Historical and book club fiction set in post World War 2 Italy, Broken Madonna explores the fine line between secrets and miracles, as a young girl's mysterious visions set off a chain of events that reach across the years to late '90s England.
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A rich, layered epic of love, friendship and motherhood, set against corruption, deception and mental anguish. It's about the agonies of being human and lives buffeted by events beyond their control.​
Italy 1949
At an orphanage in the poverty-stricken Apennine Mountains, 15-year-old Adelina has only one younger friend - enigmatic, fragile Elisabetta.
When Elisabetta claims to see the Madonna by the river, Adelina has doubts. But after Elisabetta appears to heal Giulio, an injured and traumatised young soldier, crowds flock to witness the mystery of Elisabetta’s miracles.
Adelina can no longer contain her misgivings and seeks out scheming priest, Padre Bosco. As the secrets of the past begin to unravel, Adelina, Elisabetta and Giulio each have to confront who or what to believe.
Soon they face a terrible reckoning which will cause deep ripples in all their lives, reaching across the years to 1990s England.