Title: The Venice Sketchbook
Author: Rhys Bowen – New York Times bestselling author of 40+ historical novels (The Tuscan Child, The Victory Garden). Winner of 20+ literary awards, known for weaving romance, mystery, and WWII drama.
Key Insights:
This dual-timeline historical novel unfolds
1940s Venice:
English art student Caroline risks everything to save her Jewish lover’s family as Nazis occupy Venice
Her secret sketchbook documents hidden canals and resistance safe houses
2000s Venice:
Caroline’s granddaughter Juliet inherits the sketchbook and a mysterious key
Uncovers buried truths while retracing her grandmother’s footsteps
Themes:
How art preserves truth in wartime