The Tuscan Child Audiobook By Rhys Bowen cover art

The Tuscan Child

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The Tuscan Child

By: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble, Katy Sobey
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About this listen

From New York Times best-selling author Rhys Bowen comes a haunting novel about a woman who braves her father's hidden past to discover his secrets....

In 1944, British bomber pilot Hugo Langley parachuted from his stricken plane into the verdant fields of German-occupied Tuscany. Badly wounded, he found refuge in a ruined monastery and in the arms of Sofia Bartoli. But the love that kindled between them was shaken by an irreversible betrayal.

Nearly 30 years later, Hugo's estranged daughter, Joanna, has returned home to the English countryside to arrange her father's funeral. Among his personal effects is an unopened letter addressed to Sofia. In it is a startling revelation.

Still dealing with the emotional wounds of her own personal trauma, Joanna embarks on a healing journey to Tuscany to understand her father's history - and maybe come to understand herself as well. Joanna soon discovers that some would prefer the past be left undisturbed, but she has come too far to let go of her father's secrets now....

Cover design by Shasti O'Leary Soudant

©2018 Janet Quin-Harkin (Writing as Rhys Bowen) (P)2018 Audible, Inc.
Cozy Family Life Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction World War II Mystery Italy Transportation Aviation

What listeners say about The Tuscan Child

Highly rated for:

Intriguing Mystery Compelling Storyline Excellent Narration Vivid Descriptions Dual Timelines
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Knocked this one out of the park

Rhys Bowen long ago proved her ability to develop interesting, complex characters and intriguing mysteries.

This novel, however, is her absolute best. Set in 1944 and 1973, the premise uses the classic devise of exploring the same story from two points of view and, in this case, two time periods. Hugo Langley is living the situation in 1944 which creates the mystery for Hugo's estranged and troubled daughter Joanna to figure out in 1973 as she comes to terms with both his death and her life.

I don't want to offer any detail that would allow any kind of spoiler, but I can safely tell you that Ms. Bowen has created a mystery, a romance, and a kind of coming-of-age story that will keep you curious until the very end. Nothing much is at is appears to be.

In addition, Ms. Bowen has used language beautifully to bring several complex characters to life in settings that allow the reader to see, feel and smell.

Finally, the narrators are both excellent. Katy Sobey does a wonderful job with Joanna's voice and the characters that live the story with her in 1973 as Joanna tries to solve the mystery she finds in her father's will. But Jonathan Keeble is simply outstanding reading Hugo as a British pilot trapped in a tiny town in Italy under German occupation as the Allies get closer.

I highly and enthusiastically recommend The Tuscan Child. Don't hesitate. Get it.

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242 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Stand-Alone Novel

Ms. Bowen is a wonderful storyteller whose earlier series I found charming and intelligent. THE TUSCAN CHILD is a departure from her tried and true series, and I enjoyed it immensely!

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Great book, unfortunate female performance

The female performer was allowed to end nearly every sentence with a question mark making her character seem extremely insecure and immature. This took away any believability in her being a candidate for the bar. It was very distracting.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Mostly involving story of World War II Italy along side 1970s Italy and England

I think I might have enjoyed this more if I had read it. The mail narrator was very good, but the female was kind of a bore. She had a very repetitive speech pattern, and although she was inhabiting a 25-year-old in the early 70s she was almost entirely lacking in emotional variation. Very flat. Otherwise, it’s a fairly routine but well-written story, if not overly ingenious or innovative. Good for commuting hours.

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Entertaining and Predictable

This was an easy listen. Quite predictable in every situation. But if you enjoy WWII era settings with comfortable characters, this is a good book.

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San Salvatore does exist.

This is a beautifully written book, a wonderfully drawn tale, and with lovely narration. Spoiler, at the end they go on to say that the town of San Salvatore does not exist. Well, it does I have been there. It is a bedroom community of Siena. Do your research.

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I drank wine & ate olives most nights

I really liked this story. It must have had a big impact on me because I started making chartreuse plates...
I like historical pieces and this book offered multiple layers of history. The story was solid and although predictable in some places, it kept me wondering what would happen next. The story follows 2 time periods but the two narrators keep it neatly aligned.

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Very Enjoyable Read

The story was very enjoyable. Good story line but there were a few loose ends and it seems the end was a little rushed.

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Enjoyable Story and Reasonably Well Performed

occasionally the Italian accents seemed a bit off, but it's a good story, which paints a lovely portrait of the countryside of Tuscany.. Between the descriptions of the food and the landscape, I'm ready to go.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

If you like Lucca, in Tuscany. You might like this book

Although not a fan of the author, I stayed at a hill town in Tuscany, the author ‘s description of the locales are moving.
The miscast for Ms Sobey voice is unfortunate.

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