The story of an heir's return to an abandoned town in Italy, the secrets of the family who stayed, and the long shadow of fascism and collaboration in World War II.
Beneath the cluttered foliage is a simple story about grief and renewal, and the range of one man’s ability to know and mourn the most important women in his life. A story with real revelations. There are also, glinting in the undergrowth, small moments that say more about unabandoned Italy, or about the drudgery and terror of resistance, than the dense detail that almost obscured them.
[Smith] is a master of his trade who has executed a flawless novel that satisfies on all counts. The writing is both accessible and evocative, the pace leisurely yet suspenseful, the characters and plot are intriguing, and the themes of grief, generational trauma and resilience are well considered.
Smith... uses elegant metaphors and brings Valetto to life with a gift for symmetry and a dash of humor. His sense of place is strong ... This accomplished novel offers engaging characterization paired with echoes of the past that resound in the present.
