Set in Italy during the summer of 1902, the story unfolds around the mysterious murder of Count Francesco Bonmartini, whose body is discovered in his locked apartment. The narrative delves into the complexities of his family ties, particularly focusing on his wife Linda, a freethinker entangled in a web of illicit relationships with her brother and father’s assistant. The plot thickens with themes of betrayal, anarchism, and the dark undercurrents of aristocratic life, revealing how familial bonds can lead to treachery and violence.
Christina Vella Books
Christina Vella was a distinguished writer and historian of modern Europe, whose works delved into intricate human relationships and the hidden currents of history. Vella's distinctive style illuminated fascinating lives and often overlooked events, offering readers penetrating insights into the past. Her writings are valued for their depth, meticulous research, and the compelling way she brought historical figures and narratives to life. Through her prose, Vella explored themes of power, secrets, and the impact of individuals on the unfolding of historical epochs.


"Luza's narrative gives a panoramic picture of the resistance and makes palpable the terror of living in attics, sheds, and holes dug in the woods, constantly hunted and nearly snared by betrayals and Gestapo raids. In courageously intimate terms, he reflects on his relationship with his stern father - whom Luza worshipped from afar until sharing rat-infested barns brought the consummate general and intellectual son closer together."--BOOK JACKET.