A lovely story that moves between the 1970s and WWII, when Lady Joy and Savio meet and fall in love. This plays off the seldom explored round up of Italians in the UK and the war in Italy, especially Sicily. Paige's discovery of a coded letter leads to a surprise family secret and a new appreciation for the women in her family. No spoilers from me. Great atmospherics. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read.

Joy is a Lady. Savio is an immigrant. What could these two have in common?
A lot it turns out.

In the 1970’s, a girl named Paige finds a letter. Addressed to a Joy and full of numbers and codes. What in the world is this.?

And so begins a story of love, danger and sacrifice. A tear-jerker. I used so many tissues and it was wonderful!


NetGalley/ Bookouture April 23, 2024

Having read some of Angela Petch’s other books, I was keen to get my hands on this one. As always, her writing is rich and atmospheric, giving an immersive sense of place and both periods featured in this dual timeline. Her characters are complex and interesting, and even if I didn’t altogether agree with some of their actions I found them entirely plausible and understandable, given the detailed context set up through the story.
All in all, this book is highly recommended for anyone interested in some of the less well-known aspects of WWII. For me it was a 4.5 star read.

This story is told in dual time, and I learned things I never knew about WWII.
I've known of the internment camps in the States, but not in England. Very sad, and yet, out of these comes a great read.
We travel from England to Italy, Sicily, and meet some great characters, from totally different backgrounds. Lady Joy, she comes from an aristocratic life, and Savio, a man born in England of immigrant parents. What do these two have in common, well we are there to see their relationship bloom.
We flash forward to the 1970's and a young woman named Paige gets devastating news, and we wonder how she plays into this story.
I loved how the author wove this read together, full of facts and danger, but you really don't know whom is the enemy.
A different WWII story, and I'll be looking for more by Angela Petch!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookouture, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thank you for this advanced copy which was a great read, I had trouble putting this down! I liked the way it was written and it made for an easy read. I would definitely recommend and look forward to reading another book by this author! A stunner! I guarantee you’ll put everything on hold whilst reading this one.

Another profoundly moving novel from Angela Petch. This author has perfected the art of breathing life into forgotten World War Two history with her unforgettable characters.
An insight into the plight of Italians living in WW2 Britain provides a unique backdrop for a poignant story that is very relevant to challenges in contemporary society.
Set in England and Sicily during the 1940s and 1970s, I was swept away by the mystery and settings. In 1973, Paige inherits her aunt’s house. A collection of mysterious documents forces her to investigate her mother’s identity. I could not wait for her questions to be answered.
An achingly beautiful story, brimming with emotion and layers of meaning. Simply stunning!

This story draws you in slowly, but about halfway through I realized that I was enjoying it. It almost felt like it was written in a different language because of all the British phrases and terms that seemed strange to me as an American. The story felt a little choppy in some parts, but overall I liked it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a fantastic story which spans a dual timeline in 1940’s and the 1970’s. In the midst of World War 2, Joy and Savio meet under unusual circumstances, whilst in the 1970’s we meet Aunt Flo who has decided it is time to finally shed her secret to her beloved niece Paige. With the characters and plots intertwining the book weaves you into the very fabric of their lives. I fell in love with Joy and Savio, their story is beautifully constructed and written with care and love. The historical references to the treatment of the English Italians when Mussolini joined forces with Hitler is a topic I was unaware of and this book has piqued my interest to research this further.
In the 70’s Paige is trying to decipher her Aunts messages and the cryptic letter leading to a trip to beautiful Sicily to solve the mystery.
I adored this book, wonderfully written, with care and attention and love. Thank you NetGalley!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I'm definitely a new fan of this author. I wasn't certain how I'd feel about it going into it cuz it wasn't something I normally read and I'm so glad I gave it a try. You really felt like you were there in the story that these characters became your friends

Angela Petch’s regular readers will probably be surprised how long it ‘takes’ to get to Italy in this Second World War dual timeline, but there’s no need to worry, The Sicilian Secret is a better novel for the time invested in building Savio’s story in particular. There is a real need to understand this fascinating character in order to understand his actions, and his whole narrative was beautifully researched and enthralled me.

It also made me angry that British citizens, who happened to have been born of Italian parents, were treated so shoddily during World War II. I knew about it before I read the book, but Angela Petch brought it to life in a way which left me feeling quite furious.

The story’s second timeline is in 1973, when after the death the aunt who raised her, Paige Caister finds evidence which makes her question everything she knew about her upbringing. It begins in Suffolk and ends in Sicily. With Angela Petch’s sumptuous descriptions of the landscape, people and food, it was certainly worth the wait to get there. I visited Syracuse last October and I want to go back!

A charming home named Squirrels Cottage, a vehicle named Bertha and a mysterious coded letter. These are just a few things that draw you in from the very beginning and set the stage for a mystery that was hard to put down until every question was answered. The author keeps you engaged with the story by dropping enough clues along the way and leaves you satisfied in the end.