The Italian Party A Novel

Set in Siena, Italy, in 1956, 'The Italian Party' follows young American newlyweds Scottie and Michael Messina. Michael is ostensibly there to sell tractors for Ford, but is secretly a CIA operative tasked with ensuring the Communist mayor is defeated in the upcoming election. Both Scottie and Michael harbor explosive secrets from each other, including Scottie's undisclosed pregnancy by another man. The couple is initially seduced by Tuscany's famous beauty, but the secrets they keep force them beneath the splendid surface to a more complex view of Italy, America, and each other. When Scottie's teenage Italian teacher disappears, her search for him leads her to uncover darker truths about her husband and her country. Michael's dedication to his anti-communist mission crumbles as he realizes he may be a pawn in a different game. Driven apart by lies, the couple must navigate a maze of history, memory, hate, and love to find a new, complicated truth. The book blends spy thriller, comedy of manners, and a story of Americans abroad in a time of political skulduggery.

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