Today is my turn on Bookouture's Blog Tour for Angela Petch's new book, The Postcard from Italy.
I haven't read the writing of Angela Petch previously, so I approached this book with interest. With continuing, harrowing world events (Covid 19, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fuel price gouging, etc) which make the pleasures of travel remote, I was ready for a bit of an adventure between the covers, and a trip to Italy seemed just right. This is what was promised:-
Italy, 1945. ‘Where am I?’ The young man wakes, bewildered. He sees olive trees against a bright blue sky. A soft voice soothes him. ‘We saw you fall from your plane. The parachute saved you.’ He remembers nothing of his life, or the war that has torn the world apart… but where does he belong?
England, present day. Antique-shop-owner Susannah wipes away a tear as she tidies her grandmother’s belongings. Elsie’s memories are fading, and every day Susannah feels further away from her only remaining family. But everything changes when she stumbles across a yellowed postcard of a beautiful Italian stone farmhouse, tucked away in Elsie’s dressing table. A message dated from World War 2 speaks of a secret love. Could her grandmother, who never talked about the past, have fallen for someone in Italy all those years ago?
With Elsie unable to answer her questions, Susannah becomes determined to track down the house and find a distraction from her grief. Arriving at what is now a crumbling hotel by the sparkling Italian sea, she feels strangely at home. And after an unexpected encounter with handsome wine waiter Giacomo, she can’t tell if it’s his dark eyes or his offer to help solve her mystery that makes her heart race.
Together they find a dusty chest tucked in a forgotten corner of the building. The white silk of a World War 2 parachute spills out. And the Royal Air Force identity tag nestled in the folds bears a familiar name…
With Giacomo by her side, and before it’s too late for her grandmother, can Susannah discover the truth behind a shocking wartime secret at the heart of her family? Or will it tear her apart?
An absolutely stunning page-turner that will sweep you away to the olive groves and majestic views of the Italian coast. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop.
My Thoughts:-
So a bit of a mystery with a love story or two thrown in. I have never visited Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot with its characteristic trulli so often converted into holiday lets, but I have stayed in the neighbouring region of Chieti, a beautiful area largely ignored by international tourism, which is beautiful. I was thrilled to find an overlap between the geography of my trips and the terrain covered in this story, in the coastal town of Vasto. However, I digress.
There is the mystery of the identity of the young man who descends from the sky to the sea for an elderly fisherman and his grandchild to rescue and nurse back to health, who has no memory of who he is and where he came from. He speaks Italian, however, and gradually he recovers physically and begins to work alongside them, but what will happen when he remembers who he is and where he came from?
Then there is the mystery of the titular postcard that Susannah discovers, hidden in her grandmother's dressing table. She is still reeling from the death of her beloved father, who brought her up after her mother died soon after giving birth to her. Her grandmother has always been reticent about the past and is now losing her memory, so needs to be in a nursing home. It has fallen to Susannah to clear her grandmothers home and as she runs an antique shop, she is carefully sorting what might be sold from what needs to be disposed of. Her father was a bit of an artist in later years and had painted a beautiful scene in an Italian farmhouse which bears a striking resemblance to the one on the mysterious postcard she discovers hidden in her grandmother's dressing table.
There are some interesting themes to explore in the story and to think about, including the nature of family and that of love, and whether secrets in the family can be protective or damaging, so that this might prove a good choice of reading for book clubs,
The story passes between the two time periods and the different groups of characters skilfully, so it is easy to keep track of who is who and when. The characters are well described and engaging, with perhaps the exception of difficult grandmother Elsie. The stories develop in parallel and the reveals are skilfully managed, creating a compelling, immersive and very satisfying read, which I greatly enjoyed and an very happy to recommend.
About the author:
Published by Bookouture, Angela Petch is an award-winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.
Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store a notebook and pen to jot down ideas.
The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.
Angela’s gripping, WWII, Tuscan novels are published by Bookouture. While her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend.
Buy Link:
Audio:
Listen to a sample here:
More about the Blog Tour:-
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