A heart-wrenching wartime story of courage and resistance, from bestseller Siobhan DaikoPerfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy, and Victoria Hislop

1944

Bologna, Italy, and the streets are crawling with German soldiers. Nineteen-year-old Leila Venturi is shocked into joining the Resistance after her beloved best friend Rebecca, the daughter of a prominent Jewish businessman, is ruthlessly deported to a concentration camp.

1981

Exchange student Rhiannon Hughes arrives in Bologna and meets Leila, her landlady. Soon, Rhiannon finds herself being drawn into a web of intrigue. Leila’s nephew seems to be interested in a far-right group, but how is the nefarious leader connected to Leila?

As dark secrets emerge from the past, Rhiannon is faced with a terrible choice. Will she take her courage into both hands and risk everything?

Praise for Siobhan Daiko:

A beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won’t want to put down’ Ann Bennett

’I was completely absorbed by … all the characters and intrigue’ Angela Petch

'...like meeting an old, dear friend after a long absence. What a poignant, emotional, thoroughly enjoyable read this was! ... such beautiful prose and such a brilliant story that completely transported me.' Renita D'Silva

‘An exciting, impeccably-researched wartime adventure with lots of heart ... the perfect mixture of tragedy and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

A poignant and emotionally charged novel that explores the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity and I was hooked from start to finish' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

'So much heartache but alongside this the love of the people who did so much in WWII' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘A powerful historical novel that I just could not put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

Read by: Claire Storey, Claire Morgan