Books On Board
author Reading Order

Angela Petch Books in Order

9 Books
2 Series & collections
2012 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start with Angela Petch

If you are new to Angela Petch's historical fiction, the absolute best place to start is with The Tuscan Secret. Originally published independently as Tuscan Roots before being revised and released by Bookouture in 2019, this novel serves as the perfect introduction to Petch's signature style. It establishes her use of dual-timeline storytelling, meticulous World War II resistance research, and the atmospheric Tuscan setting that defines her most famous works.

For readers who prefer a complete standalone experience that is not tied to Tuscany, starting with The Postcard from Italy (2022) or The Sicilian Secret (2024) is highly recommended. These novels offer the same rich, emotional depth but explore different historical settings and military histories, such as the RAF and the impact of the war on Sicily.

The Tuscany Series Reading Order

Although the Tuscany books are thematic standalones that do not feature a recurring cast of characters, they share a common setting in the rugged Tuscan Apennines and deal with interconnected historical themes of wartime resistance, family secrets, and recovery. To get the most satisfying reader experience, it is recommended to read them in publication order:

  1. The Tuscan Secret (2019) – Follows Anna as she opens a diary left by her late mother, embarking on a journey to a crumbling mill in Tuscany to uncover her mother's role in the local WWII resistance.
  2. The Tuscan Girl (2020) – Centers on Alba, a young woman mourning a tragedy in the present day, who discovers the wartime story of Francesca, a brave girl who risked everything for love and country during the German occupation.
  3. A Tuscan Memory (2020) – Tells the story of Stella, who travels to Tuscany to discover the truth behind a decades-old family mystery involving an Italian partisan and a British soldier.
  4. The Tuscan House (2021) – Set at the beautiful but haunting Villa della Gherardesca, focusing on a young widow named Fiona who uncovers a dark secret buried deep within the estate's walls during the war.

Standalone Novels

Beyond her main Tuscany series, Angela Petch has written several standalone historical novels and even a contemporary comedy. Here is the order of her standalone releases:

  • Never Forget (2012) – Petch's self-published debut novel set in Italy during World War II, which laid the thematic groundwork for her later bestseller, The Tuscan Secret.
  • Mavis and Dot (2018) – A warm, lighthearted departure from historical fiction. This contemporary novel follows two eccentric, retired women navigating friendship and life in a British seaside town. All profits from this book are donated to cancer research in memory of a close friend.
  • The Postcard from Italy (2022) – A dual-timeline novel following Susannah in the present day as she traces the origins of a WWII postcard, uncovering her family's hidden history. The book was inspired by the real wartime service of Petch's uncle in the Royal Air Force.
  • The Girl Who Escaped (2023) – A gripping WWII story about Devora, a young Jewish woman who escapes from an Italian internment camp and joins forces with local partisans to fight the occupying forces.
  • The Sicilian Secret (2024) – Set in 1973 and WWII, this book explores the experiences of Italian internees in England and the wartime struggles in Sicily, linked together by a mystery surrounding a woman's true parentage.
  • The Lost Garden (2025) – Set in the 1930s and WWII, this novel follows Tina, who lives in the secluded castle of Montesecco and uncovers a secret, overgrown garden that holds the key to her mother's mysterious past and serves as a sanctuary for the local resistance.

What to Know Before You Start

Setting and Authenticity

Angela Petch splits her year between Sussex, England, and a renovated 17th-century watermill in the Tuscan Apennines. She writes many of her books in a converted stable on the property. This intimate connection to the landscape allows her to capture the geography, culture, food, and people of Italy with exceptional detail and authenticity. Her stories often feature local culinary traditions and Italian phrases, enhancing the immersive experience.

Wartime Research and Real-Life Inspiration

Petch's novels are heavily grounded in real historical events. The Tuscan Secret was directly inspired by the real-life WWII diaries and experiences of Petch's mother-in-law, who lived through the German occupation of Tuscany. Similarly, The Postcard from Italy draws on the letters and logbooks of Petch's uncle. Readers should expect themes of grief, loss, and the brutal realities of war alongside romance and historical intrigue.

Revised and Renamed Books

Readers should note that some of Petch's early self-published books were significantly revised, expanded, and retitled when she signed with her publisher, Bookouture. Most notably, her early book Tuscan Roots was reworked to become The Tuscan Secret, and Now and Then in Tuscany was reworked to become A Tuscan Memory. If you come across these older titles, they are earlier versions of the stories available today.

Frequently Asked

QCan Angela Petch's Tuscany books be read out of order?

Yes. The books in the Tuscany series are thematic standalones with completely different characters and storylines. While reading them in publication order is recommended to see the author's development, you can read them in any sequence without losing plot continuity.

QWhich Angela Petch book should I read first?

We recommend starting with The Tuscan Secret (2019). It is her breakout historical novel and showcases her classic style of blending dual-timeline family mysteries with WWII Italian history.

QAre Angela Petch's books based on true stories?

Many of them are inspired by real events. For example, The Tuscan Secret is based on her mother-in-law's real experiences in occupied Italy, while The Postcard from Italy is based on her uncle's RAF service logs during WWII.

QWhat is Mavis and Dot about?

Unlike her historical dramas, Mavis and Dot is a contemporary, lighthearted, and humorous novel about two retired ladies living in a British seaside town. Petch wrote it in memory of a friend and donates the royalties to cancer research.

QWhat is the connection between Tuscan Roots and The Tuscan Secret?

Tuscan Roots was Angela Petch's early self-published work. It was later revised, expanded, and officially republished by Bookouture under the new title The Tuscan Secret.