yolandamcgill's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kerasalwaysreading's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This was an interesting read… but I didn’t feel any connection to any characters.
Emily is dealing with some health issues and the crumbling of her marriage when her best friend since childhood and fellow author, invites her to an Italian Villa for six weeks. Emily has a book due and can’t find it in her to write another cozy mystery… but this gorgeous setting may be just what she needs to write and to nurture the friendship.
This switches back and forth between current time with Emily and back in the 70s with Mari, telling the story of her, boyfriend Pierce, her step sister, Lara and their time with Noel Gordon, a rockstar who all spent a fateful summer in the very same Villa.
The real connection and similarities between the two timelines take a while to connect, but when they do, it’s riveting. And while I could see a lot of this coming for a while, it was still so entertaining. Mari’s past timeline and the events that happened then were the part of this that I felt the most disconnect with, though.
Ultimately, this was an intriguing and engaging mystery, though (unfortunately) my least favorite of the books I have read from this author under this name (and I have read them all).
This was an interesting read… but I didn’t feel any connection to any characters.
Emily is dealing with some health issues and the crumbling of her marriage when her best friend since childhood and fellow author, invites her to an Italian Villa for six weeks. Emily has a book due and can’t find it in her to write another cozy mystery… but this gorgeous setting may be just what she needs to write and to nurture the friendship.
This switches back and forth between current time with Emily and back in the 70s with Mari, telling the story of her, boyfriend Pierce, her step sister, Lara and their time with Noel Gordon, a rockstar who all spent a fateful summer in the very same Villa.
The real connection and similarities between the two timelines take a while to connect, but when they do, it’s riveting. And while I could see a lot of this coming for a while, it was still so entertaining. Mari’s past timeline and the events that happened then were the part of this that I felt the most disconnect with, though.
Ultimately, this was an intriguing and engaging mystery, though (unfortunately) my least favorite of the books I have read from this author under this name (and I have read them all).
olivialoverderheinheimer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The past timeline following Mara was more engaging the the current timeline following Emily. All of the mystery really lied in that story but I do wish the book ended differently. I mostly felt bad for Emily it was so obvious Chess was just the worst friend and she didn’t really see it.
kylanatale's review against another edition
DNF- Got 30% into this book and I just didn’t care about anything that was happening. The past “mystery/plot line” was dragging and taking me out of the the current day story. If it was just the present day story I may have continued but even with that I wasn’t really invested.
sebrittainclark's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
theloadedbookshelf's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
carolynac29's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5