Kate Furnivall explore la valeur durable des pensées et des émotions intérieures, s'inspirant de sa propre éducation et de la vie extraordinaire de sa mère. Sa mère, dont l'enfance s'est déroulée en Russie, en Chine et en Inde, lui a transmis une compréhension de la volatilité du monde et de la profonde importance de ce qui réside dans l'esprit et le cœur. Après avoir étudié l'anglais et travaillé dans l'édition et la publicité, les voyages approfondis de Furnivall lui ont fourni des perspectives inestimables sur diverses cultures. Ces expériences ont profondément influencé son écriture, en particulier un roman inspiré par l'histoire de sa mère, qui utilise des éléments de fiction pour dépeindre les circonstances uniques des réfugiés russes blancs en Chine.
Valentina Ivanova, fille aînée du ministre des Finances du Tsar, dont tout Saint-Pétersbourg admire la beauté et le talent de pianiste, n'aurait jamais cru devoir un jour faire une telle promesse à sa soeur. N'étaient-elles pas destinées à une vie de plaisirs et d'oisiveté au sein d'une des cours les plus fastueuses du monde ? Et pourtant, en cet hiver 1910, la révolution gronde et le danger se fait chaque jour plus menaçant pour les aristocrates russes. Alors que son univers vacille, Valentina se battra pour défendre le plus important : sa famille, mais aussi son indépendance et son amour pour un homme qui n'est pas celui qu'on lui destine...
1928. Chassée de sa Russie natale par les bolchéviques, labelle Valentine s'est réfugiée avec sa fille Lydia à Junchow, au nord de la Chine. Elles tentent de survivre, aristocrates mais ruinées, méprisées par toute la colonie occidentale de la ville.Très vite, la jeune Lydia devient un pickpocket hors pair. Un jour, elle dérobe un somptueux collier de rubis, s'attirant aussitôt les foudres des redoutables triades. Condamnée à mort, elle est sauvée in extremis par un mystérieux Chinois, Chang An Lo. Entre eux naît une passion irrésistible, forcément impossible : tout les sépare. D'autant que Chang An Lo a rejoint le Parti communiste et vit dans la clandestinité, traqué par les troupes de Tchang Kaï-chek. Pourtant, incapable de résister à la sensualité de son amant, Lydia prend tous les risques. Peu à peu, le piège se referme sur le couple maudit. Lydia devra alors choisir : entre son amour impossible pour un fugitif consumé par ses idéaux et la fuite en Russie pour y retrouver ses racines...
People are disappearing. I spoke to my neighbour yesterday, we laughed at some nonsense, and today he is gone. We only discovered he was missing because the dog wouldn't stop howling and we all knew he would never leave his beloved pet. So I am careful, extremely careful.Two families divided by war.An entire city on the edge of disaster.1948, Berlin. World War II has ended and there is supposed to be peace; but Russian troops have closed all access to the city. Roads, railway lines and waterways are blocked and two million people are trapped, relying on airlifts of food, water and medicine to survive. The sharp eyes of the Russian state police watch everything; no one can be trusted.Anna and Ingrid are both searching for answers - and revenge - in the messy aftermath of war. They understand that survival comes only by knowing what to trade: food; medicine; heirlooms; secrets. Both are living in the shadows of a city where the line between right and wrong has become dangerously blurred.But they cannot give up in the search for a lost child...
Set against a richly detailed historical backdrop, this new thriller weaves a gripping narrative filled with suspense and intrigue. The acclaimed author, known for their previous work, delivers a compelling story that promises to captivate readers with its complex characters and unexpected twists. The blend of historical elements with thrilling plot dynamics creates an engaging experience that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
*** PICKED AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE MAIL ON SUNDAY *** ‘A clever, absorbing thriller that does not shrink from the horror of the war' Times. ‘Compelling’ Good Housekeeping. Discover a brilliant story of love, danger, courage, and betrayal, from the internationally bestselling author of The Betrayal. Germany, 1945. Klara Janowska and her daughter Alicja have endured a long journey to reach the Graufeld Displaced Persons camp. In the cramped, perilous environment, they are among the fortunate survivors, desperate to return home. However, when Klara spots a man from her past in the camp, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. He knows what she did during the war to protect her daughter, and she is aware of his true identity. What will silence cost them, and will they both survive the camp? ‘A compelling, edge-of-your-seat story set in a refugee camp immediately after World War II, where a mother will do anything to protect her child. Full of twists and turns’ Julie Cohen. ‘A superb read; brilliantly crafted, exciting, very moving’ Lesley Pearse. ‘Meticulously researched, searingly honest, and beautifully written’ Lancashire Post. ‘An epic novel that will leave you breathless until the very end’ Mrs B’s Book Reviews. ‘It is impossible to stop once you start reading this book’ Sissi Reads. Further praise for the author highlights her talent for creating unforgettable characters and settings.
This epic novel is an unforgettably powerful story of love, loss and the long
shadow of war, perfect for readers of Santa Montefiore and Victoria Hislop.
For years Lydia Ivanova believed her father was killed by the Bolsheviks and when she learns he is captive in Stalin's Russia goes searching for him with her half-brother Alexei. When Alexei disappears, Lydia is stranded in Russia but he lover Chang An Lo races to protect her as she risks the consequences to discover the truth.
