In Renaissance Florence, a young painter visits the Medici Palace, seemingly to paint Lorenzo de Medici's beautiful daughter. In present day Italy, a young English girl is drawn to an unremarkable painting, and discovers another extraordinary picture underneath. Two families, two tragedies. Separated by time, linked by an enduring curse.
Alessandra, the daughter of the powerful Lorenzo Medici, sits for her portrait - a wedding gift for the man her father is forcing her to marry. But Alessandra is determined not to go through with the wedding.
And the young painter Arnaldo also has a dangerous secret . . .
Hundreds of years later, Maria and her family are visiting relatives near Florence when her father buys an old painting. As he attempts to clean it he discovers another painting beneath: a portrait of a girl dressed in white. And the more he looks at it the more obsessed he becomes.
His behaviour becomes erratic. Maria's Uncle is rushed to hospital. There is a mystery intruder in the house. Can Maria uncover the ancient mystery of love, power and bitter feuds, and put an end to the catalogue of disasters?
About Matt Chamings
Matt lives in Devon with his wife and four very noisy children. He studied archaeology at university and has had a variety of jobs, including being a hospital porter, genealogist, teacher and library assistant. He now divides his time evenly between writing, doing the housework and telling his kids to be quiet. He likes to write because it allows him to combine his love of stories with sitting around all day not doing much. His other interests include reading, going to church, watching films and supporting Leeds United.