927 and fascism is rising. The castle is said to be haunted by a young girl, a talented violinist, denounced as a witch and bricked up alive in the castle walls.
The community of locals and ex-pats is populated with a collection of likeable and objectionable characters. When spooky things start to happen – mysterious music at night, the vision of a disappearing child dressed in white – which only Constance witnesses, I wanted to shout ‘leave now.’ The story is told in its entirety from Constance’s point of view. Her confusion at what she sees and experiences, and her inability or unwillingness to challenge anyone, becomes repetitive until her son James arrives and asks difficult questions of his mother.
So the title is misleading, this is not a thriller, not a crime novel. More a mystery suspense story in the vein of Mary Stewart or Daphne du Maurier. A strong sense of unease permeates the castle, something is not quite right – is Constance ill, vulnerable, suffering from exhaustion, or is there evil at work.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
Carrying with her a double grief – for her husband, dead a year, and daughter Millie, five years earlier – Constance is wracked with nerves and doubt. Her patient, stroke-sufferer William North, proves irascible and sparing in his conversation. Constance has been employed by William’s niece, Evelyn Manetti. A flighty beautiful creature devoted to her Italian-American husband Roberto, Evelyn seems less enchanted with Nora, her daughter with her first husband.
The setting is voluptuous and it’s easy to fall for the delights of this Tuscan summer, as Constance quickly does. But all is not happy in this beautiful place and there are occasional unkindnesses and cruelty that make it uncomfortable. It is 1927 and fascism is rising. The castle is said to be haunted by a young girl, a talented violinist, denounced as a witch and bricked up alive in the castle walls.
The community of locals and ex-pats is populated with a collection of likeable and objectionable characters. When spooky things start to happen – mysterious music at night, the vision of a disappearing child dressed in white – which only Constance witnesses, I wanted to shout ‘leave now.’ The story is told in its entirety from Constance’s point of view. Her confusion at what she sees and experiences, and her inability or unwillingness to challenge anyone, becomes repetitive until her son James arrives and asks difficult questions of his mother.
So the title is misleading, this is not a thriller, not a crime novel. More a mystery suspense story in the vein of Mary Stewart or Daphne du Maurier. A strong sense of unease permeates the castle, something is not quite right – is Constance ill, vulnerable, suffering from exhaustion, or is there evil at work.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
March 31, 2023
In the prologue to Murder Under the Tuscan Sun, Connie Booth returns to Castello di Rocca Nera in spring 1946. She hardly notices the traces of German occupation because she is so distracted by her memories. Chapter 1 takes the reader to March 1927 in Pinner, England, where widowed Connie has suffered years of loss and grief. When she notices an advertisement for an ‘invalid’s companion’ in an English household near Florence, she applies ‘on a whim’.
Rachel Rhys has created a powerful and nuanced character in Connie. She is forty-nine years old, a tall, strong suffragette with nursing experience gained during WW1. It takes time for her to settle into being a paid servant. William North, the art expert she is employed to watch over while he recovers from a cerebral haemorrhage, is younger than she expected. The friendship of his charming niece Evelyn is unreliable, and Evelyn’s handsome husband Roberto is an unsettling influence. Gradually Connie becomes accustomed to their ways, while the warm sunshine and the lush landscape of Tuscany revive her spirit and reawaken her latent sexuality.
There is a dark side to life at the Castello. Evelyn’s neglect of her young daughter Nora horrifies Connie. Women and girls accused of witchcraft were murdered at a nearby beauty spot, so when she hears unearthly music in the dead of night she fears supernatural influences. When William’s recovery goes into reverse, Connie begins to doubt herself. Has she suffered lapses of memory? Will she be accused of trying to murder the man she has learned to care for?
This is the first Rachel Rhys novel I have read. I enjoyed it every bit as much as the psychological thrillers she wrote as Tammy Cohen. Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is exciting and suspenseful, with a well researched historical background and some fine travel writing. I was given a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
Rachel Rhys has created a powerful and nuanced character in Connie. She is forty-nine years old, a tall, strong suffragette with nursing experience gained during WW1. It takes time for her to settle into being a paid servant. William North, the art expert she is employed to watch over while he recovers from a cerebral haemorrhage, is younger than she expected. The friendship of his charming niece Evelyn is unreliable, and Evelyn’s handsome husband Roberto is an unsettling influence. Gradually Connie becomes accustomed to their ways, while the warm sunshine and the lush landscape of Tuscany revive her spirit and reawaken her latent sexuality.
There is a dark side to life at the Castello. Evelyn’s neglect of her young daughter Nora horrifies Connie. Women and girls accused of witchcraft were murdered at a nearby beauty spot, so when she hears unearthly music in the dead of night she fears supernatural influences. When William’s recovery goes into reverse, Connie begins to doubt herself. Has she suffered lapses of memory? Will she be accused of trying to murder the man she has learned to care for?
This is the first Rachel Rhys novel I have read. I enjoyed it every bit as much as the psychological thrillers she wrote as Tammy Cohen. Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is exciting and suspenseful, with a well researched historical background and some fine travel writing. I was given a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.
November 24, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy of Murder Under the Tuscan Sun, a stand-alone thriller mostly set in Tuscany in 1927.
Recently widowed Constance Bowen is looking for a change and applies for a job as a companion to a stroke victim, William North, in his castle in Tuscany. To her surprise and her son’s dismay she is offered the job, but the household she joins is not happy. William is not getting better, his niece is a social butterfly with a short attention span, who neglects her daughter and her husband is a fascist. Then there’s the nocturnal music and crying.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Under the Tuscan Sun, which tells a compelling story of life in an unsettling household. It is told from Connie’s point of view so all the events are viewed from her perspective. This is good as the reader gets to understand her mindset as she gets more and more unsure of her own mental state, the way her confidence starts to falter and the creeping sense of dread and fear that slowly overcome her. It is a genuinely unsettling read as her narrative offers no explanations for all the strange events until the denouement. It is cleverly done. The reader can take a more objective view of events and perhaps guess some of it, but probably not the full, glorious plot behind it all.
It is not a difficult read, but it is very well done, be it the descriptions of the landscape and weather or the odd events that keep happening, with great pacing and the mounting sense of something amiss. It held my attention from start to finish.
Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Recently widowed Constance Bowen is looking for a change and applies for a job as a companion to a stroke victim, William North, in his castle in Tuscany. To her surprise and her son’s dismay she is offered the job, but the household she joins is not happy. William is not getting better, his niece is a social butterfly with a short attention span, who neglects her daughter and her husband is a fascist. Then there’s the nocturnal music and crying.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Under the Tuscan Sun, which tells a compelling story of life in an unsettling household. It is told from Connie’s point of view so all the events are viewed from her perspective. This is good as the reader gets to understand her mindset as she gets more and more unsure of her own mental state, the way her confidence starts to falter and the creeping sense of dread and fear that slowly overcome her. It is a genuinely unsettling read as her narrative offers no explanations for all the strange events until the denouement. It is cleverly done. The reader can take a more objective view of events and perhaps guess some of it, but probably not the full, glorious plot behind it all.
It is not a difficult read, but it is very well done, be it the descriptions of the landscape and weather or the odd events that keep happening, with great pacing and the mounting sense of something amiss. It held my attention from start to finish.
Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 24, 2023
Brief synopsis from the book cover:
An isolated castle, a deadly crime. Is this real or nightmare?
In a remove castle high up in the Tuscan hills secrets are simmering among its glamorous English residents:
The ailing gentleman art-dealer
His dazzling niece
Her handsome Fascist husband
Their neglected young daughter
The housekeeper who knows everything
and Connie, the English widow working for them.
Every night, Connie hears sinister noises and a terrible wailing inside the walls. Is she losing her grip on reality?
Or does someone in the castle want her gone?
My rating:
Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Recommended for readers of:
Mystery and Thriller
Review:
This is an interesting story with a haunted feel to it. , The writing is very evocative and the plot has plenty of suspense and mystery. Something is amiss but like the main character you can’t quite put your finger on what is really going on or who can be trusted. As time passes you start to wonder whether events are real or if your mind is just playing tricks on you.
Overall:
A will written book with a well developed plot with plenty of mystery and suspense. Set in a remote castle with a strange atmosphere in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The characters are interesting and well developed but all have their secrets. The story flows well and slowly unfolds and keeps you guessing till the end.
Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.
An isolated castle, a deadly crime. Is this real or nightmare?
In a remove castle high up in the Tuscan hills secrets are simmering among its glamorous English residents:
The ailing gentleman art-dealer
His dazzling niece
Her handsome Fascist husband
Their neglected young daughter
The housekeeper who knows everything
and Connie, the English widow working for them.
Every night, Connie hears sinister noises and a terrible wailing inside the walls. Is she losing her grip on reality?
Or does someone in the castle want her gone?
My rating:
Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Recommended for readers of:
Mystery and Thriller
Review:
This is an interesting story with a haunted feel to it. , The writing is very evocative and the plot has plenty of suspense and mystery. Something is amiss but like the main character you can’t quite put your finger on what is really going on or who can be trusted. As time passes you start to wonder whether events are real or if your mind is just playing tricks on you.
Overall:
A will written book with a well developed plot with plenty of mystery and suspense. Set in a remote castle with a strange atmosphere in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The characters are interesting and well developed but all have their secrets. The story flows well and slowly unfolds and keeps you guessing till the end.
Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.
April 4, 2023
Historical fiction is something I’ve only fairly recently started enjoying and this was a good one as I found myself drawn into the plot chapter by chapter. The Tuscan settings are beautifully described, I love Florence and it took me right back there, as are the local folk stories about witches. Quite a slow burner, this is mainly set in 1927 when the Fascist government ruled Italy. But we first visit the castle with an unknown character in 1946, after German occupation has left it in a dreadful state.
Briefly, Constance ‘Connie’ Bowen is living in Pinner with her son James. Her husband and daughter have recently died. She has answered an ad, and been accepted, as a companion for an invalid near Florence. He is William North, a wealthy art collector who has suffered a stroke and is living in a grand castle along with his niece Evelyn Manetti, her 2nd husband Roberto and daughter Nora. But William is not recovering as expected, Evelyn is acting strangely and Connie is accused of stealing and is becoming confused.
This is an immersive and quite brooding book with a cast of characters most of whom have a dark side. Well written with deep, interesting characters and a complex plot and parties: and the parties thrown by the Manettis are so weird! Although the broad outline of the plot was in evidence fairly early on the story had nuances that kept me engrossed throughout as the story came to a shocking climax. Enjoyable historical drama.
Briefly, Constance ‘Connie’ Bowen is living in Pinner with her son James. Her husband and daughter have recently died. She has answered an ad, and been accepted, as a companion for an invalid near Florence. He is William North, a wealthy art collector who has suffered a stroke and is living in a grand castle along with his niece Evelyn Manetti, her 2nd husband Roberto and daughter Nora. But William is not recovering as expected, Evelyn is acting strangely and Connie is accused of stealing and is becoming confused.
This is an immersive and quite brooding book with a cast of characters most of whom have a dark side. Well written with deep, interesting characters and a complex plot and parties: and the parties thrown by the Manettis are so weird! Although the broad outline of the plot was in evidence fairly early on the story had nuances that kept me engrossed throughout as the story came to a shocking climax. Enjoyable historical drama.
September 10, 2023
I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did! The plot is ominous to the extreme. We have a well-adjusted English mother/widow chaffing at her lack of activity who takes up a job in a remote Italian castle as a nursemaid/companion.
The book is set in 1927, with the growth of Fascism in Italy. When Connie gets to the castle, she finds an odd setup. The niece of the ailing man by marriage is the one who is in charge of the daily running of the household. She is charming, as is her chauvinist husband (when he wants to be). There is a neglected young girl wandering the castle, and the housekeeper has her own history with the place. Amidst all this, Connie is trying to build a new life. She keeps having a see-saw of highs and lows with regard to how she feels about everything around her.
This is where I hit a roadblock in liking the book. The number of times she has similar interactions with the people around her, and then she goes and forgets/forgives them, only for them to repeat their behaviour got a little repetitive after a time.
It is also easy to see where the story was headed, although the writing makes one rethink the certainties. The author has a very distinct style of setting the scene, and this helped me read the book all the way to the end. I have read other books by the author that I have enjoyed more than this one, and I would continue to recommend the author to fans of the historical fiction genre.
This particular story did not draw me in, and I was not as invested in the overall outcome as I had hoped to be towards the end. I think I am also harder in my reaction to this book than a few others of similar themes because I have previously really liked some of the author's works.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
The book is set in 1927, with the growth of Fascism in Italy. When Connie gets to the castle, she finds an odd setup. The niece of the ailing man by marriage is the one who is in charge of the daily running of the household. She is charming, as is her chauvinist husband (when he wants to be). There is a neglected young girl wandering the castle, and the housekeeper has her own history with the place. Amidst all this, Connie is trying to build a new life. She keeps having a see-saw of highs and lows with regard to how she feels about everything around her.
This is where I hit a roadblock in liking the book. The number of times she has similar interactions with the people around her, and then she goes and forgets/forgives them, only for them to repeat their behaviour got a little repetitive after a time.
It is also easy to see where the story was headed, although the writing makes one rethink the certainties. The author has a very distinct style of setting the scene, and this helped me read the book all the way to the end. I have read other books by the author that I have enjoyed more than this one, and I would continue to recommend the author to fans of the historical fiction genre.
This particular story did not draw me in, and I was not as invested in the overall outcome as I had hoped to be towards the end. I think I am also harder in my reaction to this book than a few others of similar themes because I have previously really liked some of the author's works.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
March 27, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this mysterious thriller. Not quite the Murder expected in the title but a rich complex story with interesting characters not least the older woman Constance who following the death of her husband and daughter decides to take a job near Florence looking after William North a not so old invalid. The castle is deliciously creepy with noises in the night, ghosts and strange goings on along with a not so dippy spoilt Evelyn and her Fascist husband Roberto who seem intent on spending all of William's money. Constance is enjoying looking after William and Nora Evelyn's lonely young daughter but as William's health starts to get decidedly worse and the strange things happening take a more sinister turn Constance starts to get suspicious about whatever is going on.
I have not read any Rachel Rhys novels before but will definitely do so as I found this easy to get into and one I did not want to put down. the characters were were interesting each adding a richness to the story and the descriptions of Tuscany were just right to recapture holidays spent in the Italian landscape. Well done loved it.
I have not read any Rachel Rhys novels before but will definitely do so as I found this easy to get into and one I did not want to put down. the characters were were interesting each adding a richness to the story and the descriptions of Tuscany were just right to recapture holidays spent in the Italian landscape. Well done loved it.
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