I’m delighted today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of the debut novel from Anita Chapman, The Venice Secret. Independently published on 7th March, this lovely book is now available for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited) and in paperback. My thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation and support, and to Anita for my advance reading e-copy.
A debut novel, but a name and face that I’m sure is familiar to many – Anita’s social media knowledge has been a lifesaver for many an author struggling to find the way, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve pointed the bewildered in her direction. In fact, if you’re one of that number, do take a look at her Neetsmarketing website – there’s hands-on help available, and her blog is simply wonderful (and so very helpful). But today my focus is on Anita the novelist – and a book that appealed to me from the moment I first read about it…
One hidden painting
Two women born centuries apart
A secret uncovered
In 2019, Rachel is stuck in a rut when she discovers what appears to be a Canaletto painting in her grandmother’s loft along with a note addressed to Philippa in 1782. With help from Jake at the local art gallery, Rachel endeavours to find out if the painting is an original and uncovers a secret from the past.
In 1780, governess at Chipford Hall, Philippa is offered the role of mistress by Earl Rupert. She escapes to Venice as companion to bluestocking, Lady Cordelia who reveals a secret that changes both their lives. They do their best to keep the secret from Lady Cordelia’s social circle, but their nemesis is determined to reveal all and ruin them.
I’m sometimes a bit of a lightweight when it comes to historical fiction, but I’m always a particular fan of a dual time story – and I can sometimes get quite disgruntled if both timelines don’t engage my interest equally. And I must say, this book is an object lesson in how to do it well – with strong links between the stories, alternating chapters where the shifts were comfortable and I never felt wrenched from one period into another, and an overarching art mystery that had me captivated throughout.
The historical thread first? In the 1780s, Philippa’s financial position after her father’s death sees her taking up a position at Chipford Hall, as governess to a Duke’s two young daughters. When further change is forced on her – after a particularly shocking offer from the Duke’s heir, Lord Rupert – the opportunity arises to accompany the wealthy Lady Cordelia, a friend of the family planning to research her latest novel, on a Grand Tour to Venice. It transpires that the trip isn’t entirely what it seemed – and, quite apart from not experiencing Venice in quite the way she’d hoped to, Philippa finds herself drawn into a deception with particularly far-reaching consequences.
And then there’s the 2019 thread. Rachel is jobless and soon to be homeless – temporarily living in the house her mother inherited from her grandmother, she’ll soon need to move on rather than sharing the house with her mother and her rather odious latest partner. While stashing her belongings in the loft, she stumbles across a wooden trunk in a far corner – and behind it, wrapped in brown paper and string, what turns out to be a painting of a familiar Venice setting, accompanied by a note, written in 1782, identifying it as a Canaletto. With her degree in history, a new friend in Jake (who just might become rather more, but who works in a gallery and knows his way around the art world), contacts she makes while volunteering at a nearby stately home, and an uncle helpfully researching her family’s genealogy, she embarks on a mission to establish the painting’s provenance and hopefully change her own fortunes in the process.
The link between the two timelines – as well as the stark contrasts and moments of symmetry between the two women’s lives – is the Canaletto itself, and the elusive family history that underpins it. While Rachel’s life, at times, became a bit of a car crash – and often one of her own making, which can stretch the sympathy a little – I found her search simply fascinating as the clues began to fall into place and she drew closer to uncovering the full story. And, at the same time, in alternating chapters, the actual story is unfolding – wonderfully told, impeccably researched, with a range of wonderfully drawn characters who came to life on the page. Philippa herself is wholly sympathetic throughout, a really engaging character whose kindness and trusting nature is abused by others with their own complicated agendas – and I so hoped, however unlikely it sometimes seemed, that she would find the happiness she deserved. And something I particularly enjoyed about this book was the personal journeys of both its heroines – their contexts entirely different, but both ending up in a very different place from where their stories began.
The whole book is perfectly paced, with plenty of well-written drama, strong characters, vividly drawn settings – and more than a touch of romance and intrigue in both timelines. And the two stories are quite perfectly drawn together by the book’s ending – this was one I set aside with a satisfied sigh, looking forward immensely to seeing what this very talented author does next. Beautifully done, and very highly recommended.
About the author
Anita Chapman enjoyed writing stories from a young age, and won a local writing competition when she was nine years old. Encouraged by this, she typed up a series of stories about a mouse on her mum’s typewriter and sent them to Ladybird. She received a polite rejection letter, her first.
Many of Anita’s summers growing up were spent with her family driving to Italy, and she went on to study French and Italian at university. As part of her degree, Anita lived in Siena for several months where she studied and au paired, and she spent a lot of time travelling around Italy in her twenties.
Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child.
Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. She’s run several courses in London and York, and has worked as a tutor at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
Website (also found at https://neetsmarketing.com) | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Thanks for the blog tour support x