The Lost Daughter of Venice by Charlotte Betts
Come to Venice. Please, Phoebe, do not fail me.
Venice, 1919
Seventeen years ago, the grand Venetian Palazzo degli Angeli was Phoebe Wyndham's home; now, the neglected walls of the palazzo are just a haunting reminder of all she has lost.
Arriving back in Italy after a plea from her estranged relative, the Contessa di Sebastiano, the recently widowed Phoebe is shocked to discover her aunt is dead and the palazzo now belongs to her.
All she wants to do is sell the property and return home. However, when a dark family secret is exposed, the shocking deception rocks Phoebe to her very core, and she vows not to leave the City of Water without first unravelling the truth from the lies.
As Phoebe searches for answers, she finds herself growing closer to two very different men. But, when her camera catches something more sinister than the faded grandeur of Venice, Phoebe begins to question who she can really trust and whether her aunt's death was truly an accident after all . . .
Book page: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/charlotte-betts/the-lost-daughter-of-venice/9780349432717/
My Review:
A good historical fiction set in Venice after the WWI, a compelling story that mixes family saga, secrets, miscommunications, old and new loves, and a lot of surprises
I was hooked since the first pages and I liked Phoebe, the girl who went away, and the atmospheric description of Venice.
There’s a story and there’s the big history in a moment when everything is changing and nothing what used to be.
Phoebe discovers her long estranged aunts left her Venice palace to her.
It’s a beginning of a story that goes back in time and makes us know what Phoebe’s she was past and how became a famous photographer. The eye of the photo machine is a way to discover things and It will play a relevant role in the story.
The characters are fleshed out and lively, I felt for Phoebe and found the other characters interesting.
The historical background is well researched even if there’s some details that made me wonder as I think it could have been very hard even if not impossible, the religion choice at the beginning for instance
That said I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I will read other by this author as I always liked her story
It’s strongly recommended if you want to read a well plotted and intriguing historical fiction.
Many thanks to Piatkus for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The Author;
Charlotte Betts discovered a passion for writing after her five children had grown up and left her in peace. Demanding careers in hotel design and property force her to be inventive in finding time to write but she has achieved seven novels in eight years. One of her short stories was published in Scribble and others short-listed by Writers’ News and Real Writers’. She has won first prize in five short story competitions and wrote a regular column on interior design for The Maidenhead Advertiser for two years. She is a member of WordWatchers http://www.wordwatchers.net/ and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Website http://www.charlottebetts.com/
Twitter CharlotteBetts1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteBettsAuthor
For more information contact Beth Wright | [email protected]
