The Last Letters from Villa Clara

'A well-written and fascinating narrative about love and loss, courage and betrayal, the past and secrets, art and reproductions' Reader review, ? ? ? ? ? 'This is certainly a wow of a read . . . interesting, insightful, suspenseful' Reader review, ? ? ? ? ? CAN THE SEARCH FOR A WARTIME SECRET UNLOCK HER FUTURE? 1939. Europe is on the brink of change and in the fear and chaos of pre-war Italy, a painting disappears and is never seen again. 1963. London is on the cusp of change in the swinging 60s. Nightclubs and exclusive parties are in their heyday, as are the art thieves of the East End underworld. But when a lowly boarding-house landlady attempts to take on the upper-crust establishment, and is accused of spying for the Russians, she can save only one thing - her reputation, or the love of her life. 1989. Phoebe Cato is on the verge of losing everything she cares about: her labour of love, the struggling Cato Museum that houses Bruce Cato's collection of masterful reproductions, and worse than that, her beloved uncle Bruce himself. With only months to live, Phoebe may not be able to save Bruce's life, but little does she know that he had planned on saving hers all along. Following Bruce's final trail of clues, hidden in a series of paintings, Phoebe embarks on a journey to uncover a long-held family secret and a sweeping love story that encompassed the decades . . . The moving and captivating new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel sweeps us from an Italy simmering on the brink of war through to 1960s London at a time of shadows and Russian spies, taking us on an extraordinary journey of love, courage and betrayal. Perfect for fans of Natasha Lester, Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore, real readers love Sarah Steele's novels. 'One of those books you can't put down and think about when you are not reading' ? ? ? ? ? 'The story kept me hooked' ? ? ? ? ? 'Ms. Steele captures the atmosphere of the time exceedingly well' ? ? ? ? ? ***'***Compelling...beautifully written and evocative' ? ? ? ? ? 'An exceptionally touching tale' ? ? ? ? ?