Patricia and Malise — Susanna Johnston

'Open with caution, funny and deeply disturbing.' The Oldie.

'Wicked, great comic characters.' Anne Robinson.

'Seductive.' Lisa Segrave.

This mischievous novel set in Lucca centres around an unexpectedly passionate affair and the delicate ripples caused around it. There is Patricia, a young English woman who is happily married with an Italian academic and a young son. Malise and Christian are two brothers raised by a pious mother and â€" after her death â€" by awkward step-mother Alyson. While Malise is beautiful, smart and aloof, he is also cruel, and Christian struggles in the shadow of his older brother. Darkly-funny, this love story wickedly sends up Anglo-Saxon longing and attitudes abroad.