From Paris to Venice, Florence, and Rome: the European adventures of Hannah and Raf.
A recurring theme in the series is Hannah and her growing obsession with travel and the freedom it promises. While she lay in jail, she repeatedly imagined her future liberty and made plans in her mind for everything she would do the moment she walked out. Indeed, one of the very first trips Hannah took after her release was to the Cayman Islands, a brief escape that fed her wanderlust. After she solved the murder of the theatre actress and boarded the plane with Daniel, she felt certain she wanted to leave the States behind and embrace a new life in Europe. Though the story was originally set to conclude in New York, I shifted the narrative to move Hannah to Paris, inspired by my own travels and experiences there in 2023.
After her tense confrontation with the suspect in the first book, Rafael makes a solemn, heartfelt promise to Hannah that he will protect her, and he gently reminds her that if she needs anything at all, she should never hesitate to let him know. Sure enough, when Hannah begins to crave something new and different, she asks Raf to whisk her away on a spontaneous European adventure. Between the events of the first book and the second, Hannah spends three full, exhilarating years living and exploring life across Europe—immersing herself in new cities, cultures, and friendships—until Connie calls and asks her to fly home for her wedding. For Hannah, leaving Europe behind again is every bit as bittersweet and wrenching as it was the first time.
In the upcoming fourth book, after her godfather is poisoned, Hannah tells Smith she will be taking a sabbatical and plans to travel to Lucerne to stay at Die Klinik Dan Geist Zu Halen. She also tells him she intends to take Rafael on a European adventure, much like the one Rafael once gave her. So Hannah and Raf set off together, first exploring the ruins of the Colosseum, where gladiators once fought and Christians were persecuted, then wandering through the ancient remains of the Forum and learning how it came into being in the 6th century BC. Before continuing their journey, Hannah and Raf climb up to the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica to take in the sweeping lights of the Eternal City, then stroll along Via Condotti, ascend the Spanish Steps and throw coins into the Fontana di Trevi. Their travels carry them next to the romantic canals of Venice, where Hannah and Rafael glide through the water on a gondola. They then move on to Paris, where their story first began—holding hands as she watches the city’s flashing lights at midnight and walking along the banks of the Seine. Shortly afterward they travel to Florence, where they enjoy a meal at Osteria Pastella and savor more moments together.
In the TTRAPS, Rafael takes Hannah to the beautiful, peaceful town of Giethoorn. Ironically nicknamed the “Venice of the Netherlands,” this story is set in a picturesque village whose canals, thatched roofs, and quiet footbridges will take Hannah by surprise and enchant her senses. (Though I have never been to Giethoorn or Lucerne, I hope to go there someday.)
