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Three Reasons You Should Read This WWII Historical Fiction:
- The Tuscan House by Angela Petch is more than just a war story – it’s a redemption and healing story.
- Corbello, Italy is breathtakingly beautiful, and the small town really comes to life in both the past and the present.
- The dual timelines play nicely together to weave a story that reveals as it goes, but still leaves a little mystery remaining.
About The Tuscan House by Angela Petch
Title: The Tuscan House
Author: Angela Petch
Genre: Historical WWII Fiction
Corbello, Italy, 1947. A woman and a little boy stagger into the ruins of an old house deep in the forest, wild roses overwhelming the crumbling terracotta walls. Since the war, nowhere has been safe. But they both freeze in shock when a voice calls out from the shadows…
For young mother Fosca Sentino, accepting refuge from reluctant British war hero Richard – in Tuscany to escape his tragic past – is the only way to keep her little family safe. She once risked everything to spy on Nazi commanders and pass secret information to the resistenza. But after a heartbreaking betrayal, Fosca’s best friend Simonetta disappeared without trace. The whole community was torn apart, and now Fosca and her son are outcasts.
Wary of this handsome stranger at first, Fosca slowly starts to feel safe as she watches him play with her son in the overgrown orchard. But her fragile peace is shattered the moment a silver brooch is found in the garden, and she recognises it as Simonetta’s…
Fosca has always suspected that another member of the resistenza betrayed her. With Richard by her side, she must find out if Simonetta is still alive, and clear her own name. But how did the brooch end up at the house? And with a traitor hiding in the village, willing to do anything to keep this secret buried, has Fosca put herself and her young son in terrible danger?
My review of The Tuscan House:
Before The Tuscan House, I had not read much about WWII in Italy outside of my world history classes. Angela Petch brings the Italian city of Corbello to life, both during the war and after as it is rebuilding. The people of Corbello showed an intense friendship and loyalty to Richard, welcoming him back as if he had always belonged.
Fosca was an interesting character. I’m still not quite sure what to think of her. She was brave, but selfishly so at times. I guess that makes her more human. Richard was the same. I think that is what really stands out for the characters in Corbello – they are human. They try to do the right thing, but feeling, life, and circumstances sometimes get in the way – and a few are just downright awful people. It’s a very realistic mix.
The town was busy rebuilding, and Richard was trying to rebuild his life. It was a fitting place for his story. When he finds the body of a woman in the garden behind his new fixer-upper, the story takes quite a turn. There’s a case of mistaken identity, some blackmail, stolen gold, and even an ex-girlfriend thrown in.
But I feel the heart of the story was further in the past – during the war – when the resistance was doing everything they could to harm the Nazis and Fascists. The daring and bravery of these folks were riveting, and their adventures and sabotage may have really helped the war effort. The Tuscan House has made me add some more books about how Italy managed during the war to my non-fiction list.
I was fully on board, 100%, 5-stars all the way until the very very end. It felt a little contrived, and almost like the author had to wrap up a loose end and didn’t know how else to manage it.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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