Arriving in Rome in 1939 to work for the wealthy Montefalco family, Maddalena is homesick and alone.
She finds solace – and love – in the beauty of the city, but as the war in Nazi-occupied Italy rages, she must make a devastating choice.
In London, in 1997, after her mother Maddalena’s death, Beatrice Fremont discovers a fragment of a painting and a letter that sends her on a hunt to Rome.
Helping her is art dealer Jude Adler, who’s convinced they are looking for a lost Caravaggio.
For Jude, this could be the find of a lifetime; but for Beatrice their search uncovers a shocking secret… and the answer to a mystery kept hidden for years.
The Seeker of Lost Paintings by Sarah Freethy is published on 11 September, 2025.
Read Sarah’s Historia feature about the background to her book — the extraordinary story of courage, cunning and Syndrome K.
There are over 190 books in our round-up of historical fiction to look forward to in 2025. Why not have a look and see if you find a new favourite there?
