Two interconnected murders, 64 years apart. One woman's search for truth and identity.
Readers' comments: 'impeccably written', 'amazing', 'one of a kind', 'loved this book', 'a wonderful read", 'absolutely beautiful', 'brought tears to my eyes' and many more
Plot
Set partly in rural England, partly on the sun-kissed coast of southerm Italy, The Painted Altar is a murder mystery mixed with romantic and historical elements (World War Two). Given away at two days old, Mary Rice has spent her life in the shadows. When discovering the suspicious circumstances surrounding her biological mother's death, she embarks on a journey which will shine a light not only on the truth but also on her own identity.
Brief extract
Suddenly, the door had inched open, half a wrinkled face visible behind the tautened chain.
"Hello. Who is it?"
The words I was going to say had of course been well-rehearsed, repeated over and over in my mind like a mantra, but now that the moment had arrived I found myself struggling to remember them.
"Mrs Harvey... I think that you might... well, that you might be..."
The door closed, then slowly opened once more, the chain this time unlatched. And there she was before me - half a metre away, within arm's reach. Thin lips gradually crooking upwards at each corner like the slow beatific kindling of a summer's dawn.
"Oh yes love, I know who you are."
Length: 70,000 words (250-300 standard novel pages)