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.

I have not read any Rachel Rhys novels before but will definitely do so as I found this easy to get into and one I did not want to put down. the characters were were interesting each adding a richness to the story and the descriptions of Tuscany were just right to recapture holidays spent in the Italian landscape. Well done loved it.

Rachel Rhys is one of my very favourite authors and this did not disappoint. If you want a writer who writes immersive, historical thrillers in beautiful locations, then she is the author for you. I absolutely loved the set up of this, and Constance is a fantastic heroine, so inspiring and determined - her bravery at even taking up the position in Italy is immense. I loved the castle, loved all the ghostly goings on and loved being appalled by some of the rich, seemingly decadent characters and their behaviour. It is SO atmospheric and sinister, I was entirely gripped - desperate to know what was going on. It’s such a satisfying read, I loved that there was a romantic element and the ending was PERFECT. Glorious glorious book.

Although I have enjoyed this author's novels in the past, I couldn't get on with this one and gave up fairly early on. I think it was the ex-pat characters and the period it was set in just didn't work for me.

This enjoyable novel held my attention right from the start. It is an atmospheric thriller,with a beautiful Tuscan setting, and lovely 1920s period detail. When Constance leaves her (quite empty, lonely) life in England to travel to Florence as a companion to recovering invalid William, she has no idea of the events she will encounter,leaving her questioning her sanity. I highly recommend this book.

A gothic thriller set, unusually, in a hot sunny place, which did give it a certain languorous quality which I enjoyed. This was well-written and harked back to classic literature - Jane Eyre in particular springs to mind. An enjoyable read, but I would say the title is somewhat misleading.

1927, and Constance Bowen, a middle-aged widow is determined to make a change from her life in Pinner. So when she sees an advert for a companion to an ailing art-dealer in Tuscany, she jumps at the chance. The remote castle set in the Tuscan hills seems to be ideal, but it isn’t long before it’s clear that the most remote locations can be the most dangerous.
As phantom music plays at night, and people move around in the shadows, Constance starts to doubt the wisdom of her choice to relocate to Italy. As she starts to make mistakes, and the health of her charge worsens, is it possible that she is losing her grip on reality?
And the award for the most difficult book to review on this blog goes to…
This is a beautifully written book. The Tuscan countryside and the Italian setting is brought vividly to life and the characters, most notably Constance, the narrator, are some of the most real creations that I have read about for a long time. The tension builds slowly towards the conclusion and…
The thing is, this isn’t really a review of the book, as I’m not the right person to review it. Why did I pick it? Well, let’s have a look at the phrase “a gripping classic suspense novel in the tradition of Agatha Christie”.
Because for all the beautiful writing and character design, this is no Agatha Christie novel. The villain of the piece is obvious and there aren’t any real surprises in the plot – I kept reading hoping there would be a real twist, but alas no. There isn’t even… no, that would be a spoiler. But this isn’t that sort of book - the reader may well go in expecting something different from what it is, and may well be disappointed with the plot at least, as I was.
This is yet another case of a book being mis-marketed by its publicity department. It’s one of two phrases that publicity uses to sell books, the misuse of “locked room” and the misuse of “in the style of Agatha Christie.”
I’d recommend this for the characters, the setting, the snapshot of between-the-wars Italy, all of these are absolutely top-notch and engrossing. But if you are a fan of the classic mystery, which is probably why you are here, then I can’t recommend it on that count. Sorry.

Wow wow wow. Finished in one day… Twists to make me gasp out loud!… Read it, thank me later! Beautiful cover too!

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.

The story focuses on Connie Bowen, an English widow who - against her son's wishes - seizes the opportunity to travel to Tuscany to be a companion for William North, an ailing man living in an art-filled castle. It's 1927 and Fascism is on the rise in the beautiful country that Connie comes to love - and even present in the castle in the form of the handsome young Roberto who is married to Evelyn, William's niece. Also living in the castle is Nora, Evelyn's child by her first husband - who seems to be mainly an inconvenience to her mother now Evelyn is caught up with her new man. As the dynamic of the group shifts over the months of William's illness, Connie is forced to confront the fact that things in the castle aren't as they seem - and in fact are more immediately dangerous than the gathering political storm cloud.

This book exceeded all my expectations! I knew that Rhys was excellent at writing complex and interesting characters plus simmering tension, but 'Murder under the Tuscan Sun' proved to be even more nuanced, compelling and moving than I'd hoped.

In particular, I absolutely loved that the main character was an older woman. Connie has already faced hardships and intense grief, so the reader is completely rooting for her right from the start as she takes the job that her adult son thinks is so ill-advised. She's so strong and worldly, even in the face of some weird and spooky happenings in the castle, and I liked that she tackled tricky situations with fortitude and courage. Life has already been tough so she isn't going to shrink at Fascists, gold-diggers, a cantankerous charge, unpleasant social situations or the eerie music that fills the corridors of the castle at night...

Another joy within the novel is the Tuscan setting. The castle surrounded by lush Italian countryside and backed by the creepy Black Rock hill is beautifully evoked, as is the folklore surrounding the spot where local witches were killed. This all adds a gloriously vivid but sinister feel to the castle. The city of Florence is also described with such authenticity and colour that I could imagine I was walking the streets along with Connie. It made me both desperate to get my feet back on Florentine soil and astounded that Rhys wrote this book at home in lockdown rather than sitting in an Italian piazza!

Without giving away too much of the plot - a plot I thought was cleverly managed and one that kept me reading avidly - I think it's worth noting that the novel's title isn't the most enlightening. Anyone coming to this expecting an Agatha Christie-style country house (Italian castle?) murder maybe isn't getting what they thought. I don't think anyone would be disappointed, but it's best to come to the book without preconceptions of genre and be pleasantly surprised.

There's so much I enjoyed about this book that I can't even squeeze it all into a review. Those who have read the book will understand when I say that I also loved Alina's story, the glamorous parties and the fabulous ending of the novel.

Readers of intelligent historical fiction, lovers of all things Italian and fans of immersive storytelling will love this book. It's a beguiling mix of so many fabulous ingredients - not least the fascinating historical moment, sumptuous travel writing, a strong female lead, buckets of tension and trickery, plus a hint of the supernatural. For me, it worked perfectly and I recommend it whole-heartedly.

Rachel Rhys' latest mystery title is set in 1920s Italy. Constance is employed as a companion for Bill North, recovering from a stroke. Arriving from England following the deaths of both her daughter and more recently her husband, Constance is looking for a new start and adventure.
Swept up into the orbit of the glamorous couple Evelyn and Roberto and Nora, Evelyn's neglected young daughter. Constance starts to enjoy her new life.
Rhys creates a claustrophobic atmosphere within the castle as Contstance starts to feel like things are not right and she starts to question her own sanity.

An enjoyable classic mystery novel that captures the feel of a hot summer in 1920s fascist italy.
Will appeal to fans of mystery novels from the golden age of mystery writing.

This felt really evocative of the period (between the Wars) and the Tuscan landscape. The characters were perhaps larger than life but that's how the twenties always seem in fiction!
There is something dark and mysterious about the villa where Constance Bowen is employed to look after stroke victim William North. The story is slow to unfold which keeps the reader guessing as the tension mounts. There are hints of the supernatural, as well as more human threats - and a touch of romance.

Evocative mystery set in a remote castle in Tuscany. I enjoyed the setting of the castle Tuscany has always been somewhere I've wished to go. Connie leaves London after the death of her husband to become a nurse/companion to William North, but it soon becomes clear he doesn't want her there. His niece is flighty and only interested in her fascist husband, neglecting her daughter along the way. There's a dark brooding atmosphere within the castle and this adds to the mystery.
An enjoyable read

This is a hugely atmospheric mystery set in the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. Recently widowed Constance Bowen takes the plunge to escape her drab lifestyle in London by taking the job as the carer/companion to William North who has suffered a brain haemorrhage. William lives in a castle near Florence with his niece Evelyn, her husband and daughter and at first Constance is entranced by the castle, its inhabitants and the glorious Italian sunshine. However, she soon begins to feel uneasy and realise that not everything is quite as it should be.
The author does a brilliant job of creating a haunting atmosphere where neither Constance nor the reader are sure what is happening and who is behind it. Evelyn and Roberto seem welcoming but are completely wrapped up in each other leaving Evelyn’s daughter Nora to occupy herself for most of the time. William was making good progress after his illness but then mysteriously begins to worsen and Constance appears to be responsible for this.
I loved the depiction of Constance. Her confusion as the events of the castle unfolded and she began to doubt her actions and memories felt very real. I also loved the relationship between her and her son James as they began to understand each other and regain their closeness. I also enjoyed the fact that the main character was an older woman who was not obviously attractive.
The setting of the story both in place and time was brilliantly done. The Italian sunshine and countryside are both beautiful but the intense heat can also be oppressive and add to the dark atmosphere in the castle. The growing strength of fascism in Italy at that time also adds to the uneasiness that lays over everything.
This was a gripping read and I’m really grateful to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC.

A haunting mystery thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end, This was a very interesting spin on usual thrillers and I loved having an older female main character, this was really unique and added a new perspective, especially because this was set in the late 1920's. This is an incredibly compelling and immersive read, mixing the beauty of Tuscany with the darkness of a gothic castle/mansion full of secrets. I truly could not guess what was going on and I felt compelled to read on, I had to know the truth. I was also on the edge of my seat, with the creepy atmosphere and the spiralling of Connie's mental health, I felt her panic and confusion along with her. The writing was beautifully descriptive and enticing. I highly recommend this it's such a good mystery with a unique premise and setting.

My rating:

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Mystery and Thriller


Review:

This is an interesting story with a haunted feel to it. , The writing is very evocative and the plot has plenty of suspense and mystery. Something is amiss but like the main character you can’t quite put your finger on what is really going on or who can be trusted. As time passes you start to wonder whether events are real or if your mind is just playing tricks on you.
Overall:

A will written book with a well developed plot with plenty of mystery and suspense. Set in a remote castle with a strange atmosphere in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The characters are interesting and well developed but all have their secrets. The story flows well and slowly unfolds and keeps you guessing till the end.

This is an atmospheric and evocative read set in Tuscany in the late 1920s just as Mussolini is coming to power.
Connie lives in Pinner with her adult son , James; grieving the loss of her daughter and recently widowed, she decides to apply for a job in Tuscany caring for invalid, William, who has suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.
Much to her son James’s annoyance her application is successful and she accepts the position, quickly setting off for Italy, arriving at an old castle and meeting Evelyn and Roberto, her new employers.
Evelyn is a strange character, brittle and moody whilst Roberto devotes himself to the fascist cause. Evelyn’s young daughter, Nora, is completely ignored and left to her own devices and Connie soon feels a great sadness for the child.
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.
There seems to be some sort of darkness hanging over the household and Connie is both drawn to them as well as feeling repelled by what is happening in the castle. She fears that she is losing her mind but gets little help from her employers who seem completely obsessed with each other and the local expat community.
I liked the characters of Connie and William both suffering from grief after the death of a child; Connie in particular has had a very sad existence , dominated by her late husband, unable to lead the life she wants and then losing the daughter she loved. However her Italian adventure, at first so full of promise, soon leads to danger and she has to use all her inner resources to survive intact.
The background of Mussolini’s Italy is fascinating and very evocative whilst the Summer sun of Tuscany is both beautiful and oppressive.
This was an enjoyable and compelling read with some interesting characters giving the reader a lot to ponder when thinking about motivation.
I have read previous books by Rachel Rhys and “Murder Under the Tuscan Sun”is definitely every bit as good as her earlier novels. I raced through it in a couple of days and recommend it to lovers of atmospheric historical mysteries with beautiful settings.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

I quite enjoyed reading this book. We follow Constance, who moves to Florence defying the wishes of her son after the death of her husband. Once in Italy, she realises that although she thought she was taking the post of a career for an ailing man, that is not the whole truth. She is to live in a castle, and mysteries abound. There is a spooky atmosphere in the book and i quite enjoyed the world that Rhya created for her readers. Also, that beautiful cover is a win-win.

Recommended for those who enjoy light mysteries.

Murder Under the Tuscan Sun by Rachel Rhys
This is the story of Constance who is feeling alone in the world following the death of her daughter and her husband. She decides, against the wishes of her son James, to take up the post of caring for a man in Florence who has suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. She arrives in Florence to discover that she is to live in a huge castle and that her charge is an irascible man called William. She also shares the castle with Evelyn (William’s niece) Roberto (her Fascist husband) and her daughter Nora.
All is not well at the castle and Constance’s sleep is disturbed by the sound of a violin playing and a child crying. The atmosphere in the castle is beautifully evoked and the difficulty of living under the fear of the Fascists is potent. There are beautiful descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and we become involved with the plight of Constance trapped amongst these self-obsessed, privileged and thoughtless people. The plight of poor Nora, who is largely ignored by her mother, is beautifully evoked. It is a genuinely unsettling read but grips you to the end. I will be recommending it to my various book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read it in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this mystery set in a 1920s Tuscan castle. It is told from the point of view of Constance, and English woman hired to be the carer/companion for an ailing man. The household is strange and vaguely creepy and Constance starts to doubt her own sanity. The story was atmospheric and unsettling. Highly recommend.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy of Murder Under the Tuscan Sun, a stand-alone thriller mostly set in Tuscany in 1927.

Recently widowed Constance Bowen is looking for a change and applies for a job as a companion to a stroke victim, William North, in his castle in Tuscany. To her surprise and her son’s dismay she is offered the job, but the household she joins is not happy. William is not getting better, his niece is a social butterfly with a short attention span, who neglects her daughter and her husband is a fascist. Then there’s the nocturnal music and crying.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Under the Tuscan Sun, which tells a compelling story of life in an unsettling household. It is told from Connie’s point of view so all the events are viewed from her perspective. This is good as the reader gets to understand her mindset as she gets more and more unsure of her own mental state, the way her confidence starts to falter and the creeping sense of dread and fear that slowly overcome her. It is a genuinely unsettling read as her narrative offers no explanations for all the strange events until the denouement. It is cleverly done. The reader can take a more objective view of events and perhaps guess some of it, but probably not the full, glorious plot behind it all.

It is not a difficult read, but it is very well done, be it the descriptions of the landscape and weather or the odd events that keep happening, with great pacing and the mounting sense of something amiss. It held my attention from start to finish.

Murder Under the Tuscan Sun is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is my first book from Rachel Rhys but it won't be my last...
This book hooked me with both "Murder" and "Tuscany" in the tittle with a beautiful picturesque cover so I dived in.
I was not disappointed. Having visited Tuscany once before on holidays I was immediately immersed back there and the experience was amazing. The murder mystery plot is well written with great characters. Pure joy to read for all murder mystery fans...