(2)The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

 

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

I really loved the setting of The Villa. I felt transported to this magical vacation destination. Everything else about the book was just "meh" for me. I had figured out the "twist" fairly early on, so it was no surprise when Emily figured it out. What happened after that was a bit of a surprise, but not enough for me to gush about this book to anybody who will listen. 

Bottom Line - If you are looking for an "edge of your seat" thriller than The Villa might not be your best option. If you are looking for a mediocre thriller set in a spectacular location. Than The Villa is for you. 

Details:

• The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
• On Instagram
• Pages: 288
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication Date: 1/3/2023
• Buy it Here! 
• Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for a review.