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William North is a respected art connoisseur who has suffered a brain injury and needs assistance. He resides in the castle with his niece Evelyn Manetti, her husband Roberto and Nora, her young daughter from a previous relationship. As Connie settles into her new routine, the setting of the castle and the surrounding countryside come alive. The reader gets a real sense for the food, the climate, the architecture and the artworks. She explores the castle and its grounds but Connie just can’t shake off the feeling that there is a lot left unspoken and that the residents are all hiding something. Connie and William do not get off to a good start.He views her with disdain and I suppose this was because he was suffering but felt he didn’t need someone to look after him rather that he craved the independence that he once had. William is not old and decrepit but in fact is only in his mid 50’s. He has suffered tragedy in his life having lost his wife and son. He is brusque and offhand with Connie and she feels she can’t do anything right but she persists in assisting him through keeping him company, reading to him, writing correspondence and administering medication as recommended by the visiting doctor. They are often set in a quintessentially English setting, such as the (imagined) chocolate box village of St Mary's Mead where Miss Marple kept a beady eye out for trouble, or the luxury Coopers Chase retirement home of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series. Murder Under The Tuscan Sun’ is an unsettling and engrossing mystery set in 1920’s Tuscany. I devoured this book in a few sittings and it strongly reminded me of the golden age crime from the period. A book about its characters as much as the mystery. It was an evocative read that places the reader deep within the story, you feel as if you can feel the heat of the Tuscan sun and hear the violins! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will definitely be looking out the authors other books as the writing in this one was superb. By entering, any subsequent prize winners agree to allow the free use of their names, photographs and general locations for publicity and news purposes during this and future promotions by the Promoter or any associated or subsidiary company of News Corp UK & Ireland Limited.
There's so much I enjoyed about this book that I can't even squeeze it all into a review. Those who have read the book will understand when I say that I also loved Alina's story, the glamorous parties and the fabulous ending of the novel.
About this book
At first the Castello di Roccia Nera is everything Constance hoped for, with its beautiful surroundings and interesting inhabitants. But there are secrets just below the surface in the castle… Is Constance losing her mind, or is there real danger in the idyllic Tuscan hills? I liked the characters of Connie and William both suffering from grief after the death of a child; Connie in particular has had a very sad existence , dominated by her late husband, unable to lead the life she wants and then losing the daughter she loved. However her Italian adventure, at first so full of promise, soon leads to danger and she has to use all her inner resources to survive intact. The author does a brilliant job of creating a haunting atmosphere where neither Constance nor the reader are sure what is happening and who is behind it. Evelyn and Roberto seem welcoming but are completely wrapped up in each other leaving Evelyn’s daughter Nora to occupy herself for most of the time. William was making good progress after his illness but then mysteriously begins to worsen and Constance appears to be responsible for this.
A wonderful, atmospheric thriller with a cast of glamorous villains. I love Rachel Rhys and this is her best yet VERONICA HENRY How did I go so long without knowing about this series? This is the fifth book in the series but the first in the series I have read and only a few sentences in I immediately fell in love with Rita. My new dream vacation is traveling with Rita and Sal, regardless of where they are going or who they run into along the way. was fascinating to watch her relationship with the inhabitants of the castle grow, particularly with William and his niece, Nora. William’s health is failing and it is unclear how long he might have left. It is also clear to see that, at first, he doesn’t welcome Connie being there at all. Nora was a character, who I also felt for, particularly as he Briefly, Constance ‘Connie’ Bowen is living in Pinner with her son James. Her husband and daughter have recently died. She has answered an ad, and been accepted, as a companion for an invalid near Florence. He is William North, a wealthy art collector who has suffered a stroke and is living in a grand castle along with his niece Evelyn Manetti, her 2nd husband Roberto and daughter Nora. But William is not recovering as expected, Evelyn is acting strangely and Connie is accused of stealing and is becoming confused. It is not a difficult read, but it is very well done, be it the descriptions of the landscape and weather or the odd events that keep happening, with great pacing and the mounting sense of something amiss. It held my attention from start to finish.Not that Constance has any designs on her wealthy employer. Though after a year as a widow and many more since she had a proper relationship with her late husband, it’s difficult not to be attracted. Even in illness William is an imposing, handsome figure. But Constance has travelled alone to Italy to be his companion and nothing more. Evelyn is mercurial; at one moment all smiles and happiness, lavishing affection on Constance and at another, questioning everything Constance does. William is a taciturn charge who puts up with her ministering to him but seems wary of everyone around him. The Promoter will not be liable for technical, hardware, or software failures of any kind or lost or unavailable network connections that may limit or prohibit an eligible entrant’s ability to participate in the competition. Other than death or personal injury arising from the acts or omissions of the Promoter or its employees, the Promoter will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the winner’s (or their guest’s) enjoyment of the prize. We first join the story in 1946, when an unknown character is returning to the castle near Florence. I was immediately drawn into the atmospheric description of the castle, with its crumbling stone dragons, left devastated after occupation by German soldiers. Something terrible obviously happened here, but what? If you are looking for an easy read with a twist, then Murder Under The Tuscan Sun won't disappoint. Set in a remote castle in the lovely Tuscan hills at the time Mussolini was introducing Fascism and was starting to get a hold on Italy's disgruntled workers, this cosy mystery gives both a little escapism to the warm Mediterranean climate, so different from the cold English weather and claustrophobic house that Constance has left behind, and an insight into a diverse range of characters that Rachel has created.
I enjoyed the time period that it was written in. It's not a time or a country that I have read much about, so it was interesting from that point of view (although I must note here that the story was focused on a character working in another country and so there was only a little political detail). Rachel Rhys is in a league of her own, creating compelling, engrossing historical mysteries that grip readers by the throat every single time LISA JEWELLThere are surprises throughout the book, many twists, and turns and of course lots of suspects as well as clues or red herrings. The solving of the murder of the host leads you down several paths with numerous suspects, and the final reveal is surprising and unexpected. Rita must be very smart and intuitive to have put it all together! I have read previous books by Rachel Rhys and “Murder Under the Tuscan Sun”is definitely every bit as good as her earlier novels. I raced through it in a couple of days and recommend it to lovers of atmospheric historical mysteries with beautiful settings.
If you fancy yourself as an amateur detective, these are the books for you. Cosy crime takes much from the Golden Age of crime and authors such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers: although there is often a (sometimes quite violent) murder, this isn't lingered on and the focus is very much on the investigation, often led by an amateur with a talent for sleuthing. This was my first Rita Calabrese story and I have to say it won't be my last. I love her descriptions of cooking the food and the recipes at the end are definitely something I want to try! And the explanation of the Italian words was a great start to help me and other readers understand what some of the characters were talking about without a full English explanation to slow down the story. There is something immensely captivating about the way Rachel Rhys writes and it only took minutes for me to be transported' ***** Rachel Rhys is in a league of her own, creating compelling, engrossing historical mysteries that grip readers by the throat every single time' **LISA JEWELLThe Promoter reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition (including altering prizes) if, in our sole discretion, a competition is not capable of being conducted as specified. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value in the event that circumstances beyond their control make this unavoidable. A will written book with a well developed plot with plenty of mystery and suspense. Set in a remote castle with a strange atmosphere in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The characters are interesting and well developed but all have their secrets. The story flows well and slowly unfolds and keeps you guessing till the end.
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