The Guernsey Novels, The Betrayal by Anne Allen
Today, I am pleased to be on the Blog Tour for The Betrayal by Anne Allen. Thank you to Rachel @rararesources and the author for inviting me to take part.
The Betrayal
Treachery and theft lead to death – and love
- Teresa Bichard and her baby are sent by her beloved husband, Leo, to England as the Germans draw closer to Guernsey. Days later they invade…
- Leo, of Jewish descent, is betrayed to the Germans and is sent to a concentration camp, never to return.
- Teresa returns to find Leo did not survive and the family’s valuable art collection, including a Renoir, is missing. Heartbroken she returns to England.
2011Nigel and his twin Fiona buy a long-established antique shop in Guernsey and during a refit, find a hidden stash of paintings, including what appears to be a Renoir. Days later, Fiona finds Nigel dead, an apparent suicide. Refusing to accept the verdict, a distraught Fiona employs a detective to help her discover the truth…
Searching for the true owner of the painting brings Fiona close to someone who opens a chink in her broken heart. Can she answer some crucial questions before laying her brother’s ghost to rest?
Who betrayed Leo?
Who knew about the stolen Renoir?
And are they prepared to kill – again?
Purchase Link – Amazon UK
My Review of The Betrayal
This is the first book I have read in The Guernsey Novels series and I have to say that it works really well as a standalone novel, so don’t be put off by the fact that it is the sixth book in the series.
The book is split into two timelines, first there is Guernsey in the 1940’s, where a family is split by the threat of imminent war. Then on to 2011 where twins Fiona and Nigel move to Guernsey to open an antique shop.
At the heart of the story is a painting, thought to be a Renoir, and a suspicious death.
Are they connected? and who is the paintings rightful owner?
Devastated by her brother’s death, Fiona employs a private detective to help her track the provenance of the painting, and they work together to unravel the mystery.
The island of Guernsey is described so vividly by the author.Every character is multi-layered, there is even a hint of supernatural and romance laced within the pages. The historical references are well researched and give a poignant edge to the story.
Highly recommended, I will be looking out for more in this series, a really enjoyable read.
Thank you to Rachel for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Author Bio –
Anne Allen lives in Devon, by her beloved sea. She has three children, and her daughter and two grandchildren live nearby. Her restless spirit has meant a number of moves which included Spain for a couple of years. The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns.
By profession, Anne was a psychotherapist, but long had the itch to write. Now a full-time writer, she has written The Guernsey Novels, six having been published and the seventh, The Inheritance, is due out in 2018.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review The Betrayal. I’m glad you liked it and hope you go on to read the others in the series ☺
Thank you for dropping by, I loved it, read it in a day!