Poetry, textiles and Verona, with murder thrown in!

The Lost Dresses of Italy by M. A. Mclaughlin    

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m conflicted about this title. I love textiles and was absolutely fascinated by Marianne Baxter’s work towards restoring the lost Victorian dresses of Christina Rossetti.

I’ve always admired Rossetti’s poetry and to have her, and the pre Raphaelites, intwined in the story seems like a gift.

The tension built up so slowly I found myself reading other titles in between the long pauses.

In the end I was caught up in the plot, but it took so..oo..oo long to get to the point where I wanted to continue.

I’m totally puzzled as to why that occurred. Was it switching between the two points of view, between post war Italy of 1947 and Christina in 1865 England and Italy. It certainly wasn’t the place, Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet! Who could not be drawn to anything set there? Still puzzling that out. Truly this book had it all, and yet, it just didn’t grab me in that first instance.

A fascinating tale of love lost and love found despite my reservations, murder not withstanding, and with a surprising ending.

An Alcove Press ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.