This was such a fun, twisty mystery! Frankenstein is my favorite book, so I loved that one of the timelines was a modern day version of Mary Shelley’s story (mostly) and I loved the feminist aspect of two women overcoming the men who had held them down. However, I really struggled with the relationship between Chess and Emily…and I think you were supposed to….I just wish for Emily’s sake there had been more closure at the end for her. But it was still a great read!

I usually don’t read mainstream popular suspense, but I loved the cover and the premice for the story. Suspense with some mystery. An intersting story kept me searching for the truth. The characters, for the most part are interesting. However, I wanted more. The story flips between the 60’s and modern times that has “the villa” at its core with the relationships driving the story. Honestly, Rachel Hawkins could have dove deeper into the story from the 60’s and left out the modern story all together and I would have enjoyed it. The modern story line did not hold the same interest for me and wasn’t nearly as fleshed out or intriguing as past.

Thank you Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for the eARC of The Villa in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Hawkins is a favorite of mine and I only wish I started this one sooner. She takes you on twists and turns like you would not believe. I highly recommend this one!

Rachel Hawkins' works always deliver. Looking for a bingeable read that's suspenseful, mysterious and has a great location? You found it in THE VILLA! Overall a solid read with a unique edge and very cool throwback vibes.

I liked Rachel Hawkins other books but this one was a bit disappointing for me.

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.

At first I was pretty into the characters and the setting who doesn't love an Italian villa. I also really like the dynamic between the two women and I think the author captured the essence of female friendships pretty well. Ultimately it's the flashbacks that really didn't work for me I found it took me out of the story and I didn't really care so much for it. I just wish there was more substance.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this!! My first Rachel Hawkins and will not be my last. I was hooked from the beginning to the end!

Emily and Chess are childhood friends. After Emily's divorce, Chess invites her to Italy for a summer getaway to clear her mind and let her focus on her writing. When they arrive at the summer villa, they learn there was a murder there in the 1970's, which sparks Emily's interest in writing.

I found most of the book to be predictable. There were no "oh!" type moments or twists that took me by surprise. I just don't feel like this book did much for me, like other Rachel Hawkins books.

If you’ve ever wondered what Daisy Jones and the Six would be like if it was a murder mystery, look no further. The Villa is the answer to that question.

I absolutely loved the gothic feel of this one. It was like someone took all those bright, happy, fun, “let’s-go-on-vacation-to-Italy” books, but said “Hmm okay yes, but let’s make it dark.” Highly recommend!

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A huge thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this gothic thriller! I’m a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins’s work. This was creepy, atmospheric and I loved the twists! I didn’t love the ending, but overall, a great read.

This is my first Rachel Hawkins book, and it didn’t disappoint. I finished it within a day and didn’t want to put it down. It was a solid 3.5-star read for me; I enjoyed the characters and set up, even the reveal at the end, but it was a little lacking for me. I preferred the present day to the past timeline and was eager for more suspense that never came.

Fun and atmospheric with twists and interesting characters, Rachel Hawkins solidifies her unique place in the fish-out-of -water thriller genre. Fun escapist mystery, well-written with a great sense of place and time.

Rachel Hawkins’ novel The Villa is the story of friends since childhood Emily and Chess who decide to take a trip to Italy. What they find out about the Italian Villa’s history will shock and surprise the reader. I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this well-written, thrilling, full of secrets and betrayal, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat book!

I love the secrets and history that is uncovered when Emily and Chess stay at the Villa. Another book where the House is its own character. There is just something about it that gives the story extra intrigue. I love anything Rachel Hawkins writes.

Thank you st Martin’s press and netgalley for an arc.

A Rachel Hawkins thriller with a gorgeous sun drenched villa as the setting, plus a twisty mystery? Yes please! I have read every other novel published by Rachel Hawkins and was so excited to read The Villa. While at times it was a little slow, particularly in the beginning, once it took off it was a fun ride. I enjoyed this book, and look forward to her next one.

This book was interesting in that it was told in dual timelines - there was Mari in 1974 and Emily in present day. In Mari's story, she and her step sister and lover go to spend the summer with her step sister's lover and his dealer. This is a story of drugs and sex, although nothing is explicit. There is also rock 'n' roll and murder. As in, Mari's lover is murdered (this is not a spoiler, this is told early on). So this is a murder house. However, the summer of 1974 Mari is trying to write. She eventually is inspired and writes what will be a great horror novel.

In the present day, Emily in in the process of a divorce, her health has been failing, and she has writer's block. Her "best friend" Chess invites her to spend the summer with her at a Villa in Italy. But this is the murder house! Emily agrees and ends up engrossed in the story of Mari and the summer of 1974. She makes discoveries that no one has found in ~50 years (really?).

Throughout the book, we alternate timelines and I did enjoy both timelines. However, there was a lot that seemed unanswered in this book. One of the reviews mentioned a third storyline which I agree with. I'm not sure if this was intentional on the author's part or not, but I wish there had been a little more clarity and not as open-ended.

I ordinarily like Rachel Hawkins’s novels, but I found this challenging to get through. The plot just felt plodding and annoying.

Another Rachel Hawkins' thriller that did not disappoint.

I loved the fast paced plot and of course the setting! Rachel knows how to paint a picture with her books.

I also loved the dual timeline in this story. A very fun read!

This is my favourite by Rachel Hawkins. I liked the contrast in the setting, a villa set in the beautiful Italian countryside with a dark history and secrets known as the “murder house.” The story is told in dual timelines, the 1970’s with its rock and roll culture and present day as two friends Chess & Emily rent the villa hoping to spark their creativity. It’s like reading two stories at once but the endings are different. The relationships were complicated, sibling rivalry, love and jealousy between friends. I found Mari to be a really interesting character and was invested in her story. Of course it wouldn’t be a thriller without some plot twists at the end and a little bit of karma. Overall a good read that you won’t want to put down! Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

Another Rachel Hawkins page turner! Loved this story and couldn’t put it down! The story was interesting and engaging and had some depth to the story that was a little different than other RH books. Highly recommend this book!

I love a thriller that takes place on vacation or an island or anything tropical and fun and this was no exception! I've read a few other Rachel Hawkins' novels and will be on the look out for any new ones by her, too!