I'm an avid Lisa Scottoline fan and to be chosen for an ARC was an honor.

Her books sweep me into the story with such great hooks in the beginning that I cannot put them down.

I struggled with Loyalty. I was not hooked. In fact, I didn't finish the book. I couldn't get past page 100.

Will I come back to it again and give it another try? Yes, I think I will.

Will I continue to read her books - absolutely!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest review.

Lisa Scottoline waeves another page-turner. This one set in Sicily, 3 stories are interwined to reveal a dark and twisting story of people trying to do their best for themselves and their families. A lemon grower, a lawyer, and a mother all try to do what is best and this is an unputdownable book that was fun to read.

Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline is a delightful immersive novel set in 19th century Sicily. It is a richly imagined look at the lives, customs and superstitions of the inhabitants of the place known as “the world’s island,” at the crossroads of the Mediterranean.
The storytelling is superb—it is very readable and flows smoothly. I flew through the almost 500 pages! I am in awe of authors like Scottoline who can weave multiple storylines into an understandable concept and saga.
The characters are compelling: the peasant worker Franco who toils in the giardino, lemon groves, dreaming of a better life, as he observes the excesses of the wealthy owners and other nobility. There is Mafalda, the young wife of Turi the fisherman, who births an albino baby, and Alfredo, the gentle goat cheese purveyor with a secret, both of whom are tormented by the villagers, whose “malocchio” and superstitions doom them to being outcasts of their home town.
Then there is Gaetano, hero by default and upstanding lawyer, who strives for justice above all, espousing the principles of St. Paul, as he seeks to rectify the plights of a number of young boys abducted for ransom or child labor.
This is a well-researched book, and the descriptive writing expertly spins the facts with readable vignettes. Yet it is also the simplicity of the prose that brings the most charm and impact. This is warm prose with a purpose, with little life lessons sprinkled throughout—about love, law, justice, loyalty, family and faith. I felt like I was listening to an ancestor, perhaps my Sicilian grandfather, telling tales of his life in that country—the colors, the aromas, the richness of everyday life well-lived with all the senses.
For years I have enjoyed Lisa Scottoline’s legal thrillers featuring the lady lawyers in Philly. Now I am excited to see her talent directed toward stand alone mysteries (What Happened to the Bennetts) and this emotion-packed historical fiction. The author’s notes at the conclusion are enlightening and very much add to the enjoyment of this story!
Highly recommend!!

Thank you to Putnam/PenguinRandomHouse and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

WOW, WOW, WOW! I loved this book. I was a little apprehensive when I started reading this because the author had listed the characters with a description. I was like "oh no" how will I keep track of them all but it was written so well this was not a problem at all. The chapters are shorter which helps to remember everyone plus it is so absorbing that you can't put it down. My favorite character was Gaetano, who is a very spiritual man. He wanted to be a priest. My least favorite character is Franco. He is a .greedy, horrible person who becomes head of his "mafia" family. When a six year old boy is kidnapped at a festival Gaetano spends his whole life trying to find this boy. You meet the characters through his search. You also get to feel like you are in Sicily. The descriptions of everything from the countryside to the beautiful lemon orchards puts you there and I think I could smell the lemons!! I feel this is one of Lisa Scottoline's best books so far. The story is all tied together at the end and it is just a wonderful story.
Thanks to #netgalley, #GPPutnam'ssons and @lisascottoline for an ARC of this book

Special thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The setting of this book is 1810 Italy and even though there were several characters in this book, the main focus was on Dante, A 6 yr old kidnapped and held into his teenage years. With several different characters, you don't get confused and if you do, the author ties them in all together by the end.

The kidnapping of this boy Dante sets into motion a series of events and Lisa Scottoline even gives us background of the birth of the mafia. I was surprised and happy to know the origin of my roots, not directly but I'm not saying extended members of my family tie in so it was very exciting to learn the history on that subject.

I always like Lisa Scottoline's books, but this one is up there for me. 4 stars. I would definitely recommend this book, especially to my cousins. Please, Ay what's a matter for you, I'm giving a review here Uncle Mario. Don't kill me!

Can't wait for the authors next book!

5 stars

I love Lisa Scottoline and this might actually be my favorite. I use her to get me out of slumps and wow did Loyalty do that for me this week. The setting was exquisite, I loved each point of view, This is very different from the Bennetts from last year but every bit as good! I don't want to say much about the plot. Readers should just let this story unfold without reading much about it, but PICK IT UP!

Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline is a highly recommended historical fiction novel depicting the beginning of the Sicilian Mafia in the early 1800's.

It's the year 1810 in Sicily and Franco Fiorvanti is a lemon-grower on the estate of boss Baron Zito. Franco dreams of owning his own lemon grove, but the rigid class system of Sicily thwarts his ambitions. Determined to secure a prosperous future, Franco will do anything to prove his loyalty to the Baron. But when Baron Zito asks him to arrange the kidnapping of a little boy named Dante, Franco crosses the point of no return, setting in motion the making of the world’s first Mafia family.

Dante, a young boy, is kidnapped from the St. Rosalia festival he is attending with his parents. The boy screams for help but no one hears him. He is taken to an asylum where he is held hostage. He is there for almost fifteen years.

Gaetano Catalano is a young lawyer, whose devotion for justice is a calling. Gaetano is a member of the Beati Paoli, a real-life secret society of aristocrats who investigate crime. For Gaetano, the mission to find the kidnapped boy turns to obsession, and he risks losing everything.

Mafalda, whose husband is the sole survivor of a ship wreck, is cast out of her home with their newborn Lucia, by her mother in law. And then there's Alfredo, the cheesemaker, who has a secret (he is secretly a practicing Jew).

The characters and their stories in this novel made this a compelling read.. There are several unexpected twists and turns in the book that I did not anticipate which made the story captivating until the very end. LOYALTY can be described as a story filled with family, honor, justice and of course loyalty.

I encourage anyone to read this book which is filled with history, a variety of characters with their stories to tell, and the scenery of Sicily. You will not be disappointed.

Many thanks the NetGalley and G.P Putnam's for the advance e-copy of this book.

Many different points of view going on in this book, but here is the gist…this is a historical fiction book based in Sicily during the start of the Mafia. Police are corrupt and men are fighting to gain control over everything. In addition, people that look different or are perceived as “mad” are treated terribly. Scottoline does a fantastic job weaving lots of people with lots of storylines together. This is not my typical type book, but I ended up really enjoying it!

LOYALTY
Lisa Scottoline, Author
Edoardo Ballerini, Narrator
Historical Fiction
https://bit.ly/3TKgBIP
Historical Fiction
Release Date: 03/28/2023
This book takes you on a journey through the lives of three very different people. It details how their lives all come together then overlap each other. It also weaves a tale of how the mafia might have come to be.

I thought this was a mind-boggling look into what was happening during the era it was set, based on the infancy of the mafia with a look into the albino’s life at the time. He was both feared and hated. I would give this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

4.5⭐

Featuring ~ multiple 3rd person POV, 4 part story, dual timeline, historical fiction ~ Sicily 1810, mafia, kidnapped boys, violence

I am not going to say too much about this one. There is A LOT going on and there are so many different characters to keep track of that the author provides a name key. Some of the names are interesting and there were some funny nicknames too ~ Pietro Hay (the man who sells hay), Donato Nuts (the man who sells nuts), Giuseppe Dry Beans, Antonio Wet Beans, etc....they just made me chuckle.

We start out in 1810, then have a 15 year jump. We follow a mafia and a mans mission to be the most powerful, a kidnapping and a lawyers mission to find the boy, Alfredo who makes charmed cheese and has a big secret and an albino girl named Lucia. There's violence, there's sadness and happiness too.

I was going back and forth with rounding my 4.5 down or up and I chose to go with up after reading the author's note. When an author actually goes to the country in which she sets her book to do actual research that deserves an extra nod.

Scottoline weaves together a mighty cast of characters effortlessly. Each chapter goes back and forth with different characters in the center of each, leaving the reader wondering how this will ever tie together, but never fear, it ties together perfectly. When Scottoline wants to write another genre, she doesn’t mess around! This book was captivating from start to finish and quite difficult to put down! Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Lisa Scottoline’s latest takes readers to the beautifully-described island of Sicily in the 1800s. Treachery, fear, justice all play a role in the story. A variety of diverse characters from all walks of Sicilian life play roles in the adventure which takes readers from Sicily’s lush lemon groves to its markets and a horrific asylum. The Author’s Note at the end of the book provides context, more information about the setting, and is definitely worth reading (and contains no spoilers if you read it first, which I usually do.)

I have enjoyed the author’s books for years, when I had the opportunity to preview this story, I jumped on it, and I am so happy I did, Rather than her usual legal thrillers, this novel teaches, engenders emotional connections, as well as entertains. Blending the origin of the Mafia, with persecution of Jews, police injustices and more, we follow the lives of many memorable characters focusing on a kidnapped boy and the lawyer who gives up so much to find him.

I really enjoy Lisa Scottoline's legal thrillers, but I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction. This novel had great characters and a well researched subject but the pacing was a little slow to keep my interest. Recommended for fans of historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced reader copy.

Franco Fiorvanti is a lemon grower working on the estate of a Baron. He will do anything to get ahead in life, so when his employer orders him to kidnap a boy named Dante, he doesn't hesitate. This will set off a chain of events that will impact lives all over Sicily. Gaetano Catalano is an idealistic young lawyer, who is a member of the Beati Paoli, a real-life secret society of aristocrats who investigate crime in Palermo, a city riddled with graft. He will make it his life's mission to find Dante and punish the kidnappers. Mafalda Pancari is a new mother. Her baby daughter, Lucia, has a medical condition that makes her look different from others, and people everywhere, including their own family have deemed them outcasts and sent them on the run. Alfredo D’Antonio is a reclusive goatherd who just wants to make cheese and spend time caring for his "daughters", as he calls his goats. He is hiding a secret, and the more in demand his cheese becomes, the higher the chance his secret will be found out.
This historical fiction novel is set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily. Although for the most part, the people themselves were a work of fiction, everything else in the book was very real. It was fascinating, and I could not put it down. I felt transported to the island of Sicily, watching all of this unfold. I laughed, cried, was horrified, & enraged. This book was a work of art and I highly recommend it for anyone.

Winner winner Chicken Cacciatore dinner. Again Lisa comes through for her readers and big fans. I loved listening to the audio book Loyalty. Another 100%, Edoardo Ballerini can narrate me off or on a cliff. The story begins in
Sicily late 1800's and the beginning of la famiglia, the Don, the godfathers.... The story spans 15 years, a child kidnapped in Quattro Canti, Baroque square in Palermoas. Is it a crime if nobody reports it? A lawyer looking for answers and the little boy will go through much lengths to find him. While the Dons keep the boy hidden. The good and the bad jockeying to be on the top. Great story, to satisfy my appetite now I might have to go to Sicily.

I would give Loyalty a million stars if I could! This book was gut-wrenching, and I was amazed at how much emotion I felt for these characters. So much pain, but so much beauty as well. Franco and his twin brother start a clan that marks the beginning of the mafia in Sicily. It is hard to believe the characters are not living and breathing beings! I have followed Scottoline for years, way before she switched to historical fiction. I must say, this is her piece d’etre, her masterpiece. I feel so honored to have read this book and want to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the gift of this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book was sheer perfection!

Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline is a vey powerful and poignant story. A historical fiction book about the Mafia in Sicily and is filled with secrets, tragedy, heartbreak and lies but also shows family, honor, loyalty and love. Ms Scottoline writes with such vivid descriptions that will completely captivate you and she will make you feel like are in Sicily, seeing and tasting what she is writing about. The characters, and there are many, some you will like and some you will dislike. They may get a little confusing, but each has their own story and Ms. Scottoline is an excellent storyteller and will bring it all together in the end. If you love historical fiction I recommend you read this one, but do not let the length of this book scare you……once you start it you won’t be able to put it down!

Thank you NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, The Penguin Group and Lisa Scottoline for this fascinating story to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#netgalley #gpputnamssons #thepenguingroup
#lisascottoline #loyalty. #arc #historicalfiction

Loyalty is a sweeping tale of life in Sicily, as seen through the eyes of some remarkable characters, each with their own unique challenges and aspirations to better their futures. The character's stories unfold separately through most of the book, but near the end, their paths diverge in a most unforgettable and touching way. The story is full of love, heartache, loss, perseverance, family, friendship, and beautiful atmospheric Sicily in all its wonder. Central throughout the story is the major theme of loyalty, those who have it and those who certainly do not have it. A moving, well-written story you won't want to miss.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital ARC of the new historical fiction book by a favorite, Lisa Scottoline, who consistently proves that she can write in any genre! 5 stars!

It's the 1800s in Sicily and Franco Fiorvante is a lemon-grower on the estate of boss Baron Zito. Franco dreams of owning his own lemon grove, but the rigid class system of Sicily thwarts his ambitions. Determined to secure a prosperous future, Franco will do anything to prove his loyalty to the Baron. But when Baron Zito asks him to arrange the kidnapping of a little boy, Franco crosses the point of no return, setting in motion the making of the world’s first Mafia family. Gaetano Catalano is an idealistic young lawyer, whose devotion for justice is a calling. Gaetano is a member of the Beati Paoli, a real-life secret society of aristocrats who investigate crime. For Gaetano, the mission to find the kidnapped boy turns to obsession, and he risks losing everything.

This was an impeccably researched and written historical tale of the beginnings of a Mafia family. We watch how Franco changes - his honest ambition and dreams soon turn his lust for power into a curse. We meet a variety of interesting characters along the way - in the beginning, I wondered how all these individual stories would come together but of course they do spectacularly. Your heart will ache for these people and stories. Plus, it's like stepping back in time to another world, where you can all but smell and taste the food as well as feel the hardships of the people's lives. I didn't want this book to end - highly recommended!