The Forger and The Thief 

by Kirsten McKenzie 

3 out of 5 

Synopsis 

FIVE STRANGERS IN FLORENCE, EACH WITH A DANGEROUS SECRET. AND AN APOCALYPTIC FLOOD THREATENING TO REVEAL EVERYTHING.

A wife on the run, a student searching for stolen art, a cleaner who has lined more than his pockets, a policeman whose career is almost over, and a guest who should never have received a wedding invite. Five strangers, entangled in the forger’s wicked web.

In a race against time, and desperate to save themselves and all they hold dear, will their secrets prove more treacherous than the ominous floodwaters swallowing the historic city?

Dive into a world of lies and deceit, where nothing is as it seems on the surface… 

Review 

Several lives swirl together in Florence, at the time of the great flood.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the lives of 5 people, who have come to Florence for different reasons in 1966.

The Guest - Richard, an American who has come to Florence for a wedding. His late-brother's wife is about to remarry an Italian, not knowing that Richard is in love with her.

The Wife - Rhonda, an American woman who has spaced from an abusive marriage, and is enjoying the freedom of Florence.

The Student - Helena, a young woman who is using her training in art restoration in Italy, to track down some of her father's pieces that were lost in the war.

The Cleaner - Stefano, who works in Florence, whilst taking care of his ailing wife.

The Policeman - Antonio, an overworked officer who is bored of dealing with pickpockets and tourists, but soon has bigger thefts to worry about.

I really liked the author's portrayal of Florence, of the tourist sites, and the full reality of the town.

There is a great appreciation for art and culture that really shines through.

The not-so-good.

The chapters are very short and jump from character to character, making it hard to get invested at first.

I didn't connect with any of the characters, I found them unlikeable (especially the male characters), and their aims seemed ever-shifting. It was hard to see where the author was taking them.

Overall, this was a pleasant read about a historical flood.

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