The Lost Story of Sofia Castello by Siobhan Curham
Genre: Dual timeline, Historical fiction, Contemporary fiction, WW2
Read: 24th April 2025
Published: 25th April 2025
★★★★ 4.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
The warm sea breeze ruffles the pages of my notebook as I meet the bright eyes of the elderly lady sat opposite me on the porch. Sofia has been keeping a devastating secret for over sixty years. Why did she fake her own death during the war? And why is she back now to finally tell her story?
Writer Lily Christie is at rock bottom when she’s tasked with the job of a lifetime writing the memoir of Sofia Castello – once world-famous in the war years for singing across Europe, until her tragic death in 1941. So Lily is shocked to hear Sofia is actually in her eighties, living in secret, in a blue-tiled cottage on the Portuguese coast.
Lily listens in fascination as the feisty woman spins an unbelievable tale of fear-filled days spent caring for a young orphaned German girl, and nights performing to crowds of Gestapo agents: until she risked it all, using her fame to help the Allies. Then a tragic betrayal changed the course of her life forever…
But as Lily starts to open up to Sofia about her own private heartache, she realises that Sofia is not being entirely honest with her. And when Sofia refuses to say why she really hired Lily, her fears start to grow. Sofia’s remote beach home, accessed only by a bumpy dirt track, is miles away from anyone. She is clearly still hiding from someone, but who? And could Lily now be in danger too?
What is the final secret haunting Sofia? And can Lily uncover the devastating truth, before her time with Sofia runs out?
A totally gripping and emotional tale of lost love, tragedy and secrets hidden for decades. Fans of Fiona Valpy, Lorna Cook and The Letter will adore it.
MY THOUGHTS:
A wartime secret must be told before it's too late...
I love a good dual timeline tale weaving the past with the present and a few secrets along the way. The premise to this one drew me in as something a little different. The war is merely a backdrop for this story not the main event. And it serves to depict a heartbreaking tale that is emotionally charged as well as mysterious.
Lily is looking to leave her pitiful life behind and embark on a holiday in the sun after nursing a broken heart for the past ten months. So when she walks into her agent's office overlooking the dreary London landscape, the offer Jane makes her is one that is too good to refuse.
Lily has been asked for personally by name to ghostwrite the autobiography of wartime singing sensation Sofia Castello, who tragically died in a plane crash flying from Lisbon to London in 1941. Or did she? The journey she takes to Portgual to meet the elusive Sofia is one of love, grief, friendships, betrayal and secrets.
Stepping into the Portuguese sunshine, Lily feels at once rejuvenated and that this ghostwriting job came at just the right moment in time for her. But little did she know the part she would play in rewriting history or that she would find happiness there herself.
The setting in Portgual is just perfect. I could feel the sunshine on my face, the water lapping at my feet and immersing myself in the sapphire seas. The colours so richly depict the character, the personalities and reflect the resilience of this beautiful story.
There is so much to say about this book that I think is best left to experience for oneself.
A beautiful tale that will stay with me for some time to come.
I would like to thank #SiobhanCurham, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLostStoryOfSofiaCastello in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Siobhan has been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast. And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world, including the BBC, Hay Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bath Festival, Ilkley Festival, London Book Fair and Sharjah Reading Festival.
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