Two timelines, a missing woman plus a bit of skulduggery. The modern part is discovering what had actually happened back in the 60’s. It was ok but not the author’s best book as it was all a bit predictable and therefore off putting. The plot was never compelling enough and some of the characters meh. Sometimes they came across as robotic! Lovely descriptions which were a joy to read.

The Secret of Villa Alba is a duel time novel full of twists and interwoven storylines. In 1968 in Sicily, Irene disappears from a broken down car while her husband Enzo has gone for help. The mystery has never been solved and people have always suspected him of murder. In 2003 the incident has been revived by a local tv documentary, and Enzo’s daughter asks her friend April, a police detective, to travel to Sicily to clear her father’s name.
I really enjoyed this novel and although I knew all was not as it seemed, I couldn’t quite work out the ending. Louise Douglas always produces page turners that never disappoint.

Just too slow for me. Whilst the descriptions of Sicily were lovely, it’s a place I’ve been to many times, there was not enough in this story to hold my interest to the end

Loiuse Douglas never fails to delight in her storytelling. Where she gets such wonderful ideas for settings and plots, amazes me. Once again she has hit the spot with this great mystery. I so enjoyed all the characters and the descriptions of the place took me right there in my imagination. With some books, I just hear the sort, in others I feel as if I watch a film and this is one of those books. Thanks, keep giving us more!

With an enjoyable dual timeline story and well written characters, it was easy to envision the people and places in this book, especially Sicily in the 60's. Another great Louise Douglas book!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

Award-winning author Louise Douglas is back with The Secret of Villa Alba, a captivating and engrossing tale of past sins, old ghosts and present dangers that hits all the right spots.

Sicily, 1968, and months after a terrible earthquake has destroyed the mountain town of Gibellina, Enzo and his wife Irene begin to make their journey back home to Villa Alba when their car breaks down. Enzo goes looking for help and leaves his wife behind – but when he returns there is not a single trace of Irene. What happened to her? Did she leave of her own volition? Or did something more shocking happen? With no body and no clue to her whereabouts found, the mystery of Irene’s disappearance lingers on down the decades…

2003 and true crime aficionado Milo Conti has made a name for himself in Italy by hosting TV shows about cold cases and unsolved mysteries. When Milo announces on national television that Enzo was responsible for Irene’s disappearance and that he had murdered her, Enzo’s daughter vows to get to the truth by asking her friend detective April Cobain to look into this case and help prove her father’s innocence. However, April uncovers a shocking and tangled story of mafia connections, infidelity, deception and love that sheds new light on Irene Borgata’s story.

Will the mystery of Villa Alba ever be solved? Will the world ever find out what really happened to Irene Borgata? Or should some things have stayed dead and buried?

Louise Douglas does not let her readers down with The Secret of Villa Alba. A deftly written and superbly constructed tale that is as gripping as a nail-biting thriller and as affecting and emotional as a family saga. The Secret of Villa Alba is a compulsively readable page-turner that examines the ties that bind, the lies we tell ourselves and the lengths we go to for love that is hard to put down and harder to forget.

Having read The Room in the Attic and The Lost Notebook by Louise Douglas I knew I had to read this book.
Really enjoyable read, the time setting, the romance lots of twists and turns.

I look forward to more

The secret of Villa Alba is the story about the Italian family Borgata, who live on Sicily in the town of Ghibellina.
When Jane Cobain, a retired detective, receives a request from her long ago friend Maddalena Borgata asking her to help her discover what happened to her stepmother over 30 years ago her first instinct is to say no because the parting between the two childhood friends was not very amiable.
However, after her husbands death, Jane can do with a bit of distraction and in the end she decides to help her friend to get to the bottem of the mystery.

Their quest for the truth turns into a race against true crime aficionado Milo Conti who tries to prove that Maddi's father Enzo killed his young wife 30 years ago.

When I started reading this book I had some difficulty getting into the story, but slowly the story got under my skin and I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what really happened to Irene.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I must admit to enjoying the author's writing style. I have had more success with her earlier works, but I continue to give the new ones a try just because of the way she introduces the people and the surroundings.
I would have rated this higher if I had not guessed the ending and even the path to the particular ending. I was proved right, and this did not help since I hoped there was another twist hidden elsewhere. I do not go into books like this trying to figure out how things will go, but mainly things just pop into my head, and I hope the thought goes away as I continue to read. Here, every following page cemented my beliefs, and this is pretty much why I did not enjoy the book as much as I had hoped to.
The story is a dual-timeline narrative. The more recent timeline is 2003, with an old friend contacting another who drifted apart because of her police background. The latter comes over to Italy to clear a man's name. The past is 1968, with a newly married couple who soon find out what is needed to sustain a marriage.
There is a slow and steady progression into the facts that can be found in 2003 while we get sneak peeks of possible twists in the older timeline. All the characters in the plot have shades to them, all acting in different ways when the situations change.
On the whole, it is a simple story with well-written characters and an interesting plotline. I would recommend this more to people who are new to the genre and would appreciate the work more than I did. I will continue to recommend and read the author's works.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I do love a book with an enticing prologue and this one definitely hooked me into the story. April is contacted out of the blue by an old school friend Maddalena who lives in Sicily, her Stepmother Irene disappeared many years prior and now a TV journalist Milo Conti who investigates cold cases is looking for closer of the case and everything points to Enzo, Maddi's father.

April is not keen to go as she has her own ghosts but she does and we find out that she is a retired DI in the Avon and Somerset police and as soon as she arrives she takes charge. Although she and Maddi has quarrelled in the past, April was always fond of Enzo and wants to solve the mystery of what happened to Irene all those years ago.

I really liked the setting of Sicily which I have visited and the intricacies of the Palermo police force and their officers plus the circumstances around Irene's disappearance are really intriguing and make you want to read on. Maddi does not remember much about the circumstances as she was just a child, but does not think her father is a murderer like others think.

A story set in an old house always has a great appeal to me and Villa Alba is full of secrets in the past and the present. I enjoyed the dual timeline of with Irene in the 1960s Sicily and the present day with April trying to find out the truth and being from the West Country myself, I also enjoyed that addition to the book.

This is a story full of detail and it is long book but it is an easy and enjoyable read. If you like a good story with plenty of drama and suspense in a beautiful setting you will enjoy this book.

4 stars ****

Regular readers of this blog will know I’m a huge fan of this author, having previously read and reviewed ‘The Scarlet Dress’, ‘The Room in the Attic’ and ‘The Lost Notebook’.

With this latest offering also having the attraction of being set in Italy, I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC.

One of the trademarks of Louise Douglas’ style is her ability to transport the reader to the heart of the narrative through the detailed descriptions of the setting and in this one, the depiction of Sicily is extremely evocative, especially when describing the aftermath of the 1968 earthquake.

The short chapters, told in a dual timeline format, alternate between the present day and Irene’s inner thoughts which helps to draw parallels between the past and present and keep the plot pacy. In describing how April tries to imagine herself in Irene’s situation, it’s incredibly easy for the reader to put themselves in a similar position and empathise with her plight.

This is a tale full of intrigue and family secrets which gradually unravel as the mystery behind Irene’s disappearance is investigated. A hugely captivating read.

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

I really enjoyed the dual storyline aspect of the book and enjoyed how the characters were fleshed out. Whilst I feel like I didn’t like most of the characters, I could picture the surroundings well given the authors writing style.
Kept me reading till the very end!

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Fast-paced but predictable (not a mystery)

Sicily, 1968
A devastating earthquake has affected the mountain town of Gibellina. Enzo and his wife Irene Borgata are driving back home to their Villa Alba del Ciliegio through the bumpy roads across the ghosted town and its ruins. When the car breaks down, Enzo sets home on foot, promising to bring help. A few hours later, he arrives on the scene to find Irene missing. No one has seen or heard of her ever since.
Sicily, Present Day
Milo Conti is a TV showman known for his love for true crime (and drama). He enjoys playing with the audiences’ minds and people’s lives by ‘solving’ cold cases and delivering verdicts on air. When Enzo becomes Milo’s next target, Maddalena, Enzo’s daughter, contacts her childhood friend for help.
Retired detective April Cobain flies to Sicily to help her friend. As she digs deeper into the case, family secrets are revealed, resulting in more confusion and chaos. With the clock ticking away, can April find out what had happened that fateful evening all those years ago?
The story comes from April’s third-person POV and Irene’s first-person POV (addressing another character in the second person).

What I Like:
When the ToC (table of contents) showed 120 chapters, I had a mini heart attack. Fortunately, the chapters are short and crisp. They result in a fast-paced narration that alters between the past and present.
The chapter placement is done very well. As April explores the Villa and learns about the Borgata family members, we see Irene’s life progressing in parallel. Though it causes some repetition, it works in the plot’s favor to help readers connect the past and present.
Irene’s POV is wonderfully done. I wasn’t sure how I’d like the second-person address, but it makes things realistic from her side. She is not a vague entity but a person full of secrets, emotions, fears, doubts, etc. The writing presents her state of mind- frantic, messy, torn, and agitated, allowing readers to see her side of the story. (There’s an awkward bit that reads off but it can’t be helped due to the chosen narrative style.)
The setting comes alive without slowing down the narrative. The summer heat in Sicily, the architecture, food, people, and especially Villa Alba (a symbol of wealth and power but, in reality, a house barely holding together) are easy to visualize.

What Could Have Been Better for Me:
I was happy almost until the last quarter that we don’t see any ‘love track’ than what’s already there. But no! It comes when I didn’t want and least expected it. Thankfully, it’s not detailed and doesn’t distract the reader from the core plot, but it is not necessary.
Though I like paranormal elements, I want them to be more than just ‘feelings’. We have quite a few references to ghosts and stuff, which go nowhere in the plot. This seems more like an attempt to create an atmosphere. It’s not necessary and only causes a distraction (I kept wondering if something will come out of it).
With the focus on the case, there isn’t much space for anything else. I couldn’t connect with April at any point. The book totally belongs to the Borgata family and their secrets. There are a lot of secrets, too (some unnecessary and abruptly rounded off at the end).
The ending is a letdown. I knew what would happen in the climax. Heck, I saw it all around 30% of the book and was prepared for it. The lack of surprise wasn’t much of an issue. But the events afterward were summed up around 5 pages and felt totally rushed. It was almost like the book had no energy left after the reveal and wanted to wrap it up as soon as possible.
Given April’s role in the book, the reveal should have come from her. What’s the use of having a detective working with another local detective if someone else takes over the climax? While April does connect a few dots, her standing on the sidelines during a crucial scene doesn’t give a good impression.

To summarize, The Secret of Villa Alba is a fast-paced novel with tried and tested plot seen in multiple books, movies, and shows. What sets it apart is Irene’s POV and the execution (until the last section). Pick it up if you want something familiar and quick.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
*******
Rating rounded up to 4 stars on Amazon.

A good read for a cozy crime mystery. Loved the Sicily setting and I felt a bit transported.

The characters were not my favorite and neither was the ending. But all in all it was a pretty quick read and an ok mystery.

I will be looking forward to her next book.

Another beautifully crafted story from Louise Douglas. Two grieving widows decades apart, find themselves at the Villa Alba in Sicily. Both will find their happiness in very different ways. For April, returning to Sicily and rekindling her once close but then fractured friendship with Maddalena, brings a sense of importance to her race against time to clear Enzo Borgata’s name before a egotistical tv “detective” ruins the lives of everyone at Villa Alba. Even when you think you know, the twists and turns of this vibrant story will have you reassessing at every chapter!

Just finished Louise Douglas's The Secret of Villa Alba. I loved the dual timeline. A woman disappeared in the 60s and the story is told through her and also in the present day by an ex policewoman helping her stepdaughter to solve the mystery. Set in Sicily it keeps you guessing till the end. I've read a couple of Louise's books and enjoyed them both so will definitely look out more 😊

The story switches back and forth from past to present, along with flashback excerpts from Irene as we're told the details building up to events and what's happening in the current day, as Maddalena Borgata tries to find out what happened to her stepmother Irene, did she just go missing or was there something darker in play? Was her father involved?

This was such a compelling read and it had me hooked from beginning to end. Sicily sounds amazing and with Douglas's descriptions made it pop from the pages.

The Secret of Villa Alba is a fantastic family drama thriller and I really enjoyed it.

My thanks to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and to the publisher for the ecopy to review. I’ve always enjoyed Louise’s books (I’ve read 7 in total, not all are reviewed on the blog but you can find a couple of previous reviews here The Secret by the Lake and The Room in the Attic. The latest, The Secret of Villa Alba looked perfect for me with its shifting timelines and narrations.

It’s a dual timeline story, set both in the 1960’s and 2003 in Sicily; with narrative flashbacks to 1968 voiced by Yorkshire bred Irene, the 24 year old wife of widowed Enzo Borgato whose mysterious disappearance is the central focus of the story. Whilst I enjoyed both timelines, it was Irene’s story that really captured my attention, both for its honesty and for the reservations that she had about her new life and family. It was also clear that her heart belonged somewhere else. She was an ‘accidental bride’ and whilst Enzo did his best to make her happy, many in his family were not quite as welcoming.

Enzo’s daughter, Maddalena, enlists the help of an estranged best friend, April Cobain, to help find out what happened to Irene all those years ago and to clear her father’s name. He is being ‘accused’ publicly of Irene’s murder by a true crime TV presenter and the stress is making him ill. April is a retired DI and although she fell out with Maddalena, she was always fond of Enzo. With mention of Mafia connections to the family, April has many avenues to follow.

I did enjoy this one very much. The family relationships, both in the past and present make for an captivating read – there are secrets and deceit which April needs to work through, with the assistance of a local Detective Inspector.

Both Irene and April were engaging characters and Irene had a backstory of her own. As the story progresses there are more revelations which move towards explaining the mystery of Irene’s disappearance. There was a point when I guessed which way the story was going but getting to the resolution, with its twists and surprises still made for interesting reading. Both Villa Alba and the Sicilian location before and after the earthquake were an integral part of the story and almost characters in their own right.

The Secret of Villa Alba is an intriguing story with suspense aplenty and one that I was completely invested in. It’s more of a domestic suspense than a psychological thriller and is hugely enjoyable with underlying themes of love and jealousy and a rather dysfunctional family, hiding its secrets.

It took my breath away..........
Louise Douglas has done it again. With The Secret of Villa Alba, the author has spun an amazing tale of a family. the story not only entertains but haunts you. All the characters have contributed equally in this drama. The book turns out to be a page turner with its witty plot. I have already read previous book by the author and has very high expectations. And, the author has delivered much more than that. The climax is the one to die for. You would not be able to skip a single page.

Definitely, 5 stars for the book. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to be a part of the blog tour.

Whoa!!! Loved it !!!!! Really did !!!!!
I was hooked since the beginning and couldn't stop reading!!! This author is fantastic and I'd read anything by her !!!!
I highly recommend this one!!!!