The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith

A World War II love story set against the romance and danger of occupied Venice.
Cenzo is a world-weary fisherman, determined to sit out the rest of the war. He's happy to stay out of the way of the SS, quietly going about his business of fishing in the lagoons of northern Italy. Then one night, instead of pulling in his usual haul, Cenzo fishes a young woman out of the canal. Guilia is an Italian Jew who has managed to escape capture and is determined to find her family. This meeting results in them both taking an entirely unexpected journey, and Cenzo suddenly finds himself thrown headlong into the world of international wartime politics, where everyone has their own agenda and nowhere is safe.
**

Review
'Smith can make tension rise through the page like a shark's fin' -- Independent 'One of those writers that anyone who is serious about their craft views with respect bordering on awe' -- Val McDermid 'Cleverly and intelligently told, The Girl from Venice is a truly riveting tale of love, mystery and rampant danger. I loved it' -- Kate Furnivall, author of 'The Liberation' 'Smith not only constructs grittily realistic plots, he also has a gift for characterisation of which most thriller writers can only dream' -- Mail on Sunday 'The story drips with atmosphere and authenticity - a literary triumph' -- David Young, bestselling author of 'Stasi Child' 'Smith was among the first of a new generation of writers who made thrillers literary' -- Guardian 'Brilliant...enough enigmas within enigmas within enigmas to reel the mind' -- The New Yorker 'Brilliantly worked, marvellously written ... an imaginative triumph' -- Sunday Times 'A wonderful surprise of a novel. A thriller set in the last days of Mussolini's Italy but also a quirky romance - the two held together by a warm, dry humour that keeps the pages turning. I loved it' -- William Ryan, author of 'The Constant Soldier'

About the Author
'Smith can make tension rise through the page like a shark's fin' (Independent )
'One of those writers that anyone who is serious about their craft views with respect bordering on awe'  (Val McDermid )
'Cleverly and intelligently told, The Girl from Venice is a truly riveting tale of love, mystery and rampant danger. I loved it'  (Kate Furnivall, author of 'The Liberation' )
'Smith not only constructs grittily realistic plots, he also has a gift for characterisation of which most thriller writers can only dream'  (Mail on Sunday )
'The story drips with atmosphere and authenticity – a literary triumph' (David Young, bestselling author of 'Stasi Child' )
'Smith was among the first of a new generation of writers who made thrillers literary'  (Guardian )
'Brilliant.enough enigmas within enigmas within enigmas to reel the mind' (The New Yorker )
'Brilliantly worked, marvellously written . . . an imaginative triumph'  (Sunday Times )