Sunday, December 11, 2022

12.11.2022 - The Villa

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Rachel Hawkins, wonderfully narrated by Julia Whelan; Kimberly M. Wetherell; Shiromi Arserio - 4 stars!

Emily and Chess were best friends when they were young but that friendship fell apart.  Now in their 30s, Chess proposes a trip to Italy and Emily is anxious to reconnect and possibly break her writer's block.  The villa is now an exclusive rental home but in the 1970s it was rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon.  Noel invites an upcoming musician, Pierce, his girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara, to join him.  It was a notorious time - Mari writes a famous horror novel, Lara composes a platinum album, and Pierce is murdered.  Emily is enthralled with the house's history - because houses remember - but her investigations bring up more trouble.

This was an intriguing story, told in dual timelines by various narrators, and was kind of a story in a story book.  The villa added to the atmospheric tension, and was inspired by many real life groups and murders.  There is a lot going on here but the multiple narrators really helped me keep track of people and timelines.  Another good suspense thriller by Rachel Hawkins!

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