The Villa follows two timelines (present and the 1970s) at a Villa in Italy. Emma, newly separated, in a writing slump, slowly healing from a mysterious illness, joins her life-long friend Chess for a summer at a villa in Italy. The villa is famous for being the home of a murder in the mid 1970s. Instead of writing their cozy mystery and self-help books, Emma and Chess each take on the 1970s murder writing their first true crime story. Emma finds letters penned by Mark, a survivor of the 1970s murder and learns the truth about the crime. She also learns that Chess had an affair with her abusive husband. Interwoven in this tale of two friends redefining their relationship is the story of the 1970s murder and snippets of the book Lilith Rising. Another murder in the house occurs and only the house will remember after all of the players are long gone. The characters and scenery draw the reader in’

The Villa is easily Hawkins best thriller! Two best friend and authors, , chess and Emily, take a retreat to a secluded villa in Italy to overcome writers block and for emily to put some distance between her soon to be ex-husband and herself. Upon arrival, they learn of an incident that occurred at the Villa between a group of writers and musicians, one of whom (Mari) will go on to become a famous horror author. The deeper Emily probes into the incident at the Villa in the 70s and find more and more pieces of information left behind in Mari’a famous novel., the more she realizes that she and chess are also caught in a parallel situation in present-day.

The pros-

Pacing-the novel is expertly paced and details are revealed just enough to keep the reader turning the pages.
Atmosphere- This may be the biggest win here as Hawkins evokes an atmosphere that is foreboding, gothic, and claustrophobic.
Characters- Emily, the protagonist, is sympathetic and likeable. Hawkins last novel, reckless girls, didn’t have many likeable characters so this having someone to root for in this one was a bonus.
Themes- Hawkins has a habit of using her craft to probe themes that at time that go deeper than the usual psychological/domestic suspense. This one covers the nature of art/creation, the line between truth/reality, and finding empowerment in being the driver of your own “story.”
Structure- There is a level of unreliable narration which adds another interesting element to the novel, one not found as commonly anymore in fiction. The plot moves and jumps like a Russian doll, opening up to contain another layer inside. There are also pieces of media randomly included (podcasts, interviews, experts of the functional novels included, etc) which enhances the realistic aspect of the past timeline and the impact it has on the Villa in the present.

Con-

My only con to it that kept it from being a 5-star read was most of the “twists” are predictable. I will admit the final one was good, but the other reveals throughout the book are expected. It also took a bit to orient to the book, but that early sense of disorientation may have been crucial to the tone invoked. Hardly a “con”, but just a general musing.

Overall, recommended for anyone looking to try Hawkins for the first time!

Arc provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Hawkins has presented readers with the best suspense/thriller of the year with her new book The Villa. And, the cover of the book only illustrates the tale inside. When a trip to a beautiful villa in Italy, including a luxurious estate and amenities only the wealthy enjoy, turns deadly, decades later, two writers, in trying to discover the truth of what happened, only find that they share more with those who committed a monstrous act.

The book switches between two stories that revolve around the villa, one from the seventies in which two young women, Mari Godwick and her sister Lara, spend a summer there with her boyfriend Pierce. Rockstar Noel Gordon invites the group, bringing along John Dorchester, better known as "Johnnie", who stands alone from the talented group, his only claim to them, his ability to find drugs anywhere. In the future, success will come for the girls but, after their time together, one of the men will be dead, another in jail for the rest of his life and the other, forever changed. While what happened there that summer becomes known worldwide, the true story of what happened on that trip, has never been known.

Almost fifty years later, two female writers, Chess and Emily, decide to take a vacation to the same villa to escape, hoping to devote some time to their careers, which are beginning to waver. Both are tired of writing the same material they have turned out their entire careers, Chess, the popular, "seemingly perfect", self help guru and Emily, with nine books in her cozy mystery series. Emily's life has been far from the "coziness" she desired and Chess believes her friend to always have had, having been very ill for some time, further disappointing her husband with her unwillingness to have children, divorce proceedings have commenced.

When the women arrive at the villa, their surroundings begin to inspire curiousity as to what occured there in the summer of 1972. All that remains of the women who were there is the work they left as artists, Mara with the book she wrote while at the villa, and Lara, a folksy Fleetwood Mac type, with her popular album Aestas, songs inspired and written during that trip, too. However, with the truth still to be found Emily believes there are some clues there, at the villa. And, she is right, what she finds, amazing!

When Chess suggests the women write a book about what happened in 1972 together, having seen Emily has started on something great, things unfold between the women much like the betrayal of what happened all those years there before. And, while it might be the villa that implores it's residents to lash out in revenge, subconsciously had the women known more than they thought about one another, how they impact each other's lives and gone there to let all that unfolds give them a reason to place blame for their own actions there anywhere other than at their own feet? As that never becomes known the reader must make that judgment call themself, when they finish the book.

Having never read Hawkins in the past I was excited to win the book in a giveaway, not knowing what to expect. The minute I opened this book I was hooked and couldn't set it down. There were times I had to take a break, set the book down and walk away even when I wanted to read, the storyline (both) so intense, I had to put distance between myself and it, while my feelings settled! Very few books do this to me, the ones that do, are the authors I never forget and continue to read for the rest of my life. Definitely a must read for all and a book all readers this year can't miss!

Happy Reading
and
Thank you for the Giveaway win!

(3.75 stars) I started and finished The Villa, the newest from Rachel Hawkins, in one night. Told in a split timeline (1974 and present) and set in a picturesque Italian villa, the mystery grabbed my attention right away and held it to the very end. And I was convinced that this would end up one of highly rated reads…but then the potential for a strong finish just sort of unraveled by the final chapters. Sigh.

Back in 1974, a high-profile murder took place at this villa while a group of musicians and writers were staying there. An infamous album and a classic horror novel were created during that time. And now in the present, two “besties” arrive for the summer. One (Chess, a name that makes me cringe) is a picture-perfect famous self-help guru, and other (Emily) is a writer of serial mysteries who’s been battling writer’s block and health problems and going through a nasty divorce. The women are apparently best friends but have this tension between them - jealousy, mistrust to boot - that hints at a complicated history.

As Emily digs deeper into what happened in the “murder house” in 1974, she awakens her dormant creativity and starts writing.

Meanwhile, we learn about the 1974 occupants of the Villa - a rock and roll icon and a group of creative minds - through the eyes of 19-year-old Mari, who eventually pens the horror novel. Whew!

Hawkins’s writing is solid and approachable, but there are a few plot holes that bothered me (will not spoil), and again, the ending - especially for Emily and Chess - just felt rushed, forced, and more than a bit implausible. I wish we got more of the actual
villa, too - it’s pure background and could’ve played a more pivotal role.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, definitely; I couldn’t put it down and stayed up late to finish. There were Daisy Jones-type vibes that I liked, and I liked the way Hawkins wrote the banter between Emily and Chess. But was I disappointed in the messy ending? Ohhhh God, yes.

Thanks to #netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook/Women's fiction/Mystery: This book is very much a "Verity-ish" book, which is a good thing. There was a lot of guessing on how it was going to end. You have to guess who's lying up to the very end. Without giving out any spoilers, I will say that I enjoyed the book so much that when I got to work, a big reveal was just about to happen and I knew I had to get out of my car. I enjoyed this book a lot more than Hawkings last thriller.
Two disclaimers: I got this book from Netgalley in lieu of an honest review. Also, I have met the author at a local book signing.
As an audiobook, the narrators did a great job. As a writers, the author did a suburb job getting the setting. Part of the book is back in the 70s. However, there wasn't enough smoking, legal or illegal. Every teen wanted to smoke back then. . The other is current day with modern technology and podcasts.
I definitely recommend this book.

“Houses remember.”

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.

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 rock star Noel Gordon. Attempting to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites fellow musician Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. This 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 history, she begins to think there might be more to the story. That perhaps Pierce’s murder was more sinister than anyone thought originally, and that there might be clues that Mari and Lara left behind.
As secrets from the past come to light, it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

You know a twist is mind blowing when you first 😳 then 😱 and then you proceed to reread (or rewind, as it were) the end of the chapter.

The Villa, told in dual timelines, really focuses on the Italian villa as the main character of the story. I love when buildings or locations have what seems like a life of their own. It adds so much dimension to a story for me. They hold secrets and reveal them in the most unique of ways.

I really didn’t read much of this at all because I enjoyed the audio, read by three narrators, so much. Julia Whelan is one of them and she has quickly become one of my favorites! I could listen to her read me a phone book 😂. She really adds something special to her narration with a lot of heart and always the perfect emotion for the characters. She uses distinct cadences and tones to differentiate and I will listen to any book she narrates!

Thank you SO much to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a digital advance copy of The Villa by Rachel Hawkins via NetGalley. The Villa is scheduled for release on January 3, 2023.

The Villa follows present day Emily. She is a writer struggling to get her story to unfold, recently separated from her cheating husband, and suffering from a mysterious illness. Her long time friend (and self-help author) Chess invites her to escape to Italy on a girls only stay at Villa Aestas. Villa Aestas is the site of a summer visit where a musician was murdered, a horror novel was written, and an album composed. While in the Villa, Emily uncovers secrets of the past events, as well as secrets within her own relationships.

The heart of the two stories that unfold here is relationships, primarily toxic ones laced with manipulation. There is also a lot of focus on facades, with every character (including Emily) presenting both the world and close friends with what they want them to see, rather than their true selves. As a reader, I found myself working to sort out the image of the characters from their reality. In the end, we realize Emily has failed to find the facades in some of her discoveries over the summer, which leaves us wondering if we have actually missed some as well.

Both the past and present stories have an embedded mystery. In the past, the mystery is who killed the musician. In the present, the mysteries include Emily’s illness as well as what exactly her husband is up to. For me, the mystery from the past worked much better. There were some elements of Emily’s mysteries that fell a bit flat for me, seeming almost too convenient or underwhelming as a reveal.

Overall, The Villa is a story that pulls together some seemingly mismatched historical inspirations (Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and Mary Shelley) in a satisfactory and deadly way.

This is a story that was hard to put down! The friendship between Emily and Chess is not a very conventional friendship. Their story involved betrayal, deception, and coverup. The twist at the end was unexpected. Loved it all!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up !

Before starting this book, I did not realize that this was inspired by Fleetwood Mac amongst other things. The narrative of a 70s rock n roll band and their musicians relationship dynamics just does not appeal to me. It’s one of the main reasons why TJR’s Daisy Jones & The Six mostly fell flat for me. I could’ve found out about this by reading the synopsis, but opted to go in blind, so I’ll try to remain as objective as possible.

Emily & Chess’s friendship was so… strange. I have an odd fascination with dysfunctional relationships like that. To me, it was so obvious that Chess was an entirely problematic and toxic person, yet I also could understand Emily’s decisions and the affection she felt for her friend.

This book plays out in a dual timeline, and I don’t have much to say about the chapters from 1974. The angsty musician plot just didn’t do it for me (see above), but I did see striking similarities between Emily & Chess’s and Mari & Lara’s relationships. There’s probably some type of conclusion to be drawn here that likely just went over my head 🙈

The ending was fine, but entirely predictable, while also leaving some questions unanswered. I found myself feeling the same thing about Hawkins’ Reckless Girls from early 2022 and wonder if maybe her writing just isn’t my style ?

Anyways, if you’re into books inspired by 70s rock n roll bands and liked Daisy Jones & The Six, and liked Rachel Hawkins prior work, you’ll likely enjoy this mystery !

WOW! LOVED IT!! I could not put this one down. I actually finished it in one day. I really enjoyed the mixed media narrative and alternating timelines. I highly recommend this one!

Oh my Goodness. This book will keep you on your toes begging for more! We follow Emily a fuzzy mystery writer and her bff Chess a self help guru as they rekindle their friendship on a summer vacation in a villa in Italy. However this Villa has a past and it calls to Emily, she becomes obsessed with it and when chess finds out it she wants to help Emily and partner with her to create beauty out of tragedy. Will this partner ship be taking to far? Only the house will tell.

Fun, twisty read. I enjoyed the setting and dual storyline. I think this would make a really cool movie.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 3, 2023
Childhood friends Emily and Chess plan an impromptu trip to Orveito, Italy, to reconnect after years apart. Villa Aestas is the beautiful estate that awaits them, and with its sprawling grounds and quaint accommodations, the women know that they will be inspired- Emily, to write the newest novel in her romance series and Chess, to decide where to take her self-help empire next. But Emily is quickly enthralled by the decades-old murder that happened at Aestas, the tragic death of a young musician, killed by an apparent rival and soon, her idea of an idyllic vacation takes a grisly turn. The more Emily investigates the murder, the more she begins to recognize the tension developing between her and Chess, and before either of them know it, it’s too late to turn back.
Rachel Hawkins is no stranger to suspenseful fiction. Her previous novels, including “The Wife Upstairs” and “Reckless Girls” have been some of my favourites by the author, so of course I was excited to get the chance to read “The Villa”.
Emily narrates the modern day version of the story, where the friendship between her and Chess is explored, but during Emily’s investigation into the murders, she discovers a novel, notes and journal entries from Mari, who was residing in the house in 1974, and Mari tells us her version of events as well through these methods. The two time frames are easily marked and identifiable, making the flow easy to follow, but the characters are very similar, and if you aren’t paying close attention, you can get lost in the shuffle. Emily and Chess are both young women and writers, escaping to Aestas for rest, relaxation, bonding and a chance to hopefully do some creating. In 1974, Pierce, Noel, Lara and Mari also retreat to Aestas (although it isn’t called that then), for the same reasons (Pierce, Noel and Lara for musical inspiration). The only differences is that in 1974, sex, drugs and rock and roll are at the forefront, which leads to a grisly murder. In present day, a friendship struggling to stay afloat in a hectic world defines the plot. Authors, musicians or performers all, they seek out solace and receive something very different in return.
I loved the descriptive settings of both the villa and its surrounding city. Hawkins brings Orveito, Italy to life and I was quickly immersed in the sunny deliciousness of Villa Aestas. The women’s relationship is fraught with complications, but it is relatable and honest. Although this novel has twists and turns, I was able to deduce each one, which always steals a little bit from my enjoyment of the plot.
Hawkins’ creativity and style runs wild through the pages of “The Villa”, and fans of the author will definitely enjoy her new immersive and exotic murder mystery.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this from NetGalley.
Told in dual timelines, one that takes place in 1974 and tells the story of 5 artists (musicians and writers) who rent an Italian villa for the summer, only to end with murder. The second timeline is present day with best friends Emily and Chess are both writers who rent this same villa to and get some inspiration.

I really enjoyed this one! It wasn’t as fast paced as I usually like for thrillers but this was more on the suspenseful historical fiction side, so I was glad to read a bit slower paced story. However I’m a bit iffy about the ending, maybe the twist is actually not a twist but really is a twist idea isn’t my thing ? But overall enjoyed this one ! Great east read and I loved the touch of “behind the scenes” of writing a novel aspect we got from the main character.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC of The Villa! This book has been my radar since announced and is set to be one of the best hits of 2023.

This story follows two story lines from different time periods that unfold simultaneously for the reader in a beautiful villa in Italy. There are two perspectives: Mary, a young aspiring author and her group of musicians and artists on a summer trip to the villa in the 1970s, and childhood best friends, now authors, Chess and Emily. Chess and Emily take a girl's trip to the villa and tensions build between them as they unravel that story of the famous murder that took place in the 70s.

I adored this book. First, it is a book about books, so as a bibliophile I loved reading from an author's perspective. I love reading about the thought process that goes into writing both books and songs. This was a truly fascinating and unique style of book that I devoured in two days. It was like Daisy Jones and Verity had a beautiful baby in Italy. I highly recommend this book to top your 2023 TBR!

Young love, sisters, betrayal, best friends, and stories told that aren’t 100% true. That’s what I loved most about this book. It all happened in an Italian villa, a murder that is, but there’s many secrets that are never told. The book bounces back and forth between timeframes of two different stories but there’s a common occurrence at this villa. If you’re like me and love a good book that is hard to put down I highly suggest reading this!

A digital ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This book is told in two timelines - 1974 & present day. There is a smattering of song lyrics, podcast transcripts and newspaper articles throughout, that help to tell the story.

1974 -
Mari Godwick
Lara Larchmont
Pierce Sheldon
Noel Gordon
Jonnie Dorchester

Present Day -
Chess Chandler
Emily McCrae

Childhood best friends Chess and Emily travel to Italy to stay at a villa for 6 weeks. Chess is a self-help guru and Emily is a cozy mystery writer. They both go there to write their next books and reconnect with each other. Throughout their stay, Emily becomes obsessed with learning about Mari, reading Mari's best-selling book and finding out what she can about the murder. She then decides to write a book about these people from 1974, the murder and about her own life.

Mari, Lara and Pierce travel to the same villa in 1974 to meet with Noel Gordon who is a world-famous rock and roll artist. Mari to write a book and Pierce and Noel to write songs. Noel's friend Johnnie is there. This part of the story leads up the murder that took place.

Overall, I like this book ok. I found it a little hard to follow when the revelation of how the murder took place comes about. I wasn't sure that I trusted Chess throughout the whole book. She also makes a revelation to Emily. Emily doesn't feel 100% invested in their friendship and I can see how Emily wants to distance herself from Chess but finds it hard to do since they have been friends for so many years.

My review is live on the following sites:
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2040431649
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4816418167
https://www.instagram.com/kuhlreads/
https://www.librarything.com/topic/338257#n7993685
https://app.thestorygraph.com/user_reviews/kuhlreads


Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Rachel Hawkins.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC and audiobook.


Description from NetGalley:
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.

I have read Reckless Girls by the same author, and I think I like this author. Reckless Girls was a 4 star for me and so is this latest book. We have a dual timeline going with both lines not being as strong on their own. I did enjoy how the two lines intermingled. I also fell for a few of the twists and reveals. Overall, it’s a very strong thriller.

Overall: 4/5

Rachel Hawkins is becoming one of my favorite authors. My first book I read of hers was The Wife Upstairs which I listened to through my Libby app and then I picked Reckless Girls as one of my Book of the Month choices for last year. Her stories just keep popping up to me and I keep enjoying them, so I couldn't wait to get started on The Villa.

This is a hard book to review without spoiling so I'm going to just share some miscellaneous thoughts. It's a fun story that is told through two points of view. Our first character is Mari. It's the Summer of 1973 and she's come to stay at Villa Rosado with her partner, her stepsister, and two friends. The house is full of tension because it seems like barely any of the characters like each other. As we learn more about Mari and her group we learn two things:

1. Some of the members of the group are going to use their time responsibly, to work on their art, music, and writing.
2. Not everyone is going to survive the Summer.

Fun, huh? And in present day we are introduced to Emily and Chess, two best friends who are staying at the very same villa in Orvieto. They know about the horrendous events that went down at the villa but they don't think much about it. They have their own concerns to worry about. Both of them are writers and they each have a book on deadline.

I loved all the drama and mystery in this story. Because it's told through two different perspectives, the real horror of the villa unravels little by little. As a reader, I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There were certain parts that just didn't strike me as realistic at all, but the characters were so interesting and their actions at times were definitely not what I expected. I'm really loving the way Rachel Hawkins writes mysteries and I was definitely expecting a twist after what happened in Reckless Girls, and The Villa did not disappoint.

On goodreads, this is how they recommend the book:

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.

Pretty spooky, huh? I highly recommend this book if you like mysteries. Rachel puts a lot of care into creating interesting characters (I just LOVED that Emily was a cozy mystery author) and creatiing interesting settings (So much talk of wine and cheese is good for my soul, tbh).

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an eArc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

xo Marian

This review will be posted on www.mariankrick.com on January 3, 2023.

This book is more of a slow burn than a page turner. The book follows two timelines, that of Mari in the 1970’s and modern-day Emily. I’m not usually a fan of duo timelines, but it worked rather well in The Villa. Each narrative was easy to distinguish.
My biggest problem with the book was the ending. I do love a good twist, but I don’t like being misinformed. I felt a little cheated over the last, few pages.
All in all, I did enjoy this unusual story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.