The Venice Sketchbook
Rhys Bowen
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The Venice Sketchbook is Rhys Bowen's historical mystery following a woman discovering her grandmother's sketchbook hidden away for decades and tracing its connection to Venice during World War II.
- 1The protagonist discovers a sketchbook belonging to her grandmother.
- 2The sketchbook reveals her grandmother was in Venice during World War II.
- 3The protagonist investigates her grandmother's hidden past.
- 4The novel alternates between present-day investigation and wartime Venice.
- 5Secrets and romance from the past are gradually revealed.
- 6The investigation transforms the protagonist's understanding of family.
Key ideas
Hidden histories
Family secrets and hidden pasts are revealed through investigation.
Wartime experiences
The novel portrays how World War II affected individuals and families.
Art and memory
Sketches and art preserve memory and tell stories.
Family connections
The investigation connects past and present family members.
Courage and love
The grandmother's story involves courage and sacrifice for love.
Time and discovery
The passage of time allows secrets to be safely revealed and understood.
Who is it for?
Readers interested in historical mysteries and family stories will find this engaging. It suits anyone interested in World War II history and in how family secrets shape lives.
Full summary
A woman discovers a sketchbook hidden in her grandmother's belongings.
The sketchbook contains sketches from Venice during World War II.
The woman investigates, discovering her grandmother was in Venice during the war.
She travels to Venice to trace her grandmother's past.
The novel alternates between present-day investigation and flashbacks to wartime Venice.
The grandmother's story reveals romance, sacrifice and courage.
The woman gradually uncovers secrets her grandmother kept for decades.
The investigation transforms the woman's understanding of her family and heritage.
