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Bombed out of her home, hunted, and lonely, Anna Pastorino has every reason to remain invisible. Instead, the half-Jewish widow accepts refuge above a Genoa printing shop and joins the clandestine DELASEM network, using her bookkeeping skills to forge identity papers for Jews fleeing Fascist Italy.
The historical rescue operation gives Daughter of Genoa its compelling foundation, while Anna’s relationships provide its emotional heart. Her growing love for daring aviator Massimo Teglio is tender and dangerous, complicated by Father Vittorio’s feelings for her and his worsening tuberculosis. Devereaux handles these divided loyalties with compassion, showing how fear, faith, grief, and desire become tangled during wartime.
The romantic triangle occasionally feels less convincing than the resistance plot, but the vividly rendered danger and memorable supporting characters sustain the tension. Inspired by real people and events, this is a moving, well-researched tribute to the ordinary citizens who risked their lives to protect strangers from persecution.
** Thanks to Harper Perennial for a complimentary copy of the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Carlotta Brentan.