THE SECRET DAUGHTER OF VENICE BY JULIET GREENWOOD

Set mainly during, and a little after, the Second World War, this is different to the typical ‘home front’ story because the war forms the backdrop, rather than being centre stage.

This is above all a family mystery. Kate Arden has always known she is different to her siblings, and has vague memories of being brought to the family home as a child. When a family friend reminds her there is a message for her in a book of Shakespeare sonnets, it sets her on a journey to find where she really belongs.

Most of the narrative is from Kate’s point of view, the rest from her mother Sofia’s, and it is clear from the beginning that the art world of Venice, which is beautifully drawn, will play a large part in their story. Although this is one of Juliet Greenwood’s Shakespeare Sister novels, it can easily be read as a standalone.