"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". Unfortunately it seemed to be all over the place, the pacing was bit slow as well. . I liked one of her books wee better than this one but not by much unfortunately. Had good insight with story but think need to be executed a little better.
Thanks to netgalley, St Martin Press, and the author in exchange for a review.
Published Jan 3rd 2023.

Happy New Year! It is crazy to think that A Book A Week began way back in 2012, but I'm so excited to continue my goal of reading a new book every week and sharing my reviews with you. Over the years, my reading tastes have grown and evolved to encompass various genres and authors. My soft spot, though, will always be with mysteries and thrillers. I began last year by reading Rachel Hawkin's popcorn thriller, Reckless Girls. This year, I was pleased to once again accept a copy of her latest book/audiobook from her publisher. The Villa sees Hawkins apply her signature style to a multigenerational thriller, which is a fantastic way to kick off this new year of reading.

The year is 1974. The place is the gorgeous Villa Rosato, Italy. Rock superstar Noel Gordon has rented the estate as an artists' retreat. He hopes that his time in the home will yield his next bestselling album. Noel has invited songwriting hopeful Pierce Sheldon to join him, and Pierce brings his mistress, the young Mari, and her sister Lara. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll ensue, but not in the way you might expect. By the end of the summer, Mari will write one of the most influential horror novels of all time, and Lara will record a bestselling album. The art that flows from that time is notable in its own right, but this is not what the Villa is best known for. You see, that summer also ends up with Pierce being brutally murdered in a killing that will forever stain the reputation of the Italian chateau.

In the present day, the villa, now renamed Villa Aestes, is playing host to a new generation of creatives. Emily and Chess were inseparable childhood friends who both ended up with varying degrees of success as authors. Chess is a bestselling self-help guru, who has taken the world by storm. Emily has had more moderate achievements as the author of a series of cozy mysteries that are largely inspired by her own personal life. Both friends have drifted from each other over the years, focussing on their own lives and careers. This girl's trip to Italy serves as a chance to reconnect while also putting in the hours needed to stave off both authors' impending deadlines. Emily's curiosity about the place they are staying leads her to discover new aspects of the famed murders that occurred there decades ago. Secrets about the past, both of this place and of their friendship, come to light, causing tensions to mount between the two best friends. Before the summer's end, the villa may just claim another victim.

The Villa marks Hawkins's third foray into thrillers and is her most unique and intriguing novel to date. She takes inspiration from Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the creation of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, combining these seemingly eclectic elements into a story that brims with tightly wound suspense. This is much different from the popcorn reads she has previously presented. While there are still plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, The Villa spends more time building atmospheric chills by alternating past and present perspectives. I simultaneously read and listened to this book, sucked into the spell that it cast upon me. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Hawkins threw in one more twist that I genuinely didn't see coming. The Villa is another solid page-turner from an author who is becoming one of my go-to writers for this genre.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: January 3, 2023

This slow burn thriller/drama is told through a dual timeline of present day and 1974. Each timeline’s cast spending a summer at The Villa in Italy. While this took a while to get into, the 70s/Fleetwood Mac/Manson/Helter Skelter vibes were immaculate!

The story is inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders and the summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent at Lake Geneva Castle. The Villa is told via alternating timelines from the present day with best friends Chess and Emily to 1974 following Mari at a well-known villa called Villa Aesta’s in Orvieto; referred to as the murder house. I love alternating timelines, and this did not disappoint! I preferred Mari’s chapters (1974) as they take us through the history of crime and just overall, I found it much more interesting than Emily and Chess whose friendship is SO toxic it just drove me up the wall. I enjoyed this book full of lies, drama, deception and darkness. Through Mari’s chapter’s I couldn’t stop thinking of the Rumors album from Fleetwood Mac and the process the band took while writing it; it seemed very on brand for this novel.  
 
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.  

Pub Date: January 3, 2023!

Emily and Chess are childhood besties who both ended up being writers. But the similarities stop there. Emily writes cozy mysteries while Chess is a self-help guru who writes nonfiction empowerment books -- think Girl Wash Your Face or Untamed. Up until recently, Emily lived in her hometown with her husband and they talked about having kids. Chess is as single as they come, living the big city glamorous life.

Their friendship is one that has evolved through the years, but as any of us know who have had friends that long, you love them and hate them at times. It's all a bit more complicated. So when Chess invites Emily to an Italian Villa to write for the summer, Emily is tentative but eventually goes along with it. Yes, Chess can be a lot. But how can she turn down a summer in Italy? Small twist, they'll be staying in a murder house.

The Villa has major Sharon Tate, Helter Skelter vibes, in the best possible way. Hawkins switches between present day, Emily and Chess, and Mari who stayed at the house in 1974 with a rockstar, her boyfriend and her step sister. This is a good one, for anyone who ever had a slight fascination in celebrity murders and the slightly ominous drug and rock and roll scene of the 1970's.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Rachel Hawkins for a early copy of this book.
This is a book of sisters, friends, love, and murder. The book switches from the points of view of Emmy and Mari. We stitch from current time to 1964 both in Orvieto, Italy at Villa Aesteas. Emmy is a writer who just got divorced from her husband Matt who left her after being sick and not wanting to have a baby. Matt her husband wants money from her Petal books that she started writing when she met him and who she put in the acknowledgments. Her best friend Chess who writes self help books suggests a summer at a villa in Italy and Emmy agrees since she needs to write her next cozy mystery book. It is soon discovered that there was a murder that took place years ago and two survivors became famous for a album and horror novel that was being worked on the summer they stayed there. Emmy begins to look into the past with Mari, her sister Lara, boyfriend Pierce, rock star Noah, and druggie Johnnie. Emmy begins to write a book about what happened in the villa before and all the craziness that surrounded it, a threesome, a pregnancy, and a murder. Mari reveals that her son died while she was on tour with pierce and he doesn’t talk about it and when Lara discovers that she is pregnant Pierce wants her to keep it and one night he breaks Lara’s guitar while drunk and Mari kills him. Meanwhile, Chess wants to write a book with Emmy and at first she says no. Then Emmy discovers that Chess has been talking to Matt and has written down what Emmy has talked about with Mari and the murder. Then Emmy discovers that Matt was trying to kill her after Chess tells her and how she was stringing Matt along to keep him away from her. So Emmy shows her Mari’s letters and how she murdered Pierce and the invite Matt out to the villa. Matt dies in the pool and Emmy and Chess write a book that becomes a bestseller and it is revealed that Mari went back to the villa before she died and wrote down what really happened that summer. I love the relationships between the sisters and friends, both sets of women would do anything for each other even when toxic things try and ruin it. I was not a fan of the fact that Pierce used Mari and Lara against each other . It makes what they did kind of satisfactory and justified both murders once you learn the truth and their backstories

Brief summary: In the 1970’s, five people visit an Italian Villa hoping for a fun vacation and get much more than they bargained for. Fast forward to the 2020’s, best friends Emily and Chess are vacationing in the same villa where tragedy struck years ago. What secrets will be uncovered during their stay?
•

In my opinion, The Villa is Hawkins’ best work thus far!
I loved that this book took place in two different timelines and being able to compare the 1970’s timeline with the present day. Getting glimpses into the past and catching similarities between the two eras (yes, I’m a Swiftie) made this aspect of the book all the more interesting.

I also really liked that this story relied on women and made them, and their relationships with each other and the men in their lives, a central focus.

The mystery of Villa Aestas was enjoyable (if it were a real place I would be listening to all the podcasts about it just like Emily did), but I did wish the space itself played more of a role in the plot. More detail on the home itself, I think, could have lended some additional spookiness which I would have liked to see.

That being said, there was plenty of suspense in this book! I initially did not expect this story to go where it did, and even once I figured out one crucial plot point, I was still surprised with where things went from there. Even after the very last page, I was left with my jaw dropped.

This one was a definite page-turner, and I would highly recommend giving it a read.
Publishing day is January 3rd, so be sure to get your hands on this unique and exciting thriller when you get the chance!

3.5 ⭐️

The Villa is a slow-burn suspense about two timelines: one in late 70s and present day. Emily and her close friend Chess are going on a writing retreat to an Italian villa notorious for its dark past and the location of where a gruesome murder took place years back. The dueling timeline in the 70s sheds light on the villa’s dark history.

Overall, I really enjoyed the ties between both timelines. I was captivated the entire time reading, and enjoyed my time with this one! I found Mari to be a more likeable character than Emily, and loved reading from her perspective in the 70s. My one annoyance was the “twist” at the end- as this was a slow burn- I didn’t feel completely satisfied with the result.

While I’ve enjoyed The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls, and now after finishing The Villa, Rachel Hawkins books are consistently 3.5 stars for me. She knows how to make readers feel very engaged while reading in the moment. So far, all books have been very binge-worthy but not memorable.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: January 3, 2023

Rachel Hawkins has firmly established herself as one of my go-to authors when I need an adult thriller that will undoubtedly give me a mild case of whiplash from the couple of twists that she'll throw into the storyline. When I read the synopsis for The Villa, I knew I had to read it. The words Italy, rock stars and murder lured me in and got my attention. But it was the phrase: "The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy...." that nailed it and I was a goner.

The book is told in multiple time lines, Present day follows long time best friends Emily and Chess who go to Italy to reconnect. The other timeline introduces the reader to step-sisters, Mari and Lara who have a tumultuous relationship. The visit the Villa in 1974 along with Mari's musician boyfriend, Pearce. They are invited there by Noel who is a well-known rockstar that is currently struggling to put out new music. In addition, you also get a peek into Mari's book which makes for a third storyline of sorts.

Sometimes it's confusing to bounce between timelines, but it worked quite well in this book. It was actually a critical facet of the plot and it never felt forced or intrusive to leave one timeline to go to the other. I was intrigued by both the storylines and am continually impressed by this author's creativity.

Even though there were some unexpected twists which I loved, there were also a few things within the plot that I felt were too predictable. That's the only reason that I"m not giving this beauty five stars. Everything else was stellar. I just felt that there were some places where she played it safe and others where she blew it out of the water with her twists. But obviously, that's my personal opinion. Regardless, this book is a wonderful work and I highly recommend it.

In addition to receiving an early copy of the kindle copy for review, I also received an early audio copy. This allowed me to go back and forth between both. The audiobook for this is stellar. The narration was spot on. All three narrators do a wonderful job of portraying their characters and it all blends together in a way that makes this one of my most enjoyable listening experiences in a while. 5 stars for the audio.

Thank you to NetGalley for both the e-ARC and early listening copy. I voluntarily chose to read/listen and review them and the opinions contained within are my own.

This is a creepy gothic based on the story of Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron’s summer that resulted in Mary writing Frankenstein. It’s set in a dual timeline format in an infamous murder house in Italy. It is enterand I fully enjoyed it.

If you’re in need of a quick mystery, THE VILLA is the perfect book to pick up in 2023! Rachel Hawkins has an amazing way of writing stories that draw you in quickly and that you keep you engaged with unlikable characters and a few twists sprinkled throughout.

I thought THE VILLA had an interesting setup with the story shifting between the past and present. At first I did have trouble adjusting to the shifts in the story, especially at the beginning, but by the end I felt like it flowed more smoothly. Throughout the book I felt more invested in the story told in the past and tended to like the story more from the view of Mari. I thought that Hawkins created an interesting dynamic between best friends Emily and Chess in the present, but there were certain moments where I felt exasperated with both of these characters.

This ended up being a fairly quick read, that kept me entertained. There were a lot of things that I questioned or guessed ahead of time, but I would say this it is still worth the read. Overall I really liked how the whole book ended and thought that was the most clever part. And of course - I absolutely loved the cover for THE VILLA; this was one reason I was completely drawn to reading this one early on!

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
Rating: 3 stars
Pub Date: 1/3/23

Emily is a cozy mystery writer who’s been having a rough time. Her health has been deteriorating, and her husband left her after cheating while she was at her worst. She needs a restart to get her career back on track, and her childhood best friend and successful self-help author, Chess, suggests spending the summer in Italy. They choose a picturesque villa in Orvieto, which also happens to be the location of a high-profile murder in the 70s.

During their time at the villa, Emily stumbles upon clues from the past that answer some questions about the brutal murder that took place there, and some unpleasant revelations about her relationship with Chess come to light.

The story moves back and forth between the past and present, leading us closer and closer to the truth behind the murder. I loved the juxtaposition of the two storylines and the similarities between Chess and Emily’s relationship in the present and Mari and Laura’s relationship in the past. I find stories that explore the complexities of female relationships interesting, and this book does that in a big way. I also loved how the present-day setting of the villa was sunny and gorgeous, but the past chapters show a darker and more haunted atmosphere.

Unfortunately, I liked one storyline a lot more than the other. I was invested in the characters and outcome of the past chapters and cared very little about the present-day characters. I couldn’t connect with either woman, and their problems felt petty. The past chapters were dark, mysterious, and suspenseful and spoke to the human condition and how far some people are willing to go for fame. I could have read a whole book about that time, and I was almost disappointed when the chapters switched to the present day.

Something else I struggled with was the use of excerpts from articles, podcasts, and chapters from the horror novel written at the villa. It was jarring and took me out of the story whenever they made an appearance. There was almost too much going on, and it was very distracting.

I think I went into this expecting a twisty thriller, but what I got was women’s fiction. I expected a big twist at the end, but there wasn’t one. A few mysteries were solved, and justice was served, but the smaller twists throughout the story were predictable, and I was somewhat disappointed. The ending also left me scratching my head with its Verity-like circumstance.

I love Hawkin’s writing style, and she did an excellent job describing the villa and the picturesque Italian countryside. The characters were well-developed, and the storyline was complex enough to keep me intrigued until the end. I wish it was a little less predictable, and we saw more of the characters from the past.

Overall, this one was just okay for me. I’ve seen a lot of five-star reviews for The Villa, so it could just be me! Pick this one up if you’ve enjoyed other books by this author and like a back-and-forth, whodunnit mystery.

Rating: 3 ⭐️

If you have a hard time following multiple POV books, this may not be the one for you. If you can stick with it though, it does become more clear.

Two stories, one house. “Houses remember.” We have Mari in 1974 visiting The Villa with famous rock and roll crew and her wannabe musician stepsister. Then in present day it’s authors Emily and her best friend since childhood, Chess visiting the same villa. We find that the 1974 visit ended in murder, but only as the story unravels do you find out who and what exactly transpired. Through Mari’s story and excerpts from the book she wrote during her stay at the Villa we put the puzzle together.

Emily is intrigued by the story and finds herself wanting to write her own based on the events that took place all those years ago in the same rooms she’s staying. She is currently going through a tough divorce and this trip with her friend, self help guru Chess, is just what she needs to kickstart her writer’s block.

Overall I found the book to be interesting, but I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where different excerpts came from and trying to remember what was happening. It was a good story and held my interest once I got about a quarter of the way in, but I feel like it didn’t quite hit for me. I do enjoy this authors other books and think this will likely be very popular. I give 3 stars for the fact that I couldn’t wait to finish and find out what happened and what the twist would be.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read this early digital copy in exchange for my thoughts.

This started out really good and then the twist was so obvious that I found myself rushing to finish it, if only for the book to be over. It could have gone in some many better direction and, yet, it didn't. I still enjoyed the beginning and the intersecting stories. Julia Whelan is phenomenal, as always, too, in her narration. If you don't care about figuring out a twist, you may enjoy this one even more!

The Villa comes out next week on January 3, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

Somewhere around the time she started calling herself "Chess," I realized I might actually hate my best friend.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

• two storylines/timelines
• wonderful narration (👏👏 Julia Whelan)
• toxic relationships

This doesn't give super 'thriller genre' vibes, but it was a fun ride! Great setting, intriguing characters, and steady pace. I also really enjoyed the podcast transcripts, emails, writing excerpts, etc sprinkled throughout. It added to the excitement of the plot for me!

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC and audio! All opinions are honest and my own.

4.5 stars
Rachel Hawkins’ latest is a gothic suspense set in an Italian villa with a dark history and was inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders and Frankenstein! What the heck could go wrong?

It’s an extraordinarily captivating page turner with dual timelines, complex female relational dynamics and Daisy Jones vibes.

I was lucky enough to alternate between the audio and print versions, and I will say the audio is very well done.

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Emily and Jessica (now morphed into Chess) were inseparable as kids, but have drifted apart in recent years. So when Chess suggests a trip to Italy for the summer, it seems to Emily this will be the perfect escape from her crumbling marriage and hopefully a chance to get over her writer's block. But Chess may have ulterior motives.

In a parallel story, set in 1974 in the same villa in which the two women are staying, a gruesome murder took place, one with far-reaching consequences. But was it really all "drugs, sex and rock 'n roll" or was there more to the story? Emily is intrigued in the history of the villa and when she unearths a copy of the bestselling book written by Mari and listens to the famous album by Lara, Mari's step-sister and also one of the five, she is even more intrigued.

It took me a minute to get into the shifting stories, written by Emily and Mari as well as excerpts from books and podcasts about the murder. But it was worth it. The story is intriguing and haunting and leaves you wanting more.

You could call this story one of duality. We get dual timelines, frenemies/stepsisters, two men behaving badly, and two stories hiding much more than it appears. It also brought in a lot of what feels in vogue right now: the whole communal musical/art scene like we have from Daisy Jones and the Six combined with a self-help guru and an author. We readers love our stories about authors! The age of the women (girls really) in the older timeline made me cringe. I'm not sure that needed to be added to the plot and I would have felt the same way about the characters without the specter of pedophilia. I was guessing and second guessing all the way up until the end of the book, or at least through the end of Chapter 14. There is one more chapter and it did the explain away everything, etc, that I don't generally like. It went a bit farther than that and while I can understand how most readers will appreciate what it offers, I was happy and fine a little earlier. I can't say more because that would spoil it and this is definitely a book you should read!

Author Emily and her famous, friend Chess reunite for a trip to a villa in Italy. The villa was the setting for a famous murder in the past. Told in alternate time periods from the original murder to present day, Emily and Chess try to find out what really happened.

The Villa is a dazzling Russian nesting doll of a novel, weaving together three separate, original stories. Emily has been battered by a difficult divorce and writers’ block while her childhood friend Chess produces one best selling self help book after another. They plan to write and reconnect at Villa Aestas in scenic Orvieto. In 1974, the villa was the scene of a gruesome murder when an almost famous rock star was bludgeoned to death. The two sisters who were there, Lara and Mari, become famous after the tragedy, Lara as a singer/songwriter and Mari with a novel based on her boyfriend’s death. While Chess works on her latest advice book, Emily researches the summer of 1974. What she learns will test her friendship and change her life.

Look for The Villa on every best seller list! Told in alternating voices by Emily and Mari, this mystery/thriller pulls you in from the first page. A fast paced, compelling plot, atmospheric location, especially The Pozzo di San Patrizio, and themes of competition and jealousy make this a tour de force. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Rachel Hawkins for this ARC.