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The Light in the Ruins
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2013)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 south of Florence, 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. Eighteen-year-old Cristina spends her days swimming in the pool, playing with her young niece and nephew, and wandering aimlessly amid the estate’s gardens and olive groves. But when two soldiers, a German and an Italian, arrive at the villa asking to see an ancient Etruscan burial site, the Rosatis’ bucolic tranquility is shattered. A young German lieutenant begins to court Cristina, the Nazis descend upon the estate demanding hospitality, and what was once their sanctuary becomes their prison.
1955: Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, has her own demons. A beautiful woman, Serafina carefully hides her scars along with her haunting memories of the war. But when she is assigned to a gruesome new case—a serial killer targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood—Serafina finds herself digging into a past that involves both the victims and her own tragic history.
Set against an exquisitely rendered Italian countryside, The Light in the Ruins unveils a breathtaking story of moral paradox, human frailty, and the mysterious ways of the heart.
1943: Tucked away in the idyllic hills south of Florence, 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. Eighteen-year-old Cristina spends her days swimming in the pool, playing with her young niece and nephew, and wandering aimlessly amid the estate’s gardens and olive groves. But when two soldiers, a German and an Italian, arrive at the villa asking to see an ancient Etruscan burial site, the Rosatis’ bucolic tranquility is shattered. A young German lieutenant begins to court Cristina, the Nazis descend upon the estate demanding hospitality, and what was once their sanctuary becomes their prison.
1955: Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, has her own demons. A beautiful woman, Serafina carefully hides her scars along with her haunting memories of the war. But when she is assigned to a gruesome new case—a serial killer targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood—Serafina finds herself digging into a past that involves both the victims and her own tragic history.
Set against an exquisitely rendered Italian countryside, The Light in the Ruins unveils a breathtaking story of moral paradox, human frailty, and the mysterious ways of the heart.
309 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Chris Bohjalian
36 books12.2k followersChris Bohjalian is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 24 books. His work has been translated into 35 languages and become three movies and an Emmy-nominated TV series.
Look for his next novel on March 19, 2024: THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS. (Yes, you can preorder it as a hardcover, eBook, or on audio wherever you buy books.)
The paperback of THE LIONESS went on sale this summer. It is already in development for a limited TV series from e One and Marsh Entertainment. A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood star and her entourage in this riveting historical thriller, about which the New York Times wrote in its spring preview, "Bohjalian steers this runaway Land Rover of a story into some wildly entertaining territory." The Boston Globe wrote, "Bohjalian, one of our finest storytellers, weaves his spellbinding magic."
Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist all gave it starred reviews.
His 2021 novel, HOUR OF THE WITCH, is a tale of historical suspense set in 1662 Boston, a story of the first divorce in North America for domestic violence -- and a subsequent witch trial. Diana Gabaldon in her review in the Washington Post called it "historical fiction at its best." Danielle Trussoni in the New York Times called it "harrowing."
His 2020 novel, “The Red Lotus,” is a twisting story of love and deceit: an American man vanishes on a rural road in Vietnam and his girlfriend, an emergency room doctor trained to ask questions, follows a path that leads her home to the very hospital where they met, and is also in development for a TV series. In the New York Times, Sarah Lyall called it, “Terrific. . .[an] elegant noose of a plot. . .Bohjalian is a pleasure to read. He writes muscular, clear, propulsive sentences. . .As suspenseful as it is, The Red Lotus is also unexpectedly moving — about friendship, about the connections between people and, most of all, about the love of parents for children and of children for parents. Bohjalian is a writer with a big heart and deep compassion for his characters.”
His 2018 novel, “The Flight Attendant,” debuted as a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and National Indiebound Bestseller. It is now HBO Max TV series, starring Kaley Cuoco. Season two landed in April 2022.
He is also a playwright and screenwriter. He has a new play, "The Club," arriving at the George Street Playhouse in February 2024,
His other plays include his adaptation of his novel, "Midwives," and "Wingspan," (originally called "Grounded").
His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, and Salon.
His awards include the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts; the ANCA Freedom Award for his work educating Americans about the Armenian Genocide; the ANCA Arts and Letters Award for The Sandcastle Girls, as well as the Saint Mesrob Mashdots Medal; the New England Society Book Award for The Night Strangers; the New England Book Award; Russia’s Soglasie (Concord) Award for The Sandcastle Girls; a Boston Public Library Literary Light; a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Trans-Sister Radio; a Best Lifestyle Column for “Idyll Banter” from the Vermont Press Association; and the Anahid Literary Award. His novel, Midwives,was a number one New York Times bestseller, a selection of Oprah’s Book Club, and a New England Booksellers Association Discovery pick. He is a Fellow of the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He has written for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, and The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. He was a weekly columnist in Vermont for The Burlington Free Press from 1992 through 2015.
Chris graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Amherst C
Look for his next novel on March 19, 2024: THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS. (Yes, you can preorder it as a hardcover, eBook, or on audio wherever you buy books.)
The paperback of THE LIONESS went on sale this summer. It is already in development for a limited TV series from e One and Marsh Entertainment. A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood star and her entourage in this riveting historical thriller, about which the New York Times wrote in its spring preview, "Bohjalian steers this runaway Land Rover of a story into some wildly entertaining territory." The Boston Globe wrote, "Bohjalian, one of our finest storytellers, weaves his spellbinding magic."
Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist all gave it starred reviews.
His 2021 novel, HOUR OF THE WITCH, is a tale of historical suspense set in 1662 Boston, a story of the first divorce in North America for domestic violence -- and a subsequent witch trial. Diana Gabaldon in her review in the Washington Post called it "historical fiction at its best." Danielle Trussoni in the New York Times called it "harrowing."
His 2020 novel, “The Red Lotus,” is a twisting story of love and deceit: an American man vanishes on a rural road in Vietnam and his girlfriend, an emergency room doctor trained to ask questions, follows a path that leads her home to the very hospital where they met, and is also in development for a TV series. In the New York Times, Sarah Lyall called it, “Terrific. . .[an] elegant noose of a plot. . .Bohjalian is a pleasure to read. He writes muscular, clear, propulsive sentences. . .As suspenseful as it is, The Red Lotus is also unexpectedly moving — about friendship, about the connections between people and, most of all, about the love of parents for children and of children for parents. Bohjalian is a writer with a big heart and deep compassion for his characters.”
His 2018 novel, “The Flight Attendant,” debuted as a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and National Indiebound Bestseller. It is now HBO Max TV series, starring Kaley Cuoco. Season two landed in April 2022.
He is also a playwright and screenwriter. He has a new play, "The Club," arriving at the George Street Playhouse in February 2024,
His other plays include his adaptation of his novel, "Midwives," and "Wingspan," (originally called "Grounded").
His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, and Salon.
His awards include the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts; the ANCA Freedom Award for his work educating Americans about the Armenian Genocide; the ANCA Arts and Letters Award for The Sandcastle Girls, as well as the Saint Mesrob Mashdots Medal; the New England Society Book Award for The Night Strangers; the New England Book Award; Russia’s Soglasie (Concord) Award for The Sandcastle Girls; a Boston Public Library Literary Light; a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Trans-Sister Radio; a Best Lifestyle Column for “Idyll Banter” from the Vermont Press Association; and the Anahid Literary Award. His novel, Midwives,was a number one New York Times bestseller, a selection of Oprah’s Book Club, and a New England Booksellers Association Discovery pick. He is a Fellow of the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He has written for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, and The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. He was a weekly columnist in Vermont for The Burlington Free Press from 1992 through 2015.
Chris graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Amherst C
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,308 reviews
October 20, 2013
I'm a little baffled by the glowing reviews for this book. I felt that it dragged. It took me two weeks to read and it was only sheer stubbornness that kept me going. It's set in Tuscany and the story unfolds in dual storylines. In 1943-44, the wealthy Rosati family are living in the Villa Chimera and somewhat reluctantly playing host to a number of Nazis who come to visit a recently discovered Etruscan tomb on their land. In 1955, the same family are being targeted one by one by a serial killer. Detective Serafina Bettini is trying to find the serial killer and to understand what might have happened during the war to make the family a target today. She will also discover that she holds a very personal connection with the Rosati family.
One thing that frustrated me about this book is that it couldn't decide what it wanted to be. In part, it's a murder mystery, but there is virtually no way that the reader can work out the solution for themselves. In part it's a romance, but it felt like the author lost interest in the romance because it's almost entirely absent from the final third of the book. Moreover, the way that the story is told in two timeframes means that much of the suspense from the 1943 events is lost because we already have a sense of what is going to happen and who is going to survive that period.
There is a large host of characters and they all tend to blur. I didn't really feel any connection to any of them, except maybe to Cristina and Serafina, but even then there was so much going on that Cristina almost fades away as a main character and Serafina doesn't have enough of an arc. Sensitive readers should also be aware that there are graphic murder details and other cruelty eg to animals is spelled out in detail.
One thing that frustrated me about this book is that it couldn't decide what it wanted to be. In part, it's a murder mystery, but there is virtually no way that the reader can work out the solution for themselves. In part it's a romance, but it felt like the author lost interest in the romance because it's almost entirely absent from the final third of the book. Moreover, the way that the story is told in two timeframes means that much of the suspense from the 1943 events is lost because we already have a sense of what is going to happen and who is going to survive that period.
There is a large host of characters and they all tend to blur. I didn't really feel any connection to any of them, except maybe to Cristina and Serafina, but even then there was so much going on that Cristina almost fades away as a main character and Serafina doesn't have enough of an arc. Sensitive readers should also be aware that there are graphic murder details and other cruelty eg to animals is spelled out in detail.
September 16, 2013
The Light in the Ruins stoked my fondness for historical fiction set in Italy. I expected art, history, romance, family turmoil, maybe a little mystery. I didn’t expect to get sucked into a tense and rewarding page-turner with beautiful prose and well-rendered characters.
Not one for “procedurals”, I nevertheless enjoyed the set up: a serial killer is stalking family members from a formerly illustrious Tuscan clan. The killer has a vendetta and some pretty gnarly hospital instruments.
Although Chris Bohjalian starts with a great hook (Who is this killer?), he effortlessly slips into a family saga involving all the members of the Rosati family. Two distinct period settings come to life. We travel between the outskirts of Florence in 1943 and the same area several years later, in 1955.
In 1955, a detective named Serafina Bettini is closing in on the killer and rounding up the remaining Rosati family. In 1943, we witness the Rosatis tangling with Nazis and partisans, challenged by the historical anguish brought on during World War II. The family must make some painful choices that will impact them in the future.
The prose and the locations come to life in Bohjalian’s capable hands. The historical details mostly steer clear of clichés and Bohjalian explores Etruscan art motifs and references to Dante with aplomb.
I particularly enjoyed Serafina, whose own history is woven into the events of the story. As a female detective in Italy in the 50’s, she’s an anomaly but not a cipher and Bohjalian clearly savors developing her stake in the story’s outcome.
I wonder how Bohjalian feels about Dan Brown’s Inferno, which uses a similar setting and also incorporates Dante’s life and works. Luckily, there’s room for both books on many summer reading lists.
Not one for “procedurals”, I nevertheless enjoyed the set up: a serial killer is stalking family members from a formerly illustrious Tuscan clan. The killer has a vendetta and some pretty gnarly hospital instruments.
Although Chris Bohjalian starts with a great hook (Who is this killer?), he effortlessly slips into a family saga involving all the members of the Rosati family. Two distinct period settings come to life. We travel between the outskirts of Florence in 1943 and the same area several years later, in 1955.
In 1955, a detective named Serafina Bettini is closing in on the killer and rounding up the remaining Rosati family. In 1943, we witness the Rosatis tangling with Nazis and partisans, challenged by the historical anguish brought on during World War II. The family must make some painful choices that will impact them in the future.
The prose and the locations come to life in Bohjalian’s capable hands. The historical details mostly steer clear of clichés and Bohjalian explores Etruscan art motifs and references to Dante with aplomb.
I particularly enjoyed Serafina, whose own history is woven into the events of the story. As a female detective in Italy in the 50’s, she’s an anomaly but not a cipher and Bohjalian clearly savors developing her stake in the story’s outcome.
I wonder how Bohjalian feels about Dan Brown’s Inferno, which uses a similar setting and also incorporates Dante’s life and works. Luckily, there’s room for both books on many summer reading lists.
November 1, 2012
What is it about a Chris Bohjalian book that keeps you reading? Is it the building of the story the way an orchestra builds to the finale? Is it the character development with snippets of information about each one? Is it the history of the time period with lots of facts mixed in with some fiction mixed with your own imagination?
Yes to all of the above!
With this story you get to follow an Italian family's struggle with the occupation of their villa, Chimera by the Nazis during WWII. Struggle is such an understatement of what the Rosatis went through during that time and after the war. How can one split second decision in the beginning by Anthony effect the family for the rest of their lives?
There is so much to this book that I am struggling to put into words. There are strong family bonds even when a family does not exist. There is loyalty to country and land even when it is all gone. And the betrayal and heartache is overwhelming at times. There were parts of this book that made me gasp out loud.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about WWII, serial killers, romance, etc...It is all here in this one book.
Many many many thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for this ARC.
Yes to all of the above!
With this story you get to follow an Italian family's struggle with the occupation of their villa, Chimera by the Nazis during WWII. Struggle is such an understatement of what the Rosatis went through during that time and after the war. How can one split second decision in the beginning by Anthony effect the family for the rest of their lives?
There is so much to this book that I am struggling to put into words. There are strong family bonds even when a family does not exist. There is loyalty to country and land even when it is all gone. And the betrayal and heartache is overwhelming at times. There were parts of this book that made me gasp out loud.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about WWII, serial killers, romance, etc...It is all here in this one book.
Many many many thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for this ARC.
February 13, 2016
Originally posted at Curvy and Nerdy Blog.
During poignant times, the Rosati family was faced with a moral dilemma that affected them still years after the war was over. From the beginning, as readers, we are brought into a world where a killer has obviously set their sights on the family with a grudge that roots deep. We then experience the story of what was, and more grippingly, what this family had to go through when decision after decision intertwined them more firmly with a rapidly losing Germany. A Germany supported by Mussolini Black Shirts bringing Italy firmly into the war in what would eventually be known as the losing side. The story remains enigmatic to the very end, leaving us to speculate and wonder at the reasoning and perpetrator targeting the family. We are treated to the perspective of Serafina, a female detective in charge of the investigation who has a connection to the family even she was not aware of until the story begins to unravel. She is an anomaly in that time, being a female detective. The narrative is eloquent and enthralling as I found myself absorbing the history that is accurately represented in the pages. I found myself doing additional research to better immerse myself in the accounting of it. It was truly an engaging read that I found difficult to put down.
During poignant times, the Rosati family was faced with a moral dilemma that affected them still years after the war was over. From the beginning, as readers, we are brought into a world where a killer has obviously set their sights on the family with a grudge that roots deep. We then experience the story of what was, and more grippingly, what this family had to go through when decision after decision intertwined them more firmly with a rapidly losing Germany. A Germany supported by Mussolini Black Shirts bringing Italy firmly into the war in what would eventually be known as the losing side. The story remains enigmatic to the very end, leaving us to speculate and wonder at the reasoning and perpetrator targeting the family. We are treated to the perspective of Serafina, a female detective in charge of the investigation who has a connection to the family even she was not aware of until the story begins to unravel. She is an anomaly in that time, being a female detective. The narrative is eloquent and enthralling as I found myself absorbing the history that is accurately represented in the pages. I found myself doing additional research to better immerse myself in the accounting of it. It was truly an engaging read that I found difficult to put down.
September 3, 2015
I see a movie in the making!!!! :)
July 11, 2013
I don't think I am a Chris Bohjalian fan.
Granted, this is only my second time reading him, but I have many of the same problems here as I did before. I actually requested this book from NetGalley because I thought the plot sounded promising, and I worked very hard to give Chris a clean mental slate on which he could impress me and change my opinion.
This book, by the way, is about a wealthy Italian family during World War II. In 1943, the Rosatis' property is of great interest to Germans who are looking to gather the archaeological artifacts from an Etruscan tomb on the grounds to keep in their own museums. One of the German soldiers involved in the museum coordination falls for the youngest Rosati daughter, Christina. A decade later, Christina's sister-in-law Francesca is murdered in a brutal fashion. Serafina, the first female homicide detective in Italy, has a connection to the Rosatis and wonders how the murder might be connected to the events of the war.
I just don't like the way he writes exposition or foreshadowing. He does it in such a way that his twist endings do not make sense to me in the context of the first 97% of the book. He has a tendency to give away plot points very early on in a way that, for me, saps the tension out of the back half of the story.
I really can't explain why these things didn't work for me without giving away the ending so only open this spoiler if you already know what happens or don't care.
All that being said, Bohjalian's a popular guy so if you disagreed with my feelings on The Double Bind, you'll probably disagree with me here, too. I seem to be in the minority as a Bohjalian skeptic.
Granted, this is only my second time reading him, but I have many of the same problems here as I did before. I actually requested this book from NetGalley because I thought the plot sounded promising, and I worked very hard to give Chris a clean mental slate on which he could impress me and change my opinion.
This book, by the way, is about a wealthy Italian family during World War II. In 1943, the Rosatis' property is of great interest to Germans who are looking to gather the archaeological artifacts from an Etruscan tomb on the grounds to keep in their own museums. One of the German soldiers involved in the museum coordination falls for the youngest Rosati daughter, Christina. A decade later, Christina's sister-in-law Francesca is murdered in a brutal fashion. Serafina, the first female homicide detective in Italy, has a connection to the Rosatis and wonders how the murder might be connected to the events of the war.
I just don't like the way he writes exposition or foreshadowing. He does it in such a way that his twist endings do not make sense to me in the context of the first 97% of the book. He has a tendency to give away plot points very early on in a way that, for me, saps the tension out of the back half of the story.
I really can't explain why these things didn't work for me without giving away the ending so only open this spoiler if you already know what happens or don't care.
All that being said, Bohjalian's a popular guy so if you disagreed with my feelings on The Double Bind, you'll probably disagree with me here, too. I seem to be in the minority as a Bohjalian skeptic.
July 11, 2013
My Thoughts
The short review: Brilliant! Go order this right now. You’re welcome.
The long review:
This story is told in alternating chapters. Some chapters are based in 1943 and others are in 1955. All is set in Italy. Interspersed are short chapters related to the individual who is killing the remaining Rosati family. The main female characters are Serafina and Christina. In 1943, both women are teenagers and in many ways are polar opposites of each other. Christina Rosati is a teenager who has everything to lose due to the ongoing war and Italy’s alliance with Germany. Slipping away is her privileged life as the only daughter of a marchese, along with her very first romance. Unfortunately, this romance is with a German officer. Serafina on the other hand has nothing to lose, because all for her is already lost. Her family has been killed and her only option is to join up with partisan’s fighting against the Nazis, who have been busy pillaging anything of value from Italy, under the guise of being allies.
By 1955, Serafina is a detective and is assigned to a investigate the case of who is gruesomely murdering the Rosatis. Because of this, she meets up with Christina. At this point, both women have more similarities than differences. Both carry the emotional scars that the end of the war brought them and Serafina has the added burden of physical scars from an event that occurred as the German’s were trying to flee Italy.
This story was very intense. It is one of those books that was so suspenseful, I did not want to put it down. I could not read fast enough, yet I didn’t want it to end. This was so well written that I felt every heartache, every scary moment, and at the end, I was surprised at the identity of the killer.
Chris Bohjalian is on my very, very short list of favorite authors. I have discovered that having “favorite” authors can be a double edged sword. Yes, in most instances, books that I have read by a favorite are typically very good. Sometimes though, the level of anticipation and expectation sets the bar so high that I’m not sure the books even have a fair chance to come up to snuff.
Not so with The Light in the Ruins. I thought this was outstanding and was far beyond anything I had expected. Bravo Mr. Bojhalian.
I am grateful to Doubleday Books, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
Publish date: July 9, 2013.
The short review: Brilliant! Go order this right now. You’re welcome.
The long review:
This story is told in alternating chapters. Some chapters are based in 1943 and others are in 1955. All is set in Italy. Interspersed are short chapters related to the individual who is killing the remaining Rosati family. The main female characters are Serafina and Christina. In 1943, both women are teenagers and in many ways are polar opposites of each other. Christina Rosati is a teenager who has everything to lose due to the ongoing war and Italy’s alliance with Germany. Slipping away is her privileged life as the only daughter of a marchese, along with her very first romance. Unfortunately, this romance is with a German officer. Serafina on the other hand has nothing to lose, because all for her is already lost. Her family has been killed and her only option is to join up with partisan’s fighting against the Nazis, who have been busy pillaging anything of value from Italy, under the guise of being allies.
By 1955, Serafina is a detective and is assigned to a investigate the case of who is gruesomely murdering the Rosatis. Because of this, she meets up with Christina. At this point, both women have more similarities than differences. Both carry the emotional scars that the end of the war brought them and Serafina has the added burden of physical scars from an event that occurred as the German’s were trying to flee Italy.
This story was very intense. It is one of those books that was so suspenseful, I did not want to put it down. I could not read fast enough, yet I didn’t want it to end. This was so well written that I felt every heartache, every scary moment, and at the end, I was surprised at the identity of the killer.
Chris Bohjalian is on my very, very short list of favorite authors. I have discovered that having “favorite” authors can be a double edged sword. Yes, in most instances, books that I have read by a favorite are typically very good. Sometimes though, the level of anticipation and expectation sets the bar so high that I’m not sure the books even have a fair chance to come up to snuff.
Not so with The Light in the Ruins. I thought this was outstanding and was far beyond anything I had expected. Bravo Mr. Bojhalian.
I am grateful to Doubleday Books, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
Publish date: July 9, 2013.
September 17, 2016
"The Light in the Ruins" is a historical mystery set in Florence and the Tuscan countryside. A killer's sinister thoughts show that he/she wants to destroy the Rosati family. The murderer's calling card is to leave the victims with their hearts cut out in several attacks in 1955. Why are the Rosatis being targeted?
A narrative set in 1943 tells the Rosati family story from the points of view of several members of the family. They owned the Villa Chimera, and had olive groves and vineyards on their Tuscan property. An Etruscan necropolis on their grounds attracted the interest of the Nazis who were removing valuable artwork from Italy. The Rosatis were put in the difficult position of having to entertain, and eventually billet some Nazi soldiers. Meanwhile, the oldest son Vittore Rosati is trying to save Italian art treasures from destruction or transport to Nazi Germany. Another son is fighting in Sicily while his wife and children stay at the villa. The daughter Cristina is attracted to a German soldier who returns her love. Although the Nazis were allied with the Italians, they acted more like a force of occupation as the war progressed. The patriarch of the family had to make some questionable, tough decisions in order to keep his family safe during the war.
Serafina Bettini is the only woman in the Florence homicide unit. She is a former partisan who targeted both the Nazis and the Italian facists during World War II. As Serafina investigates the murders of the Rosatis, traumatic memories of 1943 continue to haunt her.
The book is told in three narratives featuring Serafina, the Rosati family, and the murderer. The story kept me in suspense, and I was unable to guess the identity of the killer. While the book did not delve deeply into the minds of any one character, it did give a good overview of the situations people faced in wartime Italy.
A narrative set in 1943 tells the Rosati family story from the points of view of several members of the family. They owned the Villa Chimera, and had olive groves and vineyards on their Tuscan property. An Etruscan necropolis on their grounds attracted the interest of the Nazis who were removing valuable artwork from Italy. The Rosatis were put in the difficult position of having to entertain, and eventually billet some Nazi soldiers. Meanwhile, the oldest son Vittore Rosati is trying to save Italian art treasures from destruction or transport to Nazi Germany. Another son is fighting in Sicily while his wife and children stay at the villa. The daughter Cristina is attracted to a German soldier who returns her love. Although the Nazis were allied with the Italians, they acted more like a force of occupation as the war progressed. The patriarch of the family had to make some questionable, tough decisions in order to keep his family safe during the war.
Serafina Bettini is the only woman in the Florence homicide unit. She is a former partisan who targeted both the Nazis and the Italian facists during World War II. As Serafina investigates the murders of the Rosatis, traumatic memories of 1943 continue to haunt her.
The book is told in three narratives featuring Serafina, the Rosati family, and the murderer. The story kept me in suspense, and I was unable to guess the identity of the killer. While the book did not delve deeply into the minds of any one character, it did give a good overview of the situations people faced in wartime Italy.
February 8, 2017
Mr Bohjalian can be depended on to deliver a story with full, rich characters and a well thought out storyline that flows and is beautifully written. If it is a historical fiction piece he must do massive research as I know I will always learn something. Most of his works that I have read are told from different viewpoints and often during different time periods. This often does not work but he is the master of this technique.
This story takes place in Italy, both at the end of WWII as the Germans are pushed out of Italy, and about 10 years later as the story of the Rosati families role in the war unfolds while investigating some brutal murders. It is a bit of a mystery that detective Seraphina works to solve while reliving her own role during the War. The past and present are about to collide.
The characters are so diverse. Their feelings about the war, the Germans who invaded their country and homes, their own roles and perspectives are so unique. This was a family who learned how to survive a horrible time. I was sympathetic to some of the characters and found a few horrible. Bohalian makes the reader think a bit about what one might do or become in certain situations.
I enjoyed the characters and the back story the most. The murder plot was good and I loved that the voice of the killer was heard throughout the story. I listened to the audio which was wonderfully narrated and the killer especially creepy! I did however think the end was a bit anticlimactic, though believable.
Not quite my favorite of his, but well done. 3.5 stars for the rich characters and beautiful writing. Up to 4 for the great narration of the audio.
This story takes place in Italy, both at the end of WWII as the Germans are pushed out of Italy, and about 10 years later as the story of the Rosati families role in the war unfolds while investigating some brutal murders. It is a bit of a mystery that detective Seraphina works to solve while reliving her own role during the War. The past and present are about to collide.
The characters are so diverse. Their feelings about the war, the Germans who invaded their country and homes, their own roles and perspectives are so unique. This was a family who learned how to survive a horrible time. I was sympathetic to some of the characters and found a few horrible. Bohalian makes the reader think a bit about what one might do or become in certain situations.
I enjoyed the characters and the back story the most. The murder plot was good and I loved that the voice of the killer was heard throughout the story. I listened to the audio which was wonderfully narrated and the killer especially creepy! I did however think the end was a bit anticlimactic, though believable.
Not quite my favorite of his, but well done. 3.5 stars for the rich characters and beautiful writing. Up to 4 for the great narration of the audio.
September 10, 2013
4.5 stars
"There is no greater sorrow than to recall our time of joy in wretchedness."
-Dante
1943-44 near the end of German occupation in Tuscany, the Rosatis, a titled family, entertained and danced with the enemy at their Villa Chimera. They were favored by the Germans while the ravages of war play out around them. Eleven years later, surviving members of the Rosati family are targeted by a ruthless murderer. More intriguing is the entanglement of the investigator on the case; Serafina Bettini's obscure past may have some fateful and deadly links to the Rosatis.
This was a suspenseful, wartime historical novel with a believable mix of characters from every class, painting a time when horrific actions were made under duress, and the subsequent backlash resulting from those actions.
Could such actions be justifiable in the face of one's survival or utter demise? The question that kept circulating throughout the novel was: "Did they have a choice?"
For the one who lost everything in the war: "we always have choices."
"Those were messy years. We all made friends and we all made enemies. Most of us did whatever it took to stay alive. By 1944, if the Germans weren't lining you up against a wall and shooting you for protecting the partisans, the partisans were lining you up against a wall and shooting you for collaborating with the Germans".
Chris Bohjilian's well written story gave me a solid sense of a family's strength tested in the wake of destruction, of undeniable need for revenge and retribution, of forgiveness for actions and choices made in the hell of war; to treasure what remains, and search for the light in the ruins.
"There is no greater sorrow than to recall our time of joy in wretchedness."
-Dante
1943-44 near the end of German occupation in Tuscany, the Rosatis, a titled family, entertained and danced with the enemy at their Villa Chimera. They were favored by the Germans while the ravages of war play out around them. Eleven years later, surviving members of the Rosati family are targeted by a ruthless murderer. More intriguing is the entanglement of the investigator on the case; Serafina Bettini's obscure past may have some fateful and deadly links to the Rosatis.
This was a suspenseful, wartime historical novel with a believable mix of characters from every class, painting a time when horrific actions were made under duress, and the subsequent backlash resulting from those actions.
Could such actions be justifiable in the face of one's survival or utter demise? The question that kept circulating throughout the novel was: "Did they have a choice?"
For the one who lost everything in the war: "we always have choices."
"Those were messy years. We all made friends and we all made enemies. Most of us did whatever it took to stay alive. By 1944, if the Germans weren't lining you up against a wall and shooting you for protecting the partisans, the partisans were lining you up against a wall and shooting you for collaborating with the Germans".
Chris Bohjilian's well written story gave me a solid sense of a family's strength tested in the wake of destruction, of undeniable need for revenge and retribution, of forgiveness for actions and choices made in the hell of war; to treasure what remains, and search for the light in the ruins.
June 18, 2016
If you have read this in book form and missed out on the audio, I feel sorry for you. Most of the audio version is beautifully narrated by Cassandra Campbell. But it is also interspersed throughout with some very, very creepy blurbs by the book's serial killer at work, planning and scheming what to do with the next heart he will carve out of his victims (read by Mark Bramhall). The killer's attempted display of intellectual superiority and his sly cunning put me in mind a bit of Hannibal Lecter. I found myself looking forward to his ruminations, his chapters, more than anything. Gave me the chilly willies. But then his ending seemed a bit anticlimactic for some reason and wrapped up too quickly.
Chris Bohjalian did a superb job on Skeletons at the Feast, depicting WWII Germany. Now he transports us to WWII Italy, and again I am in awe of his many talents and vast reserves of knowledge. Very beautifully written, maybe somewhat stretched out in the middle, but Tuscany cannot be boring for long.
This was my first taste in a long time of fiction involving Italy's history, and now I want more, please.
Chris Bohjalian did a superb job on Skeletons at the Feast, depicting WWII Germany. Now he transports us to WWII Italy, and again I am in awe of his many talents and vast reserves of knowledge. Very beautifully written, maybe somewhat stretched out in the middle, but Tuscany cannot be boring for long.
This was my first taste in a long time of fiction involving Italy's history, and now I want more, please.
July 1, 2013
Set in the early 1940's and alternating in the 1950's, this is about the Rosatis, a wealthy family with Etruscan paintings in a hidden spot in their groves, become tangled up in Hitler's crazy art scheme and war itself. Living in Florence they felt they were safe until they were not. This time period rotates between that time and the middle 1950's where a body of one of the family is found murdered.
This book did not grab me like so many others of his have. The connections seemed forced, the coincidences somewhat unbelievable and the musing of the killer I did not like at all. It is well written, really all his books are, and I did love reading about Florence, the history of the family and the times, but for me it never flowed seamlessly. ARC from publisher.
This book did not grab me like so many others of his have. The connections seemed forced, the coincidences somewhat unbelievable and the musing of the killer I did not like at all. It is well written, really all his books are, and I did love reading about Florence, the history of the family and the times, but for me it never flowed seamlessly. ARC from publisher.
December 4, 2013
Interesting mystery tale that reflected on the results of war even years after the war has ended on people's heart and minds. I was a bit bloody and gruesome but the overwhelming focus of revenge was clear cut.
The author kept the identity of the killer very well hidden until the very end and was able to explore the horrific conditions people were not only forced to live under but also forced to witness each and every day. The main character,Serafina, is not only marred by disfigurement, but also carries around a large measure of survivor guilt. She is a tragic character is every sense of the word. The Rosatis, thought as by some as collaborators, also struggle to come to terms with what once was their family and the land on which they were born to.
The author did a fine job explaining why we do what we do under circumstances that were both horrific and cruel.
The author kept the identity of the killer very well hidden until the very end and was able to explore the horrific conditions people were not only forced to live under but also forced to witness each and every day. The main character,Serafina, is not only marred by disfigurement, but also carries around a large measure of survivor guilt. She is a tragic character is every sense of the word. The Rosatis, thought as by some as collaborators, also struggle to come to terms with what once was their family and the land on which they were born to.
The author did a fine job explaining why we do what we do under circumstances that were both horrific and cruel.
May 5, 2013
Very good historical fiction murder/mystery... story takes place in Italy during the 50's but flashes back to the German occupation/alliance during WWII. First novel I've read that has centered on Italy during the war... which was very interesting! This definitely kept me trying to figure out 'who done it'... ending was a little anticlimactic but still a great story!
August 10, 2014
Each time I pick up a Boujalian book, I think, this is the one in which I will see what others see, the reason for his popularity and glowing reviews. And each time,page-turner that it may be, I come to the same conclusion:he has learned to sell books by manipulating readers with sensation, suspense and contrived melodrama.This book disturbs me on many levels. With it Bohjalian jumps on the bandwagon of now trendy WWII fiction,as if we needed one more novel exploiting the anguish of that generation. And I use the word exploit intentionally.There is a difference between novels like(for example) "Every Man Dies Alone", "Istanbul Passage",and "Sophie's Choice", which plumb the heart and soul of the characters and attempt to reach some deeper understanding of the inhumanity and brutality of that time, and "Light in the Ruins," which uses the backdrop of the Italian occupation by the Nazi's for a grisly,gratuitously violent serial killer thriller. Hearts are cut out and presented in boxes, and both humans and animals are tortured and killed(with a little sex thrown in for good measure), with no synthesizing compassion or moral compass to lead the reader to a more complete understanding of why the human beast does such things.The facile conclusion (we all had to made choices versus did we really have a choice?) is so shallow and brazenly trite that it is an insult to real life human beings who did experience the Italian front and suffered horrifically. I am appalled by Boujalian's impudence and self-serving commercialism.I am tempted to paraphrase a line from Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series, a quote from a scathing review of an artist: "He's a natural: he produces novels like it's a bodily function."
June 5, 2013
1943: 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 the villa asking to see an ancient Etruscan burial site, the Rosatis’ quiet life is shattered. A young German lieutenant begins to court Cristina, the Nazis descend upon the estate demanding hospitality, and what was once their sanctuary becomes their prison.
1955: A serial killer is targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood. Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, has her own demons and haunting memories of the war. But when she is assigned to the case, she finds herself digging into the victims' past and her own tragic history.
I read everything this author writes. Most I love, some are just ok. This one was just ok for me. I'm not sure exactly what didn't work for me. I enjoyed it when I was reading it--it just wasn't one of those that called to me. I felt like Serafina's connection to the murders was a stretch. What are the chances of her investigating murders that involved her past? I felt for all the Rosatis had to go through...I just didn't really connect with them. Many of the artifacts were unfamiliar to me and I had to look them up to fully understand what they were talking about. There were a lot of secondary characters introduced that really didn't have a lot to do with the story. The murderer's identity was a surprise for me too because I will still read Bohjalian's future novels. This one just wasn't a favorite for me.
1955: A serial killer is targeting the Rosatis, murdering the remnants of the family one-by-one in cold blood. Serafina Bettini, an investigator with the Florence police department, has her own demons and haunting memories of the war. But when she is assigned to the case, she finds herself digging into the victims' past and her own tragic history.
I read everything this author writes. Most I love, some are just ok. This one was just ok for me. I'm not sure exactly what didn't work for me. I enjoyed it when I was reading it--it just wasn't one of those that called to me. I felt like Serafina's connection to the murders was a stretch. What are the chances of her investigating murders that involved her past? I felt for all the Rosatis had to go through...I just didn't really connect with them. Many of the artifacts were unfamiliar to me and I had to look them up to fully understand what they were talking about. There were a lot of secondary characters introduced that really didn't have a lot to do with the story. The murderer's identity was a surprise for me too because I will still read Bohjalian's future novels. This one just wasn't a favorite for me.
January 10, 2014
I felt like this book could have been much better. The characters were well developed, and the story was interesting, but somehow it fell flat for me.
It flip flops back and forth between 1944 and 1955 with two story lines containing the same family, the Rosetis. The landscape was well done, I could easily picture Italy during and after the Second World War. It was nice to read about WWII and the Nazis from a different point of view, from the Italian front. The author did a good job of showing how awful they were to the Italians, even though they were supposed to be on the same side. There was also a little Monuments Men action in there with the taking and protecting of Italian masterpieces.
However, the conclusion was highly anticipated (I stayed up late finishing it last night because I wanted to know whodunit) but not at all exciting. I really didn't like it, and I felt like it left a lot of questions unanswered. Or at least I satisfied.
It's still a decent read, but it could have been a five star review if the author had tried a little harder.
It flip flops back and forth between 1944 and 1955 with two story lines containing the same family, the Rosetis. The landscape was well done, I could easily picture Italy during and after the Second World War. It was nice to read about WWII and the Nazis from a different point of view, from the Italian front. The author did a good job of showing how awful they were to the Italians, even though they were supposed to be on the same side. There was also a little Monuments Men action in there with the taking and protecting of Italian masterpieces.
However, the conclusion was highly anticipated (I stayed up late finishing it last night because I wanted to know whodunit) but not at all exciting. I really didn't like it, and I felt like it left a lot of questions unanswered. Or at least I satisfied.
It's still a decent read, but it could have been a five star review if the author had tried a little harder.
April 16, 2017
Ultimately this novel for me was about survival. It is about the things we do or don't when placed in horrific circumstances and then the unforeseen consequences of those actions. It had a little of everything, mystery, romance, violence.
June 23, 2019
2.75 stars
Although I consider myself a fan of Bohjalian's books, this story has been my least favorite so far. The descriptive prose was decadent, taking place in the Italian countryside. The WW2 setting had some interesting history about the Italian partisans. BUT....the execution of the plot didn't work for me. The story jumps around quite a bit between the 40's, which focuses on an Italian Marquis' family during WW2, and 50's, which involves a detective trying to stop a murderer from killing off this family one by one.
Unfortunately I found the time shifts to be quite confusing. It would take me awhile to figure out which time frame the plot was focusing on. I also kept getting confused between all of the different characters. I found the names hard to remember, and would forget who was who...And finally the WW2 storyline was lackluster. There was very little depth weaved into the story and characters. If you tend to read a lot of WW2 historical fictions, there wasn't anything in this book that really stood out and made it unique.
Just a so-so read that I probably could have quit midway through but chose to push on. If you've never read a book by this author before, I suggest trying another rather than this one as he has many excellent stories out there.
Although I consider myself a fan of Bohjalian's books, this story has been my least favorite so far. The descriptive prose was decadent, taking place in the Italian countryside. The WW2 setting had some interesting history about the Italian partisans. BUT....the execution of the plot didn't work for me. The story jumps around quite a bit between the 40's, which focuses on an Italian Marquis' family during WW2, and 50's, which involves a detective trying to stop a murderer from killing off this family one by one.
Unfortunately I found the time shifts to be quite confusing. It would take me awhile to figure out which time frame the plot was focusing on. I also kept getting confused between all of the different characters. I found the names hard to remember, and would forget who was who...And finally the WW2 storyline was lackluster. There was very little depth weaved into the story and characters. If you tend to read a lot of WW2 historical fictions, there wasn't anything in this book that really stood out and made it unique.
Just a so-so read that I probably could have quit midway through but chose to push on. If you've never read a book by this author before, I suggest trying another rather than this one as he has many excellent stories out there.
September 17, 2013
The thing is, the rifle sat there all night.
A page turner for sure but disappointing in the end. Hard to feel sorry for some of the characters. It's true, some of them are compelling, especially Franscesca. But I don't think it's possible to figure out who the killer is because SPOILER Alert (finished at bottom).
Post review that led me to read it: " Setting his story in the glorious Italian hills south of Florence, the author switches back and forth from the mid-1940s, while the war is raging, to the mid-’50s, when the murders take place. Interspersed throughout the story are more reports from the killer, who has already made it clear from Page 1 that he — or she — is out to destroy the remaining members of an entire family. The alternating time frame keeps the reader suspicious of everyone, but whether likable or loathsome, Bohjalian’s characters are utterly compelling.
In 1943, the Villa Chimera, owned by the noble Rosati family, is visited by a German officer and an Italian major. Cristina, the Rosatis’ winsome 18-year-old daughter, and their daughter-in-law Francesca (who, as we know, will be the killer’s first victim) are informed by the soldiers that select artistic treasures “may have to be moved to Germany for safeguarding until the end of the war.” Although Francesca understands that “safeguarding was a euphemism for theft,” she nonetheless knows she must take the soldiers to the “small Etruscan tomb” that was uncovered on the property. “It seems there were Germanic tribes here.And the Reichsführer is interested in the origins of the race.”
Believing the “small tomb” to be a large necropolis, the Nazis move in, looking for valuable artifacts. And as the Allies get closer, the pastoral setting of the villa, with its olive groves and verdant slopes, becomes a German encampment.
Fast forward to 1955: The case of the serial killer who’s targeting the Rosatis is being investigated in Florence by Chief Inspector Paolo Ficino. Working closely with him is Serafina Bettini, “the only woman in the small homicide unit, and despite her work with the partisans in 1943 and 1944 — when, in fact, she was a teenager — the men still treated her with either ham-handed attempts at chivalry or outright condescension.” Even with disfiguring scars on her back and neck caused by a fiery explosion in her teens, she is as beautiful as she is bold. Paolo hesitates to take her to the crime scene, where “someone had cut out the heart from a woman’s chest,” but when he does and describes the villa where the victim once lived, Serafina recognizes it as the place where she suffered her burns. Memories of the past begin to pull her into turbulent emotional territory
The cast continues to expand, time frames seem to converge, and the killer is still at large. But the book’s payoff is greater than figuring out whodunit. Bohjalian repeatedly confronts us with the moral dilemmas of wartime. For example, as Antonio Rosati grapples with the ignoble imperative of having to coexist with their German “partners,” he muses: “We make compromises. We look the other way. Then, when it’s over, we can’t look at ourselves in the mirror.” His daughter Cristina recalls a canto from Dante: “My family,” she thinks with disgust, “is commingling with the cowardly angels. We will pay. We will all pay.”
“The Light in the Ruins” was inspired by a memoir written by the marchesa Iris Origo that “chronicled life on her sun-drenched Tuscan estate when the nightmare of the Second World War rolled like a tsunami across her and her husband’s lands.” In this novel, Bohjalian contemplates painful choices while offering a tour-de-force murder mystery, heartbreaking romance and a dazzling denouement that will tear your heart out."
...no one even knew the person had survived the war!
A page turner for sure but disappointing in the end. Hard to feel sorry for some of the characters. It's true, some of them are compelling, especially Franscesca. But I don't think it's possible to figure out who the killer is because SPOILER Alert (finished at bottom).
Post review that led me to read it: " Setting his story in the glorious Italian hills south of Florence, the author switches back and forth from the mid-1940s, while the war is raging, to the mid-’50s, when the murders take place. Interspersed throughout the story are more reports from the killer, who has already made it clear from Page 1 that he — or she — is out to destroy the remaining members of an entire family. The alternating time frame keeps the reader suspicious of everyone, but whether likable or loathsome, Bohjalian’s characters are utterly compelling.
In 1943, the Villa Chimera, owned by the noble Rosati family, is visited by a German officer and an Italian major. Cristina, the Rosatis’ winsome 18-year-old daughter, and their daughter-in-law Francesca (who, as we know, will be the killer’s first victim) are informed by the soldiers that select artistic treasures “may have to be moved to Germany for safeguarding until the end of the war.” Although Francesca understands that “safeguarding was a euphemism for theft,” she nonetheless knows she must take the soldiers to the “small Etruscan tomb” that was uncovered on the property. “It seems there were Germanic tribes here.And the Reichsführer is interested in the origins of the race.”
Believing the “small tomb” to be a large necropolis, the Nazis move in, looking for valuable artifacts. And as the Allies get closer, the pastoral setting of the villa, with its olive groves and verdant slopes, becomes a German encampment.
Fast forward to 1955: The case of the serial killer who’s targeting the Rosatis is being investigated in Florence by Chief Inspector Paolo Ficino. Working closely with him is Serafina Bettini, “the only woman in the small homicide unit, and despite her work with the partisans in 1943 and 1944 — when, in fact, she was a teenager — the men still treated her with either ham-handed attempts at chivalry or outright condescension.” Even with disfiguring scars on her back and neck caused by a fiery explosion in her teens, she is as beautiful as she is bold. Paolo hesitates to take her to the crime scene, where “someone had cut out the heart from a woman’s chest,” but when he does and describes the villa where the victim once lived, Serafina recognizes it as the place where she suffered her burns. Memories of the past begin to pull her into turbulent emotional territory
The cast continues to expand, time frames seem to converge, and the killer is still at large. But the book’s payoff is greater than figuring out whodunit. Bohjalian repeatedly confronts us with the moral dilemmas of wartime. For example, as Antonio Rosati grapples with the ignoble imperative of having to coexist with their German “partners,” he muses: “We make compromises. We look the other way. Then, when it’s over, we can’t look at ourselves in the mirror.” His daughter Cristina recalls a canto from Dante: “My family,” she thinks with disgust, “is commingling with the cowardly angels. We will pay. We will all pay.”
“The Light in the Ruins” was inspired by a memoir written by the marchesa Iris Origo that “chronicled life on her sun-drenched Tuscan estate when the nightmare of the Second World War rolled like a tsunami across her and her husband’s lands.” In this novel, Bohjalian contemplates painful choices while offering a tour-de-force murder mystery, heartbreaking romance and a dazzling denouement that will tear your heart out."
...no one even knew the person had survived the war!
November 24, 2013
For this book to have so many characters I felt that the character development was weak. You get some build up to this murder mystery only to be let down considerably. I felt no connection to this book and overall was disappointed. I have another of his books on my list to read so I'll try again. Just never really enjoyed the book, it felt like too much work to read with no satisfaction after completion.
August 11, 2016
An interesting telling of an historical event that is not well known.
June 8, 2017
Well, this was not for me. Generally, I'm not a big fan of murder mysteries, nor war. However, this book initially appealed to me for its setting in Italy at the end of WWII and I keep thinking that I'll come around to this genre if I just give it a chance. Oh well. However, I'm getting to know myself better.
March 4, 2021
Excellent historical fiction. I had forgotten what a good writer Chris Bohjalian is!
July 12, 2013
I've read some WWII books set in Germany (City of Women, The Life of Objects), France (Suite Francaise) and England (The Guernsey Potato Peel & Literary Society and Phillip Rock's Abingdon Pryory trilogy), but I hadn't read many set in Italy.
Chris Bohjalian returns to historical fiction again after his last novel, The Sandcastle Girls, was set after WWI in Armenia during the genocide there. This time in The Light in the Ruins, we meet the Rosatis, Italian descendants of nobilty. They have a lovely large mansion near Florence and life is good until Italy decides to throw its fortunes in with Hitler's Germany.
What I find interesting about many of these books is the theme of what happens to people who want nothing to do with war, who do not support their government. They cannot openly defy their government, and they can hide from the war for only so long before it comes to their doorstep.
The story takes place both during WWII and ten years later when someone begins to murder the surviving members of the Rosati family. Daughter-in-law Francesca, who lost her husband and children to the war, is brutally butchered. It is thought that she picked up a strange man who killed her, until another Rosati is murdered.
We meet a female Italian homicide detective, Serafina Bettini, which is a unique job for a woman in Italy in the 1950s. Serafina has a fascinating past, and as the story unfolds, we discover her connection to the Rosatis. I loved this character and would enjoy seeing Serafina in another book (hint hint Mr. Bohjalian). Bohjalian has a knack for writing interesting, complicated female characters (Midwives, The Double Bind, The Sandcastle Girls).
The book moves back and forth in time, and we see how the Rosatis are drawn further into the war. One son, Francesca's husband, is an engineer who ends up on the front lines. Another son is an art historian, and his job is protecting art from falling into the hands of the Nazis. This part of the story intrigued me, and I learned much about a topic I had not known about before.
The youngest Rosati, Cristina, falls in love with a young German soldier, and this complicates matters. Her family is upset, and the townspeople, some of whom are resistance fighters, distrust the Rosatis. They feel that the Rosatis have thrown their lot in with the Nazis and deserve whatever misfortune comes their way.
War is hell, and their is plenty of horrific atrocities that take place in the book. Even though as a reader you brace yourself for it, the things that happen are shocking and brutal. The Rosatis have to deal with the Germans, and then the Russians as they come through looking for the Germans. The horrors of war come right into their home and the result is devastating.
There is so much in this book to recommend. The history, the characters, the setting (it has increased my desire to visit Italy), the mysteries (who is killing the Rosatis and why, and what happened to Serafina during the war), they all come together in the skilled hands of Chris Bohjalian.
I lost myself in The Light in the Ruins and isn't that really why we read books? This is one of the best books I have read this year.
Chris Bohjalian returns to historical fiction again after his last novel, The Sandcastle Girls, was set after WWI in Armenia during the genocide there. This time in The Light in the Ruins, we meet the Rosatis, Italian descendants of nobilty. They have a lovely large mansion near Florence and life is good until Italy decides to throw its fortunes in with Hitler's Germany.
What I find interesting about many of these books is the theme of what happens to people who want nothing to do with war, who do not support their government. They cannot openly defy their government, and they can hide from the war for only so long before it comes to their doorstep.
The story takes place both during WWII and ten years later when someone begins to murder the surviving members of the Rosati family. Daughter-in-law Francesca, who lost her husband and children to the war, is brutally butchered. It is thought that she picked up a strange man who killed her, until another Rosati is murdered.
We meet a female Italian homicide detective, Serafina Bettini, which is a unique job for a woman in Italy in the 1950s. Serafina has a fascinating past, and as the story unfolds, we discover her connection to the Rosatis. I loved this character and would enjoy seeing Serafina in another book (hint hint Mr. Bohjalian). Bohjalian has a knack for writing interesting, complicated female characters (Midwives, The Double Bind, The Sandcastle Girls).
The book moves back and forth in time, and we see how the Rosatis are drawn further into the war. One son, Francesca's husband, is an engineer who ends up on the front lines. Another son is an art historian, and his job is protecting art from falling into the hands of the Nazis. This part of the story intrigued me, and I learned much about a topic I had not known about before.
The youngest Rosati, Cristina, falls in love with a young German soldier, and this complicates matters. Her family is upset, and the townspeople, some of whom are resistance fighters, distrust the Rosatis. They feel that the Rosatis have thrown their lot in with the Nazis and deserve whatever misfortune comes their way.
War is hell, and their is plenty of horrific atrocities that take place in the book. Even though as a reader you brace yourself for it, the things that happen are shocking and brutal. The Rosatis have to deal with the Germans, and then the Russians as they come through looking for the Germans. The horrors of war come right into their home and the result is devastating.
There is so much in this book to recommend. The history, the characters, the setting (it has increased my desire to visit Italy), the mysteries (who is killing the Rosatis and why, and what happened to Serafina during the war), they all come together in the skilled hands of Chris Bohjalian.
I lost myself in The Light in the Ruins and isn't that really why we read books? This is one of the best books I have read this year.
July 10, 2019
This is a dual time line book alternating between WWI in 1944 Italy and 11 years later - 1955 Italy.
1944 - near Florence. We are at the Villa Chimera, magnificent home of Marchese and Marchesa Rosati. They have three children: Marco, fighting in the war; Vittore, the middle child, a bookish boy, a bookish man, a scholar of some sort, an archeologist; and the youngest, Cristina, still living at the villa. Also living at the villa is Francesca, Marco's wife and their two children.
1955 - Rome. Francesca has been brutally murdered. Someone has slashed her throat and ripped out her heart, leaving the heart in an ashtray. Enter Serafina Bettini and her partner, Paulo. They need to find the killer before he kills again. Soon the Marchesa Beatrice is murdered as well. Her heart too is ripped from her body and left at a bridge spanning the Arno. Who is after the Rosatis? Does he want to see them all dead?
The sentences that support the title:
I listened to this book on audio, deftly narrated by Cassandra Campbell. Also reading as the killer is Mark Bramhall. The Italian pronunciations in this book were so authentic. I especially noticed the Marchesa's name and its pronunciation: not Be-a-tris, but BE - a - tray - che; I was enchanted.
I have read two other Bohjalian books. I think this is my favorite as it gives background about the war in Italy that I did not know before. And, anybody who reads my reviews knows how much I love historical fiction. This book has opened me up to historical fiction - sub-genre: crime. I have to find more of these.
The book was a little slow at times, but still really enjoyed it.
4.25 stars
1944 - near Florence. We are at the Villa Chimera, magnificent home of Marchese and Marchesa Rosati. They have three children: Marco, fighting in the war; Vittore, the middle child, a bookish boy, a bookish man, a scholar of some sort, an archeologist; and the youngest, Cristina, still living at the villa. Also living at the villa is Francesca, Marco's wife and their two children.
1955 - Rome. Francesca has been brutally murdered. Someone has slashed her throat and ripped out her heart, leaving the heart in an ashtray. Enter Serafina Bettini and her partner, Paulo. They need to find the killer before he kills again. Soon the Marchesa Beatrice is murdered as well. Her heart too is ripped from her body and left at a bridge spanning the Arno. Who is after the Rosatis? Does he want to see them all dead?
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I listened to this book on audio, deftly narrated by Cassandra Campbell. Also reading as the killer is Mark Bramhall. The Italian pronunciations in this book were so authentic. I especially noticed the Marchesa's name and its pronunciation: not Be-a-tris, but BE - a - tray - che; I was enchanted.
I have read two other Bohjalian books. I think this is my favorite as it gives background about the war in Italy that I did not know before. And, anybody who reads my reviews knows how much I love historical fiction. This book has opened me up to historical fiction - sub-genre: crime. I have to find more of these.
The book was a little slow at times, but still really enjoyed it.
4.25 stars
January 11, 2015
This was historical fiction meets mystery. I like both of those genres so this book worked for me. The story unfolded in war-torn Italy. It toggled back and forth from 1943 and 1955. The characters felt well thought out.
Even with this being historical fiction, it was a very contemporary telling of the story. I actually liked that. It was unexpected and seemed to work. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Italy, of the people, both emotionally and physcially and of the effects of war on the people.
Even with this being historical fiction, it was a very contemporary telling of the story. I actually liked that. It was unexpected and seemed to work. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Italy, of the people, both emotionally and physcially and of the effects of war on the people.
July 2, 2013
4.5 I requested to review The Light of the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian for three reasons. I have loved every book Chris has ever written, it’s set in Italy and takes place during and after WWII a period in history I find fascinating. Once again Bohjalian delivered and I found myself swept up in the murder mystery, the history of the Rosatis family and Germany’s impact on Italy and its people. Three word review: captivating, dark and breathtaking.
The tale begins in 1955 Florence, Italy with a gruesome murder. Here we meet Serafina Bettini. She is a detective and the only woman on the force. She is both beautiful and scared. Her scars run deep inside and out. As she investigates the case brings up memories of her past and the final years of the war. The case has her revisiting 1943 and the noble lineage of the Rosatis family. The tale that unfolds gives us an intimate look at this family, the countryside, Bettini, and into the mind of a killer.
Bohjalian delivers memorable characters and shares all of their idiosyncrasies. Serafina Bettini is an interesting and dark character. As a detective she is quite insightful and I enjoyed how she pursed the case. Her personal life is complicated, and those around her may think they know her but most will never see past the glamour she has so carefully constructed. Her flat mate perhaps knows her best, and he helped reveal the darker facets of her personality. I pitied her but also found her to inspiring. The Rosatis family was beautifully revealed to us. We saw the toll the war has on them, the dynamics of their family and believe me you will become attached as they tug and rip at your heart. Christina the only daughter, dubbed by locals as the princess, came of age during the war and although sheltered, felt the effects it had. Her story was touching and I felt for her. We meet a young German soldier and I liked how Bohjalian was able to show both the patriot side of him and the man within the uniform. He shares their forbidden love from the sweet side to the dark and I was completely enthralled. German soldiers, other members of the Rosatis family, partisans and those Serafina interviewed helped to give substance to the tale(s) as they unfolded. While the tale was told in third person, the author gives us a first person perspective from the killer and it was terrifying to glimpse inside his mind.
I really enjoy the pacing of The Light in the Ruins and the panoramic view the author gave us of Italy during and after the war. This novel didn't have quite the depth of Sandcastle Girls but I think it will make it appeal to a larger audience. Usually when a novel deals with the past and present I find I enjoy the past more, but he made both parts of the story compelling keeping me equally enthralled. The time periods alternate back and forth and it flowed effortlessly. Once again the author has done his research making this fiction come to life with historical facts. 1943-44 was a difficult time for Italy. Germany who declared themselves ally to Italy slowly became occupier. Citizens were divided in loyalties and others just did whatever was necessary for the safety of their families. Bohjalian brought all of this to life and captured both the beauty and the pain of this era. Fast forward to 1955 and we see Italy after the war, and what happen to the Rosatis family; the cost of the war evident in their faces. I found Serafina’s story fascinating and enjoyed how the details were slowly revealed to us. The author didn't gloss over the fact that both war and murder are ugly; instead he shows us all sides from the residents to the occupiers. Those who enjoy WWII historical fiction will find this telling to be realistic. The murder ties the characters together and was clever and compelling. The identity of the killer had me guessing until almost the end, when the pieces clicked for me before the reveal and it felt very genuine. The tale wrapped up nicely and I closed the book feeling like I knew the characters personally. While parts of the tale where dark I felt light for having read it. I have always wanted to travel to Italy to see our ancestor's home and the author has me yearning to see Tuscany.
Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The tale begins in 1955 Florence, Italy with a gruesome murder. Here we meet Serafina Bettini. She is a detective and the only woman on the force. She is both beautiful and scared. Her scars run deep inside and out. As she investigates the case brings up memories of her past and the final years of the war. The case has her revisiting 1943 and the noble lineage of the Rosatis family. The tale that unfolds gives us an intimate look at this family, the countryside, Bettini, and into the mind of a killer.
Bohjalian delivers memorable characters and shares all of their idiosyncrasies. Serafina Bettini is an interesting and dark character. As a detective she is quite insightful and I enjoyed how she pursed the case. Her personal life is complicated, and those around her may think they know her but most will never see past the glamour she has so carefully constructed. Her flat mate perhaps knows her best, and he helped reveal the darker facets of her personality. I pitied her but also found her to inspiring. The Rosatis family was beautifully revealed to us. We saw the toll the war has on them, the dynamics of their family and believe me you will become attached as they tug and rip at your heart. Christina the only daughter, dubbed by locals as the princess, came of age during the war and although sheltered, felt the effects it had. Her story was touching and I felt for her. We meet a young German soldier and I liked how Bohjalian was able to show both the patriot side of him and the man within the uniform. He shares their forbidden love from the sweet side to the dark and I was completely enthralled. German soldiers, other members of the Rosatis family, partisans and those Serafina interviewed helped to give substance to the tale(s) as they unfolded. While the tale was told in third person, the author gives us a first person perspective from the killer and it was terrifying to glimpse inside his mind.
I really enjoy the pacing of The Light in the Ruins and the panoramic view the author gave us of Italy during and after the war. This novel didn't have quite the depth of Sandcastle Girls but I think it will make it appeal to a larger audience. Usually when a novel deals with the past and present I find I enjoy the past more, but he made both parts of the story compelling keeping me equally enthralled. The time periods alternate back and forth and it flowed effortlessly. Once again the author has done his research making this fiction come to life with historical facts. 1943-44 was a difficult time for Italy. Germany who declared themselves ally to Italy slowly became occupier. Citizens were divided in loyalties and others just did whatever was necessary for the safety of their families. Bohjalian brought all of this to life and captured both the beauty and the pain of this era. Fast forward to 1955 and we see Italy after the war, and what happen to the Rosatis family; the cost of the war evident in their faces. I found Serafina’s story fascinating and enjoyed how the details were slowly revealed to us. The author didn't gloss over the fact that both war and murder are ugly; instead he shows us all sides from the residents to the occupiers. Those who enjoy WWII historical fiction will find this telling to be realistic. The murder ties the characters together and was clever and compelling. The identity of the killer had me guessing until almost the end, when the pieces clicked for me before the reveal and it felt very genuine. The tale wrapped up nicely and I closed the book feeling like I knew the characters personally. While parts of the tale where dark I felt light for having read it. I have always wanted to travel to Italy to see our ancestor's home and the author has me yearning to see Tuscany.
Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
September 16, 2017
Chris Bohjalian pens another spectacular book with The Light in the Ruins. I have read several of Chris' books and have not found one yet that I didn't like. The story opens in 1955 with the murder of Francesca Rosati. Like Skeletons at the Feast,thought, his latest effort is primarily set set late in WWII, as the tide is turning away from the Germans and toward the Allies. The focus of the story is the life of the Rosati family, who are headed by a marchese and marchesa, and live in their Tuscan villa.
First of all, Chris is a consummate story-teller. In most of his books, the chapters alternate between viewpoints. Sometimes it is the differing viewpoints of the characters, but in this case it is between the events of 1943 and 1955 when Francesca is murdered in Florence. Chris is one of the best authors out there when it comes to telling a story from alternate viewpoints, and in The Light in the Ruins he does this by making use of both alternate time periods and alternate character viewpoints. I especially like the way that he threw in the thoughts of the murdered every once in a while. I found myself looking for clues in these small chapters to try to figure out who the murderer was. In addition, his descriptions really make the settings come alive for me. Another thing that I liked about this book, and most of Chris' books, is that there is usually a bit of a twist at the end. I have not been able to figure out these "reveals" in most of his book, and this book was no different. I really enjoy when an author can surprise me with something relevant at the end of the story. If I know this is coming, I find myself trying to figure it out throughout the book and it really keeps my interest.
As for character development and use, there is none better than Chris Bohjalian. Once again, in this book, he has crafted characters perfectly suited to illustrate the many sides of his story. In this book there are two pairings that do this well. There are the brothers Rosati, who are participating in the war in very different ways, but the best example is the pair of Cristina and Serafina. The similarities and juxtapositions between these two characters was a great way to show the alternate sides of the story. Both women were the same age, both women were heavily affected by the war, but their lives, both in 1955 and 1943, couldn't have been more different.
The thing that I like the best about Chris Bohjalian's work, though, is the way that he can weave a story around such different subjects. None of his books really resemble the others. Sure there are similarities, but when I pick up a book by Chris I know two things. One, that I will enjoy the stories, settings, characters, etc., and two, that it will not be a rehashed or retold version of any of his other stories. Most importantly, I know it will be an enjoyable experience that I will not want to end.
First of all, Chris is a consummate story-teller. In most of his books, the chapters alternate between viewpoints. Sometimes it is the differing viewpoints of the characters, but in this case it is between the events of 1943 and 1955 when Francesca is murdered in Florence. Chris is one of the best authors out there when it comes to telling a story from alternate viewpoints, and in The Light in the Ruins he does this by making use of both alternate time periods and alternate character viewpoints. I especially like the way that he threw in the thoughts of the murdered every once in a while. I found myself looking for clues in these small chapters to try to figure out who the murderer was. In addition, his descriptions really make the settings come alive for me. Another thing that I liked about this book, and most of Chris' books, is that there is usually a bit of a twist at the end. I have not been able to figure out these "reveals" in most of his book, and this book was no different. I really enjoy when an author can surprise me with something relevant at the end of the story. If I know this is coming, I find myself trying to figure it out throughout the book and it really keeps my interest.
As for character development and use, there is none better than Chris Bohjalian. Once again, in this book, he has crafted characters perfectly suited to illustrate the many sides of his story. In this book there are two pairings that do this well. There are the brothers Rosati, who are participating in the war in very different ways, but the best example is the pair of Cristina and Serafina. The similarities and juxtapositions between these two characters was a great way to show the alternate sides of the story. Both women were the same age, both women were heavily affected by the war, but their lives, both in 1955 and 1943, couldn't have been more different.
The thing that I like the best about Chris Bohjalian's work, though, is the way that he can weave a story around such different subjects. None of his books really resemble the others. Sure there are similarities, but when I pick up a book by Chris I know two things. One, that I will enjoy the stories, settings, characters, etc., and two, that it will not be a rehashed or retold version of any of his other stories. Most importantly, I know it will be an enjoyable experience that I will not want to end.
August 22, 2013
Billed as a "literary thrilled," this novel travels back and forth in time between 1944 and 1955 in Italy. It's 1944. The Germans know the end is near. As one German officer says, only Hitler thinks otherwise. Mussolini is dead, the Italians have surrendered. Now they are occupied by their former allies. In 1955 Francesca Rosati, widow of Marco Rosati, eldest son of the Marchese Alberto Rosati, is murdered. Her heart is removed and placed in an ashtray next to her body.
At first it seems random. However when Francesca's mother-in-law is murdered in the same way, it becomes obvious that someone is going after the Rosati family. As the book progresses we learn that both Marco and his younger brother, Vittore, are reluctant soldiers in the Italian army. They manage to keep their contempt for the Germans veiled. However, their father, the Marchese entertains Germans in his home although he doesn't really have much choice in the matter. Later, the Germans move into his home, and the entire family become prisoners. However, many of the people living in the nearby town view the family with contempt because of their association with the Germans.
Meanwhile, their younger sister, 19 yr old Cristina, has fallen in love with a young German soldier who doesn't seem to be like other Germans. He is from Dresden which, if you know history, was leveled by the British more as an act of vengeance than anything else. This also increases the contempt that the people of the town feel toward the Rosati family.
The two Italian detectives investigating the murders as a team are a duo that is unheard of in the Italian police force at the time. One of them, Serafina, is a woman, a former partisan, who was horribly burned and nearly died. She carries the scars not just on her body but in her heart. This was an interesting story of a turbulent time. It's all about choices. Toward the end one of the characters says that we always have choices. Maybe so, but when they are all equally terrible, what do you do?
I liked the book well enough, but in the end there was something lacking here. I read a review that said that the author's character development was lacking. I think that was it. Generally when I read an author who is new to me and enjoy a book, I'll plan to read others. I probably won't do that in this case- even if he is a NY Times Best Selling author!
At first it seems random. However when Francesca's mother-in-law is murdered in the same way, it becomes obvious that someone is going after the Rosati family. As the book progresses we learn that both Marco and his younger brother, Vittore, are reluctant soldiers in the Italian army. They manage to keep their contempt for the Germans veiled. However, their father, the Marchese entertains Germans in his home although he doesn't really have much choice in the matter. Later, the Germans move into his home, and the entire family become prisoners. However, many of the people living in the nearby town view the family with contempt because of their association with the Germans.
Meanwhile, their younger sister, 19 yr old Cristina, has fallen in love with a young German soldier who doesn't seem to be like other Germans. He is from Dresden which, if you know history, was leveled by the British more as an act of vengeance than anything else. This also increases the contempt that the people of the town feel toward the Rosati family.
The two Italian detectives investigating the murders as a team are a duo that is unheard of in the Italian police force at the time. One of them, Serafina, is a woman, a former partisan, who was horribly burned and nearly died. She carries the scars not just on her body but in her heart. This was an interesting story of a turbulent time. It's all about choices. Toward the end one of the characters says that we always have choices. Maybe so, but when they are all equally terrible, what do you do?
I liked the book well enough, but in the end there was something lacking here. I read a review that said that the author's character development was lacking. I think that was it. Generally when I read an author who is new to me and enjoy a book, I'll plan to read others. I probably won't do that in this case- even if he is a NY Times Best Selling author!
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