The Italian Secret
If you’re a lover of mysteries and history, then The Italian Secret by Tara Moss is a must-read.
When Billie Walker inherited her father’s Private Inquiry agency in Sydney, Australia, she took up the baton, an unusual practice for a young woman in the 1940s’s.
The story oscillates between Billie’s pursuit of justice for her clients and the story of an unwed mother living during the 1900s. Of course, there is a secret connection between women, adding to the multi-layered plot line that gives this book depth and intrigue.
Though World War II has modernized the working world, adding many women to the force, it’s still frowned upon by many, especially the weak-minded and often violent husbands who believe Billie is a homewrecker. But Billie’s reputation as a successful agent and advocate for her clients, who are primarily women in divorce cases, makes her an unparalleled heroine for her time. Stylishly and smartly, she turns the head of the local constable, fights for her fledgling business, and supports her ailing mother, all while dodging an unknown assailant who possibly killed one of her clients and is now threatening her life. And for the mysterious unwed mother, her story unfolds as she runs away from home, only to find herself struggling to survive with her child amid the War.
Vibrant is a perfect word to describe the story with its rich imagery and complex characters.
I truly enjoyed another book in this series, The War Widow: A Billie Walker Mystery, which delves into Billie’s past, including the disappearance of her husband and the loss of her father. And in Ghosts of Paris, Billie struggles to shake her haunting losses and the shadow of the war, only to become embroiled in a mystery that brings her face-to-face with the Nazis.
For cozy and cosmopolitan mystery lovers, indulge in the lavish intrigue of the Billie Walker series by Tara Moss.
Image Courtesy of Dutton and Penguin Random House.
