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The Secret Of Villa Alba was an intriguing, gripping dual timeline mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are HUGE surprises in 2003 that we later find out more about in Irene’s narration. Halfway through, my jaw was hanging open and I’m thinking wow, this changes EVERYTHING!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.I did enjoy this one very much. The family relationships, both in the past and present make for an captivating read – there are secrets and deceit which April needs to work through, with the assistance of a local Detective Inspector. The Secret of Villa Alba by Louise Douglas is a well-crafted mystery that strikes the perfect balance between suspense and family drama. The narrative is shared across two timelines with the present day told in the third person with excerpts from what can assume are Irene’s journal/letters covering the timeline in the 1960s. The 1968 Belice earthquake is incorporated into the 1960s timeline and is well woven into the events of the story. The dual timelines are seamlessly woven into a consistently paced, well-structured and engaging narrative. Each of the characters (the main and supporting characters) is well defined though the resolution of a few sub-plots did feel a tad abrupt. I could predict part of the final reveal around the halfway mark (plenty of breadcrumbs, so it wasn’t difficult to do so) but there were several twisty surprises along the way. The elegant prose, immersive setting and suspenseful pacing render this an enjoyable read that I would not hesitate to recommend. The tension and suspense just build from the start. The fact that Irene has never been found as yet does raise the question, has a crime been committed? If not, where is Irene?
April makes a great team with an Italian police inspector called Luca Mazzotta, and together they go through all they find out separately, and deduce from that what could have happened. The short timeframe in 2003 puts April under pressure to uncover what really happened in May 1968. Having spent summers with Enzo and Maddi, I wondered how she would handle the truth … if Irene’s disappearance was related to one of the Borgata’s, would she be able to share that with the world? Twists are plentiful, especially in the latter half of the story. One particular twist left me gawping. I actually read the sentence thrice to make sure I read it right. I was like WOW! Mind blown! There is a lot of tension within the family, and you can tell how important April is to them. They answer all the questions that she asks knowing they must be as much help.as they can possibly be, but is someone lying to April?. Will she find out who and why?. The ending is class!!!.
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April Cobain is recovering from the loss of her love and soulmate when a letter comes from a friend who’d pushed her away decades ago. She’d left to go her own way after a dreadful, jealous scene.
An excellent read that challenges all preconceptions of guilt and innocence, with a startling conclusion. The secrets at the heart of Villa Alba entwine and tell a tale of a love so strong, nothing can stand in its way. I loved it! As I was reading through, it felt like a movie playing in my head. The claustrophobic atmosphere at Villa Alba, Donatella's controlling nature, Enzo's refusal to speak about the incident that occurred 35 years ago, mafia meetings, grief, infidelity, and unconditional love - totally engrossing story from start to finish! I thoroughly enjoyed this dual timelined story and was there in Sicily with them all!. I loved playing detective to try and decide if Enzo had murdered Irene or whether it was someone else in the family. There were lots of clues, but also lots of red herrings designed to throw you off the scent!!. The story would flow between 1968 with Irene telling her experiences, and the present time of 2003, with April telling us about the present.With the focus on the case, there isn’t much space for anything else. I couldn’t connect with April at any point. The book totally belongs to the Borgata family and their secrets. There are a lot of secrets, too (some unnecessary and abruptly rounded off at the end). Given April’s role in the book, the reveal should have come from her. What’s the use of having a detective working with another local detective if someone else takes over the climax? While April does connect a few dots, her standing on the sidelines during a crucial scene doesn’t give a good impression. From the letter his daughter Maddalena writes to former friend April in 2003, we discover that she was never found – and while her husband was initially under suspicion of being involved, the case was abandoned. But there’s now fresh interest – the case is to be featured on Milo Conti’s TV programme “Cold Case”, with possible fresh evidence that Enzo was responsible for Irene’s death. April is an ex-detective inspector, reluctant to become involved – she’s struggling with the recent loss of her husband, and her friendship with Maddalena fell apart rather dramatically some years before. But she has fond memories of Enzo, and decides to travels to Sicily, staying with the family at the Villa Alba, undertaking her own investigation – with a little help from the local police inspector – hoping to clear his name before the planned revelations. Will the mystery of Villa Alba ever be solved? Will the world ever find out what really happened to Irene Borgata? Or should some things have stayed dead and buried?
I really enjoy Louise Douglas’ novels as they always ooze atmosphere and this one is no exception. There are some excellent descriptions of beautiful Sicily, the climate, the landscape, the Villa and the impact of the devastating earthquake of 1968, which the author weaves very effectively into the storytelling. The premise is really intriguing and the dual narrative and timescale adds to the building mystery. The chapter placement is done very well. As April explores the Villa and learns about the Borgata family members, we see Irene’s life progressing in parallel. Though it causes some repetition, it works in the plot’s favor to help readers connect the past and present.I loved& ; The Lost Notebook & ;so much! From the opening lines, I was drawn in to a gripping story, beautifully written and so cleverly orchestrated. & ;I rooted for the main character, I held my breath at the denouement and as for the climax of the book - just wow. Highly recommended.' Judy Leigh A brilliantly written, gripping, clever, compelling story, that I struggled to put down. The vivid descriptions, the evocative plot and the intrigue that Louise created, which had me constantly asking questions, made it a highly enjoyable, absolute treasure of a read.' Kim Nash on The Scarlet Dress Louise Douglas has made some great, intriguing characters, and when the story starts, poor Enzo is still being accused of murder thirty five years after the event, even though there was no supporting evidence to prove it. This is where April comes in. A former policelady, she is asked by her old estranged childhood friend to help them to clear his name. They had fallen out years ago over a man and never spoken till now. This shows how desperate Maddalena is to clear her father's name and give him some peace in his later years. A crime investigation show is also highlighting this case, and it seems the host, Milo Conti, has already decided Enzo is guilty!. Enzo’s daughter, Maddalena, enlists the help of an estranged best friend, April Cobain, to help find out what happened to Irene all those years ago and to clear her father’s name. He is being ‘accused’ publicly of Irene’s murder by a true crime TV presenter and the stress is making him ill. April is a retired DI and although she fell out with Maddalena, she was always fond of Enzo. With mention of Mafia connections to the family, April has many avenues to follow. In the present time, Milo Conti is digging into the family dynamics and promises a full revelation in a few days. Maddalena Borgata writes to April Cobain, who she was acquainted with during her stay in England. April has been an investigator, but is still trying to get over the sorrow of her husband’s demise. Also, the last meeting between Maddalena and April in Bangkok ended badly and they have not been on speaking terms since. After some initial hesitation, April agrees and travel to Italy to investigate what happened to Irene, with help from local law enforcement.
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