The Tuscan contessa - Dinah Jefferies

ONE WAR. TWO WOMEN. WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SAVE THE ONES THEY LOVE?

A sweeping new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author

In 1943, Contessa Sofia de' Corsi's peaceful Tuscan villa among the olive groves is upturned by the sudden arrival of German soldiers. Desperate to fight back, she agrees to shelter a wounded British radio engineer in her home, keeping him hidden from her husband Lorenzo - knowing that she is putting all of their lives at risk.

When Maxine, an Italian-American working for the resistance, arrives on Sofia's doorstep, the pair forge an uneasy alliance. Feisty, independent Maxine promised herself never to fall in love. But when she meets a handsome partisan named Marco, she realizes it's a promise she can't keep...

Before long, the two women find themselves entangled in a dangerous game with the Nazis. Will they be discovered? And will they both be able to save the ones they love?

'Dinah Jefferies has a remarkable gift for conjuring up another time and place with lush descriptions, full of power and intensity' Kate Furnivall

'A stunning story of love and loyalty in wartime' Rachel Hore

'Beautiful writing, wonderful characters, gripping story, and such a gorgeously evoked Tuscan setting - how I loved this! Such a perfect, immersive summer read!' Jenny Ashcroft

'A lush, fast-moving, gripping story that will keep you guessing till the last pages. A perfect summer read' Gill Paul

'It's so rich & the historical details so transporting. Reading this novel is like being swept into a wonderful movie' Eve Chase

Dinah Jefferies was born in Malaysia and moved to England at the age of nine. Her idyllic childhood always held a special place in her imagination, and when she began writing novels in her 60s, she was able to return there - first in her fiction and then on annual research trips for each new novel. Dinah Jefferies is the author of novels, The Separation, The Tea Planter's Wife - a Number One Sunday Times bestseller, The Silk Merchant's Daughter, Before the Rains and The Missing Sister. She lives in Gloucestershire.

My ideal read - I couldn't put it down
Santa Montefiore on 'The Tea Planter's Wife'

A sweeping tale, beautifully written in a wonderful setting, heart rending yet ultimately up lifting.
Gorgeous.
Katie Fforde on 'The Sapphire Widow'

The sights, smells and atmosphere of Ceylon are beautifully depicted. This is Dinah Jefferies at her best.
Lucinda Riley on 'The Sapphire Widow'