Murder Under the Tuscan Sun: A gripping classic suspense novel in the tradition of Agatha Christie set in a remote Tuscan castle

Product Information

I loved this book and read it in virtually one sitting. It has everything. Interesting characters, a beautiful setting described in perfect detail, intrigue and a giant dog called Solomon. Wonderful!

I read and loved Rachel Rhys' 'A Dangerous Crossing' so I had high hopes for this one! Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of the book.

What to know

Competition closes at 11.59pm on April 8, 2023 (the “Closing Date”). Entries received after the Closing Date will not be counted. Reading a Rachel Rhys book always means being transported to another time and place; her stories are such a treat and despite some strong competition, I think Murder Under the Tuscan Sun might just be my favourite to date.

I am not usually a reader of historical fiction, but every now and again, a location, a description, a setting or a historical event takes my fancy. Murder Under The Tuscan Sun is one of those. A castle in Tuscany with secrets hidden in its walls, eerie music in the night, ghosts even, but are they real or a figment of Constance’s imagination? Or is it something far more sinister? The younger Connie of 1927 is actually a middle-aged woman who has experienced the worst life can throw at a person. She is widowed with an adult son and is still grieving a tragic loss which turned her world upside down. It becomes evident that she was once the sort of person who rallied for change and had taken part in suffrage marches, but at nearly fifty, she seems to have almost stagnated and so it's perhaps not surprising that her son, James should be incredulous about her accepting a position as a companion for an invalided Englishman living in a castle near Florence. However, while he worries about what people might think of his mother taking up paid employment, it's clear to see that Connie feels unfulfilled and stultified by her life in Pinner. Klovers has written a well-rounded mystery with an amateur detective using her skills to try and ensnare a smuggler and killer. The story includes interpersonal relationship challenges due to unexpected circumstances, disagreements about the origin of ancient Etruscans, scheming and devious behaviors, family squabbles, hidden agendas, digging of Etruscan artifacts, and preparations of mouth-watering food and drink. Evelyn starts to develop a relationship with William as she cares for him but then a strange atmosphere develops in the castle and after a while William’s health declines further despite an initial improvement. The promoter of this competition is News Group Newspapers Ltd (publishers of The Sun) (the “Promoter”).I thoroughly enjoyed this mysterious thriller. Not quite the Murder expected in the title but a rich complex story with interesting characters not least the older woman Constance who following the death of her husband and daughter decides to take a job near Florence looking after William North a not so old invalid. The castle is deliciously creepy with noises in the night, ghosts and strange goings on along with a not so dippy spoilt Evelyn and her Fascist husband Roberto who seem intent on spending all of William's money. Constance is enjoying looking after William and Nora Evelyn's lonely young daughter but as William's health starts to get decidedly worse and the strange things happening take a more sinister turn Constance starts to get suspicious about whatever is going on. Rachel Rhys’s writting and storytelling is beguiling. As soon as I started reading I was completely lost in the story, lives of the characters and of course the beautiful Tuscan landscape that I love so much. Whilst life at the castle at first seems quite glamorous and tranquil, with the characters enjoying la dolce vita after the War, Rachel Rhys soon starts to slowly drop in points of darkness that build up so there is an undercurrent of suspense and suspicion; no one is really who they seem, like an old painting as the varnish erodes the truth is revealed. I have a love of Florence and Tuscany and Rachel Rhys made me feel I was there with the characters; the warmth of sun, the lemon trees, the blooming flowers, the beautiful villas and the soft golden light that seems to touch everything in Tuscany. Then there is the castle itself, set in a beautiful landscape, but interestlingly seems more gothic, with it’s turrets and gargoyles than the usual Renaissance architecture, which suits the plot line with it’s darker undercurrent.