The Light in the Ruins [Paperback]

From the New York Times bestselling author of Midwives and The Sandcastle Girls comes a spellbinding novel of love, despair, and revenge—set in war-ravaged Tuscany.

1943: Tucked away in the idyllic hills of Tuscany, the Rosatis, an Italian family of noble lineage, believe that the walls of their ancient villa will keep them safe from the war raging across Europe. But when two soldiers—a German and an Italian—arrive at their doorstep asking to see an ancient Etruscan burial site, the Rosatis’ bucolic tranquility is shattered.
 
1955: Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence Police Department, has successfully hidden her tragic scars from WWII, at least until she’s assigned to a gruesome new case—a serial killer who is targeting the remaining members of the Rosati family one by one. Soon, she will find herself digging into past secrets that will reveal a breathtaking story of moral paradox, human frailty, and the mysterious ways of the heart.AnO, The Oprah Magazine Must-Read Book

“Suspenseful to the end, this is both a satisfying mystery and a gut-wrenching account of moral dilemma in a time of moral struggle.”
—People, 4 Stars

“Dead solid perfect. Bohjalian has written another winner.”
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
 
“Brilliantly crafted. . . . Will tear your heart out.”
—The Washington Post
 
“Addictive, fast-paced. . . . Fling open the shutters. Settle in a comfortable chair. Lock the doors. Then turn to the first page ofThe Light in the Ruinsand let the shadows in.”
—The Philadelphia Inquirer

“At the heart of a good novel is a good story, and this story is a doozy. Bohjalian expertly weaves together a tale of how [WWII] split Italy between the people who willingly collaboratl3U