Treachery and theft lead to death – and love
1940. 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…
1942. Leo, of Jewish descent, is betrayed to the Germans and is sent to a concentration camp, never to return.
1945. 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.
2011. Nigel 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 rightful 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?
The Betrayal by Anne Allen is the sixth in her Guernsey Novels series and was published last year. My thanks to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources who invited me to take part in this Blog Tour and supplied me with a copy of the book for review.
I've read and enjoyed Anne Allen's novels in the past and was looking forward to returning to her wonderfully descriptive Guernsey setting once more. The Betrayal is an intriguing and well imagined novel set both in the present day and during World War II
Whilst there are a few characters in The Betrayal who are familiar from the other novels in the series, The Betrayal is a stand-alone story.
Central to the plot is a previously unknown Renoir painting, discovered in a dark cellar underneath an antiques shop that Fiona and her twin brother Nigel have recently bought. Becoming shop owners is a complete change in direction for both of them, but recent life events have meant that they've returned to their home island of Guernsey and decided to risk a new venture.
Sadly, for Nigel, things don't turn out well, and Fiona is devastated when Nigel dies suddenly. She's also convinced that, despite what the police say, he didn't take his own life. Only Fiona knows about the Renoir that they discovered hidden away, and as time goes on she becomes more and more convinced that the painting led to Nigel's death.
Meanwhile, back in 1940s Guernsey, Leo has sent his wife and young son to England to safety. He is convinced that the Germans will invade the island very soon and he wants to ensure that his family are safe. However, he refuses to leave the island, and his antiques shop.
Anne Allen writes with flair and great imagination. Her characters are well rounded and totally realistic and her setting is wonderful. Both modern-day and war time Guernsey are brought to life and the added mystery of 'the betrayal' is particularly engaging.
The Betrayal is a great addition to the Guernsey novel series, I enjoyed it very much.
A Triple Celebration and a Price Reduction!
For this week only, until 18th February, the price of books 2-6 of The Guernsey Novels is only £1.99/$2.99, with book 1, 'Dangerous Waters, remaining at 99p/99c
This is in celebration of Anne Allen's birthday, the 6th anniversary of the publication of 'Dangerous Waters' and the recent publication of book 6, 'The Betrayal'.
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.
Website: www.anneallen.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anne-Allen-Author-176883759173475/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneAllen21
Hi Anne, many thanks for reading and reviewing The Betrayal and so glad you enjoyed coming back to Guernsey! I'm now writing book 7, out later this year, The Inheritance, set partly in Victorian Guernsey this time ☺
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