The Villa
A Novel
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The Villa
Buy Now for £19.09
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Narrated by:
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Julia Whelan
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Kimberly M. Wetherell
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Shiromi Arserio
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By:
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Rachel Hawkins
Summary
"Shiromi Arserio, Julia Whelan, and Kimberly Wetherell are the perfect trio to narrate this thriller about an Italian villa with a haunted past."- AudioFile
From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
Critic reviews
"Hawkins casts a sharp eye throughout to the way we construct stories about female artists—and the moral ambiguity inherent in creation and fame. The effect lingers like a shadow, or a creature, that endures past the final words. Hawkins manages to achieve the seemingly impossible: A Frankenstein-inspired novel that feels both fresh and unique." —Kirkus (starred review)
"Friendship and professional jealousy fuel this nail-biter...Intense characters complement the brisk plot, which shifts smoothly between the present and 1974. Hawkins consistently entertains." —Publishers Weekly
"This story’s finely honed interplay of creative ambition and haunting sadness makes it a step above. Hawkins pokes at the darker aspects of both true crime and self-help, and it works beautifully. Hawkins' star is definitely on the rise after two bestsellers, and this one will propel her further into the stratosphere." —Booklist, starred review
"In The Villa, Rachel Hawkins brilliantly stitches together past and present, deftly luring readers into a deliciously dark tale filled with twisted secrets, suspect loyalties, and deadly encounters. I tore through this haunting thrill ride at breakneck speed but hated to see it end. Everything about The Villa is pitch-perfect, again proving that Hawkins is the reigning queen of suspense." —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest
"Cleverly-narrated via past and present timelines...The Villa teems with sexual tension, festering tempers, and questionable friendships. Hawkins' latest thriller reminds us that no matter what truths we think we've stumbled upon, writers cannot always be trusted—and certainly not the tales they tell." —Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
"Rachel Hawkins DELIVERS with The Villa. Slick, twisty, and packed full of pop culture references spanning decades, this book is a perfectly delicious read. I devoured it as fast as I could and wanted to read it again immediately. Buy one for yourself and another for your best friend because you’ll want to talk about it for days." —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
As a male reader, it very much felt like chicklit but the 70s Rock element and the murder secret element very much appealed to me. The BFF relationship between the modern day girls not so much. For me anyway.
Overall I enjoyed it, it’s not one I would choose over other genres but it’s always good to read something different every now and again.
Two Stories in One
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Hugely enjoyable
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I loved the structure of the book and the story within a story set in 1974 and narrated by an English chacrater. My only gripe is of course that it was written in US English with people running "toward" instead of "towards" and being angry "at instead of angry "with" which jarred a bit - however this was the only flaw in this fabulous diamond.
I loved the murder plot, the insight into a writer's life and the frisson there always is with really close friends.
I adored "Reckless Girls" and had this one on advance order since day one - and I have to say The Villa is even more entertaining and gripping by a long way, which is no mean feat. I may even re-read it this evening in case I skipped over and missed any tasty morsels in my first listen - this is something I never do, but it really was that good and I am missing it already so much.
I usually choose audiobooks narrated by UK or Irish narrators although I do not have the same bias with TV or film as I often find it a bit grating, but not this time ,,, it was simply a dream - genius plot and so well written.
Kudos and thanks to the wonderful Rachel Hawkins ............... could the ending have hinted there could be a sequel????
Cannot wait it if so, or if not, equally longing for the next thriller!
Recommend 100%
All the stars for this fab BFF thriller. Loved it!
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Loved it!
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