Love and secrets collide during World War II in an engrossing novel about fleeting encounters and eternal romance from the bestselling author of The Tuscan Boy.
Caroline Grant, struggling to come to terms with the end of her marriage, receives a surprising inheritance. Great-aunt Ha Hoba leaves her a sketchbook, three keys and a whisper on her deathbed... Venice. Caroline embarks on a journey aimed at scattering the ashes of her aunt Juliet "Letty" Browning in the city she loved and solving mysteries that were pushed aside more than sixty years ago.
The year is 1938 when Juliet Browning, an art teacher, arrives in romantic Venice. For her students - this is historical, artistic and aesthetic wealth. For Juliet, it is about memories burned in her heart and the opportunity to renew the relationship with Leonardo de Rossi, the man she loves and whose future was decided by his noble family. But despite the obstacles, nothing can separate them. Until the war breaks out, and they are forced to fight, survive and keep a secret that will bind them together forever.
Key by key, Letty's life - a life of impossible love, loss and courage - unfolds before Caroline. And now, as her journey of self-discovery begins, she also has the opportunity to repair the disruptions of the past.
"A romantic adventure in Venice combined with intrigue, mystery and magic. A must-read for Bowen's fans and for fans of historical novels everywhere." - Library Journal (starred review)
"Bowen's life-filled writing captivates the reader... a gentle and touching story." – Historical Novel Society
