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The Italian Secret

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The Italian Secret

By: Tara Moss
Narrated by: Danielle Carter
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About this listen

No.1 international bestselling author Tara Moss returns with an immersive post-war mystery as glamorous investigator Billie Walker follows a trail of secrets to Italy's sun-drenched Neapolitan coast.


Naples, 1943. Deep within a secret network of underground tunnels, a woman takes shelter from a wartime air raid and prays her husband will return safely.

Indian Ocean, 1907. A young woman embarks on a lonely journey to begin a new life far from home.

Sydney, 1948. Billie Walker, recently returned from a stint as a wartime investigative journalist, has reopened her father's private inquiry office. Billie is cleaning out old filing cabinets when she uncovers a dusty box whose contents just might upend everything Billie thought she knew about her late, beloved father.

Soon Billie is on the scent, uncovering the secrets of her family's past, travelling aboard the first postwar luxury passenger ship from Sydney to Naples in search of answers. And as the trail leads her toward two women whose history is entwined with her own, she realises she is not the only one at risk. Billie's father had an enemy - one who may now be stalking Billie around the world - and the closer Billie gets to the truth, the more danger she finds herself in.

'Moss writes superior genre fiction. If you devoured all of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher murder mysteries, you'll probably have fun following Moss' gutsy and likeable female detective through noir-like plots and an immersive historical setting' Sydney Morning Herald, Fiction Pick of the Week

'Another rip-roaring novel featuring one of my favorite detectives, Ms. Billie Walker. Moss's latest is both a tale of international intrigue and an intimate family drama, racing from the cosmopolitan city of Sydney to the war-torn shores of Naples. The mystery at its core is a doozy, the tension sublime. An unforgettable read' Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

'Entertaining ... Moss keeps her copious plot threads from getting tangled, and she supplements the action with sumptuous period fashion and simmering romance. Moss's fans won't be disappointed' Publishers Weekly

'A fearless young woman sets out on a quest in this tense but heartwarming tale of family, love and honor spanning the globe from Naples to Sydney' Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Royal Spyness series

'A richly layered, page-turning post-war mystery that explores, with depth and heart, how long-held secrets shape family and identity' Susan Meissner, USA Today bestselling author of A Map to Paradise

Praise for the Billie Walker mysteries:

'A terrific read' Lynda La Plante

'A cracking thriller, with a marvellous, strong, flamboyant heroine. Loved it' Joanne Harris, award-winning author of Chocolat

'Retro noir with a gutsy heroine and atmospheric setting ... vivid, page-turning historical crime, better written than most' Sydney Morning Herald

'Just what I needed today - a blast of the escapist past' Ian Rankin

'Tara Moss writes beautifully; vivid descriptions, truly believable characters and enough page-turning suspense to keep you up reading far later than you intended!' Peter James

'Ultra-cool and whip-smart' Emily Maguire

'Rich period detail and a fierce, feminist heroine distinguish this stylish twist on the classic 1940s detective novel' Publishers Weekly

20th Century Historical Historical Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Women Sleuths Italy Heartfelt War
All stars
Most relevant
Nothing against the narrator but I feel that if your gong to have someone speak a foreign language at least use someone who actually knows the language, This ruined the book for me.

Good storyline

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Billie is an inspirational character who keeps you entertained with her adventures. Will there be another one?

Excellent story.

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Heroes and villains, glamour and crime. Billie Walker is a fiercely independent and glamorous female detective who hunts down and overpowers criminals post World War 2. Somewhat fanciful but fun

Easy Read

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After waiting so long for the 3rd book in this series, I gave into the temptation of binge listening and enjoyed every line. Tara Moss has a writing style that paints such a vivid picture. Well worth waiting for and hope there's another to follow.

So Disappointed It's Over!

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As an Italian, I found the story itself thrilling, accurate and where necessary factual. I was drawn into the character’s lives and was keen to see all the pieces of the story come together. However, I was extremely disappointed by the narration, particularly the Italian parts. Poor pronunciation and intonation made it difficult to listen to and because of this the story lost its effect somewhat. It would have been better to have two narrators: the main one and one that speaks Italian fluently.

Amazing Story Average Narration

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