The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy

Set in beautiful Tuscany, Italy and sharing the lives and stories of two women from two different times - during the second world war and in 2015.

1943. Beatrice has escaped Scotland to teach English in Italy but the war forces her Italian host family to let her go. After some time in police cells and prisons she is granted shelter at the Villa delle Colombe, run by Francesca and Edoardo. The estate is almost completely self sufficient with everyone working together to ensure survival during testing times. 

2015. Struggling to come to terms with the medical struggles of her husband and his decision to take his own life at a clinic in Switzerland, Tess arrives in Tuscany to be the companion to Beatrice, an old friend of her grandmother's. Beatrice helps Tess find calm and healing with the help of the amazing gardens at the villa. Unfortunately all comes crashing down when the real owner of the villa appears - and it's not the one Beatrice expects, but rather his son who's already planned the destruction of the estate to build a golf course. 

Realising that time is running out, Beatrice starts telling Tess the story of Villa delle Colombe and what happened there during the war. The struggles, they joy, the deception, the challenge of not taking sides, the impact of the war and the many personal struggles for Beatrice and the other living there.

A beautiful, gripping story, historically well researched and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Release date is currently set to 18 July 2023
Pre-order your copy now - link to Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/400G5mZ 

I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

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