Late Season

by Christobel Kent

An isolated Tuscan farmhouse on the edge of an ancient wood is the perfect setting for a late September holiday. As a group of old friends from university and their families gather to relax and unwind, all are hoping it will be a chance to put the tragic events of the previous year behind them. There were six of them once; now they are are five.

Watching the British visitors arrive from her own terrace is Anna Viola, whose family has lived for centuries in the crumbling red-brick farmhouse above Il Vignacce. As a little girl during the war, Anna watched an Englishman arrive at the house, seeking shelter from the Germans. His appearance would change her life for ever; it still haunts the family home she holds in trust for her beloved son Paolo.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Christobel Kent was born in London in 1962 and now lives in Cambridge with her husband and four children; in between she lived in Florence. She worked in publishing for several years, most recently as Publicity Director at Andre Deutsch. Her debut novel A Party in San Niccolo, was published in 2003.

Series:
* Sandro Cellini

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got one third of the way through this book and, while a perfectly pleasant read, there was nothing to hold my attention. Nothing happened... I had everyone's backstories, but I was still having trouble keeping track of who was who. I guess I was bored by it, and abandoned the read.

[Adri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this 3.5 stars. The writing is accomplished, the characters are very real and the scene setting very interesting. The descriptive passages are beautifully written. At no point in the story did I ever feel that the story was fantastical. It all seemed like a slice of life.

Although not my usual fare I quite enjoyed the book which I had only picked up from the library because the available choices were severely curtailed because of renovations.

Surprisingly my husband picked it up after I finished and he is completely drawn in by the story and the fluidity of the writing.

[Little BigGirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only got half way through. Not gripping.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got reacquainted with Tuscany through this book. A descriptive story of what life is like in a Tuscan farmhouse. Since this is my first book of Christobel Kent, I have no other book of hers to compare it with. One easy read.

[Anni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have done with tighter editing -less description and more characterisation..

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christobel Kent is superb at capturing the anguish and subtleties within everyday life and builds them up within a narrative that captures your imagination.
This book takes a while to hook you in but stick with it; English from iends on an Italian holiday are together for the first following the death of one of the group. Simmering tensions and personality disagreements are just below the surface until things cannot be contained. This story is juxtaposed against the story of the neighbouring house whereby a doctor seeks to discover the identity of his father from the 1960s. Characteristic of Christobel Kent’s previous Italian novels, there are beautiful descriptions of landscapes and daily life providing an appetising and visually stunning backdrop.
This is not a crime novel per se but an exploration of lives lived and consequences and the question as to how much we really know our friends.

[Adeline Kam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have made many attempts in the past to read this book but always gave up. Now I managed to start again early of this year. The first few chapters are nice to read, interesting....but as the story goes on, it gets bored. Too many unnecessary details....the story just doesn't flows well. It cannot capture my attention. I love the cover and synopsis of this book but unfortunately it is just a very boring book. I gave up reading until Chapter 19.

[Joe Zeppetello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was unusual for her as it did not have an ostensible mystery, nor did Sandro Cellini make an appearance. However, I found it intriguing, and she created characters I cared about. The book also takes place in the countryside around florence, so that, too is a plus. I like her sentences and phrasing, and very much liked this work.

[Joanna Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve ever read.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mystery, A Romance in the beautiful setting of an old farmhouse in a forest in Italy. Justine and her friends have a holiday there after the tragic events of the last year but what really happened.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

It might be the Dutch translation but most sentences are so stiff and unpleasent to read it becomes irritating. That's a shame because the story is good and at times even compelling.

[Kietaaatje ;) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goed geschreven, maar niet een heel spannend of meeslepend verhaal

[Nicole Otting · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes place in Italy. The setting is mostly an isolated Tuscan farmhouse on the edge of the woods in September. A group of old friends get together there with their families in hopes to put the tragic events of the past year behind them. As an Italian myself, this book immediately demanded my interest. I purchased this book in England at a bookstore while I was on a trip after my high school graduation. I finished the book on our plane ride back home to the U.S. This book is about friendship, love and mystery.

[El · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having just read The Crooked House by the same author I was very surprised by the difference in style of the two books. This one is a very light holiday read with not much to engage the brain. There is too much description which simply doesn't need to be there, adding nothing to the plot, and not enough characterisation with the result that I never felt I really got to know the characters. And the fact that the ending was flagged up quite early on means this isn't a book that I'd want to re-read. But if you're looking for an easy read to while away some hours this will fit the bill.

[Siri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at our villa in Italy and read it solely b/c it was about some english people having an italian villa vacation. It was actually an ideal easy summer, by-the-pool read and i thoroughly enjoyed reading about places i was visiting personally. A fun experience. The light story did engage me enough that i wanted to see how it turned out. I passed the book along to an Italian woman in the airport.

[Italo Italophiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a well-executed drama with a bit of mystery and a bit of romance. We enter the principle characters' minds, and follow their leisurely course through this story. There is a death, but it occurs before we join the story. There is a resolution, too. But this is not really a murder mystery.

Read the full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...

[Fluffychick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book a bit slow to get into and the descriptive passages, although setting the lush italian environment a bit too much and over wordy. However, the story was interesting, although I'd sussed fairly early on pretty much who had done what...but overall an okay read.

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna Trollope meets Donna Leone and Magdalen Nabb in this romantic murder-mystery set in Florence and the surrounding countryside. Having just visited Tuscany in the Fall I was delighted to discover Christobel Kent and thoroughly enjoyed not just Late Season but every book she has written.

[Alison]

holiday read. late summer in S Tuscany, group of friends, uncovering secrets and rebuilding relationships - also the locals coming to terms with 21st century and burying their pasts. nicely touched with details esp food.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one is set in spain,about a relationship between a woman and a much younger man

[Daniëlle de Graaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voorspelbaar boek. Ondanks dat met plezier gelezen. Toscane wordt mooi beschreven.