The Last Letters from Villa Clara

'They've taken her. And you know the worst of it? They don't even know what they've stolen.'

CAN THE SEARCH FOR A WARTIME SECRET UNLOCK HER FUTURE?

1938. In the turmoil of pre-war Italy, a painting is carefully stowed in the false bottom of a suitcase, ready to be carried across the border. But as the train draws to a violent halt and armed officers lead the passengers onto the platform, the suitcase is taken and the painting 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 mistress 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.

1985. Phoebe Cato is on the verge of losing everything: the struggling Cato Museum of Artifice, housing her beloved uncle's finely crafted collection of reproductions, and more importantly, with only weeks to live, her uncle Bruce himself. Phoebe may not be able to save his life, but little does she know that Bruce had planned on saving hers all along. Following one last trail of clues hidden in a series of paintings, Phoebe embarks on a journey to uncover long-held family secrets, and a love story that persisted across 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.

Sarah Steele trained as a classical pianist and violinist before joining the world of publishing as an editorial assistant at Hodder and Stoughton. She was for many years a freelance editor, and now lives in the vibrant Gloucestershire town of Stroud.

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