This complex story is told in two timelines, using Nina’s first person narrative to reveal the details of the events which shaped the final two years of her life, whilst adopting a third-person narrative to reveal Lottie’s present day story. Stories which move between different time-frames can often feel confusing but throughout my reading I admired the many ways in which the author used the switches between the characters’ perspectives to not only increase the tension of her storytelling, but to gradually reveal some of the unexpected parallels between the experiences of the two women. To share what any of these are would be to risk introducing spoilers, suffice it to say that I very much appreciated how they added layers of dimension to the subtle interweaving of their individual stories, offering the insights needed to understand why Lottie became so determined to tell Nina’s story.
Set in the late 1970s, Nina’s story unfolds against the violent political disorder of that period and the author used her research in a very effective way to evoke the tensions and concerns which were being experienced, not only within Italy but, fearing the spread of communism, within the international community. This was the time of the kidnapping of Aldo Moro (Italy’s Prime Minister) so the author was able to incorporate into her storytelling the febrile power struggles between the opposing political factions, the murky world of political and financial corruption and the dangerous undercover world of espionage. She added to this already incendiary mix the equally powerful manoeuvrings of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, demonstrating the complex interplay between state and religion and, alongside this macro influence, the internal politics of the Vatican. These themes were also included in the present day section of the story, where some of her characters debate the continuing existence of ‘bribery, corruptions, jobs for the boys and sparse tax revenues’ and wonder how much has really changed – something I think will ring bells for many readers!
Other themes which ran thought both storylines included explorations of the damaging effects of secrecy, betrayal, lies and guilt and the importance of family, the human need to search for answers and to find love. There were also reflections on whether it’s ever possible for ‘outsiders’ (as both Nina and Lottie were) to fully understand the subtle complexities of another country’s culture, language and social mores – something I find as fascinating as debating whether we can ever fully understand what makes another person tick! I also enjoyed the ways in which the author included some interesting facts about botany, the planning and restoration of formal gardens and the fascinating world of art, including some of the factors which help to establish whether a painting is genuine or a forgery.
Although quite early on I’d picked up a number of clues which had hinted at some of the revelations which would finally emerge, this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of this engaging story. For the most part I found the plotting credible although I thought it was, at times, a little uneven in its pacing and I did find that a couple of the developments which propelled it forward required some suspension of disbelief. However, the characters (a satisfying mix of likeable, disagreeable and just plain loathsome!) were well-portrayed and the eventual denouement felt satisfying – and I loved being transported to the glorious city of Rome for a few hours!
With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the late 1970s, Nina’s story unfolds against the violent political disorder of that period and the author used her research in a very effective way to evoke the tensions and concerns which were being experienced, not only within Italy but, fearing the spread of communism, within the international community. This was the time of the kidnapping of Aldo Moro (Italy’s Prime Minister) so the author was able to incorporate into her storytelling the febrile power struggles between the opposing political factions, the murky world of political and financial corruption and the dangerous undercover world of espionage. She added to this already incendiary mix the equally powerful manoeuvrings of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, demonstrating the complex interplay between state and religion and, alongside this macro influence, the internal politics of the Vatican. These themes were also included in the present day section of the story, where some of her characters debate the continuing existence of ‘bribery, corruptions, jobs for the boys and sparse tax revenues’ and wonder how much has really changed – something I think will ring bells for many readers!
Other themes which ran thought both storylines included explorations of the damaging effects of secrecy, betrayal, lies and guilt and the importance of family, the human need to search for answers and to find love. There were also reflections on whether it’s ever possible for ‘outsiders’ (as both Nina and Lottie were) to fully understand the subtle complexities of another country’s culture, language and social mores – something I find as fascinating as debating whether we can ever fully understand what makes another person tick! I also enjoyed the ways in which the author included some interesting facts about botany, the planning and restoration of formal gardens and the fascinating world of art, including some of the factors which help to establish whether a painting is genuine or a forgery.
Although quite early on I’d picked up a number of clues which had hinted at some of the revelations which would finally emerge, this didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of this engaging story. For the most part I found the plotting credible although I thought it was, at times, a little uneven in its pacing and I did find that a couple of the developments which propelled it forward required some suspension of disbelief. However, the characters (a satisfying mix of likeable, disagreeable and just plain loathsome!) were well-portrayed and the eventual denouement felt satisfying – and I loved being transported to the glorious city of Rome for a few hours!
With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.