11968, Sicily. Just months after a terrible earthquake has destroyed the mountain town of Gibellina, Enzo and his wife Irene Borgata are making their way back to the family home. Villa Alba del Giliegio, on roads overlooked by the eerie backdrop of the flattened ghost town. When their car breaks down, Enzio leaves his young wife to go and get help, but when he returns there is no trace of Irene, No body, no signs of a struggle, nothing.

Present day. TV showman and true crime aficionado Milo Conti is Italy's darling, uncovering and solving historic crimes for his legion of fans. When he turns his attention to the missing Irene Borgata, accusing her husband of her murder, Enzo's daughter Maddi asks her childhood friend, retired Detective April Cobain, for help to prove her father's innocence. But the tale April discovers id murky: mafia meetings, infidelity, mistaken identity, grief and unshakable love.

With a dual timeline - 1968 and the present day. we are looking into the disappearance of Irene Borgata. The story is told from Irene in the past and April Cobain in the present day. The story is descriptively written. The characters are well rounded and believable. The story is seamlessly told over the two timelines. I liked the authors writing style. Although this book is over 400 pages long, it's still a quick and easy book to read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LouiseDouglas for my ARC of #TheSecretAroundVillaAlba in exchange for an honest review.

I read this on a whim, wanting a 'holiday' style book and I am very fond of Italy so this seems ideal.

It's a good book, fast paced and a page turner. I didn't feel drawn to any of the main characters except April who is ostensibly the main protagonist anyway. It's a novel about love and loss and making the best of things. The scenery is beautifully drawn and I'd love to visit the Villa Alba!

The Secret of Villa Alba will capture your attention and your heart from the beginning to the end.

Secrets, betrayal , family relationships and a step mother that disappeared in 1968 and not a trace nor Irene's body was ever found.

A TV host with no redeeming character traits is out to prove in a nation wide broadcast that her husband Enzo murdered her.

Alice former detective has been asked by her old friend Maddalena to come to Sicily to help clear her dads name.

The race against time has started as the broadcast is merely days away.

Alice is slowly delving into the mystery as she is surrounded by the family, some nice , some not so nice.

Villagers are pointing fingers .

Secrets are revealed , tension mounts and the clock is ticking.

Louise Douglas always writes a book that keeps the pages turning and The Secret of Villa Alba is no exception.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a compelling and intriguing read.

If you’re looking for an easy Summer read then dust off your sunbed, relax and open this book. Set over two timelines, the secrets that this villa holds start to unravel with April in the present and Irene in the past. Some of it may be a bit predictable but it didn’t take anything away from the story. The location is Sicily, an island I’ve wanted to visit for a while, and the descriptions made me want to go even more. You can just feel the heat, picture the landscape and taste the food. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read and review this book.

The Secret of Villa Alba by Louise Douglas is set in Sicily. Enzo Borgata is accused of the murder of his wife Irene who disappeared 35 years ago. His daughter enlists the help of her friend ex-DI April Cobain in an attempt to prove his innocence,
The dual timeline story, told by Irene in the past and April in the present, is an intriguing mystery with twists along the way.
This is a very atmospheric novel with a cast of well-drawn characters who have their own buried secrets.
Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for the e- arc. All opinions are my own

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Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book, which keeps you hooked and unable to put it down.

There are so many twists throughout that you never expect.

I highly recommend this book.

I'm Italian that means that it's hard to create a plot that can surprise me as we saw everything and more (just see Vatican Girl)
I had a lot of fun in reading this story as there's so much going on that it almost felt realistic even if I had to suspend my belief as sometimes it was too much
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine. I was glad it talked about Gibellina and Sicily
Entertaining.

This is quite an easy book to read set over two time periods, 1968 when the mystery disappearance of Irene Borgata happened and present day when Enzo Borgata's daughter Maddi decides to investigate what really happened on that fateful day.

What happens is the revelation of secrets, mystery, Mafia dealings and so much more. Will the true story be revealed? In this wonderful setting how could there be so much mystery and intrigue?

This is a well written mystery although there were a few parts that seemed too predictable. I liked the characters, the setting and the story. It was an enjoyable and even entertaining read as it kept my interest.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A thoroughly enjoyable who-did-what thriller. Set in Sicily so lots of sun, food and troublesome relatives. There is a split timeline to help the plot along, and a cast of characters ranging from the nasty matriarch to the handsome stable boy.
Get your sunbed out and settle down for a great read.

A wonderful read with a dual time line.Louise Douglas never fails to draw me in keeps me turning the pages.I enjoyed the story following the mystery the clues.#netgalley #thesecretofvillaalba

The Secret of Villa Alba, by Louise Douglas

Stunning! Set in Sicily, with evocative descriptions, believable characters and a host of intrigue and emotion, Louise Douglas tells the story of Maddalena’s determination to find out what happened to her stepmother, Irene, who was last seen 35 years ago.

In a race against time, due to the planned TV exposé by sensationalist Milo Conti, Maddie reaches out to her old friend, April, for help in solving the mystery before her ailing father is blamed.

The story is seamlessly told over dual time periods, by Irene in the 1960s and by April in the present day.

I guessed the truth around 50% in, but that in no way dulled my enjoyment of this fabulous book, which deserves ALL the stars!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one it was a dual time-line which I always love and I found the story interesting and intriguing. The story just unfolds until you discover more clues and I was keen to find out the truth. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dual timelined story and was there in Sicily with them all!. I loved playing detective to try and decide if Enzo had murdered Irene or whether it was someone else in the family. There were lots of clues, but also lots of red herrings designed to throw you off the scent!!. The story would flow between 1968 with Irene telling her experiences, and the present time of 2003, with April telling us about the present.
Louise Douglas has made some great, intriguing characters, and when the story starts, poor Enzo is still being accused of murder thirty five years after the event, even though there was no supporting evidence to prove it. This is where April comes in. A former policelady, she is asked by her old estranged childhood friend to help them to clear his name. They had fallen out years ago over a man and never spoken till now. This shows how desperate Maddalena is to clear her father's name and give him some peace in his later years. A crime investigation show is also highlighting this case, and it seems the host, Milo Conti, has already decided Enzo is guilty!.
April makes a great team with an Italian police inspector called Luca Mazzotta, and together they go through all they find out separately, and deduce from that what could have happened.
There is a lot of tension within the family, and you can tell how important April is to them. They answer all the questions that she asks knowing they must be as much help.as they can possibly be, but is someone lying to April?. Will she find out who and why?. The ending is class!!!.
I can honestly say as someone who reads a lot of Louise Douglas's books, you won't be disappointed with this one!. It's a fantastic read!.
I received this free ARC book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #bookandtonic,#louisedouglas3.

What a really good read. It wasn’t what I thought it would be and it really surprised me as to how good it was. The author is very good and to be honest I loved it!

1968 Enzo and young 2nd wife travelling home, car breaks down, he goes for help, she disappears. Move to 2008 when his daughter askes police detective friend for help as paparazzi are harassing now elderly and sick Enzo about the disappearance of wife No 2, implying murder. Ending utterly predictable but a good tale of what happened and how the end came to be. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

The Secret of Villa Alba is a compelling mystery set in incomparable Sicily and told in dual timelines, 1968 and 2003. It is jam packed with deceptions as well as a few compelling oddities and family drama. We see snippets of Sicilian life including mafia connections, devastating historical 1968 earthquake repercussions and mouthwatering food.

In 1968, Enzo and his young wife Irene live at his family home, Villa Alba. But nothing is as it seems on the surface. Where there are people there are secrets. After Irene disappears, questions arise and Enzo is accused of murder. Twenty five years later, in a bid to clear his name, his daughter Maddi contacts her old school friend April Cobain who is a retired investigator to plead for help. April, Maddi and others unearth betrayals and heartaches. April lost her husband and lives with grief herself. The many physical and emotional puzzle pieces fit together very well. While not tense and suspenseful, the story is told in a gripping and enticing manner which gently drew me in and held me captive.

My favourite aspect is the enchanting Sicily setting with its glorious scenery, fascinating culture, wondrous food and hospitable people. Author Louise Douglas beautifully captured the very soul of Sicily in her descriptions which made my heart happy. I know Sicily and was easily able to envision multitudinous nuances. To me, Sicily is a star character. The mystery itself is interesting but so are the characters, some of whom are likeable, others not, creating a fabulous sometimes angsty atmosphere.

If you crave something different with substance, do peel back the delicious layers of The Secret of Villa Alba.

My sincere thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this beguiling book.

I saved this for my holiday and it didn't disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It seemed a little far-fetched at first but I was soon engrossed. Both story strands - past and present - were intriguing, with an array of very interesting characters. In fact, as good as the plot is, it's the characters that really kept me reading. Plus, the setting was really well done, very vivid and believable. I'll definitely be recommending this and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
The story starts in 1968-Enzo and his wife Irene are returning to their family home when they have car trouble. Enzo goes to get help, but when he returns his wife Irene has disappeared. What happened to her? In 20003, TV showman Milo Conti accuses Enzo of murdering Irene. The majority of the story is focused on discovering what really happened to Irene. I liked the story, and it kept my attention until the end. I didn't really care for the end of the story. I didn't like the actions of the characters at the end. Other than that, it was a solid mystery with lots of clues along the way.

I loved ‘The Room in the Attic’ by the author which I read nearly two years back. Going into this, I expected a cozy mystery, and while it can be regarded as that, it was too typical for me to be able to appreciate it.

Irene Weatherbury, married to Enzo Borgata, disappeared 35 years back. In the present time, Milo Conti, a television reporter is pursuing the story, seeking to nail Enzo as the person who is guilty of murdering his wife. The story is told in two timelines – the present and the voice of Irene from the past.

Enzo met Irene on a trip to England and they get married and move to Italy to their Villa Alba home. It was not an easy marriage for Irene requiring cultural adjustment as well as moving on from a past relationship. Added to that, Enzo’s mother seems to disapprove of the marriage. There are also unfriendly vibes from Maddalena, Enzo’s daughter from his first marriage (Enzo’s first wife passed away shortly after Maddalena’s birth) who was only 5 years old at the time. There are also Enzo’s brother Sam, sister Daria & help Giuseppa at Villa Alba with whom Irene has to get along. She finds some purpose in tending to the horses, as a result of which she gets along well with Enzo’s dad. The earthquake brings about damage as well as injury to Irene’s leg. While out on a drive one evening, their car breaks down. In the absence of any other alternative, Enzo walks to Villa Alba to return in a different car. When he is back to the car, Irene is nowhere to be seen.

In the present time, Milo Conti is digging into the family dynamics and promises a full revelation in a few days. Maddalena Borgata writes to April Cobain, who she was acquainted with during her stay in England. April has been an investigator, but is still trying to get over the sorrow of her husband’s demise. Also, the last meeting between Maddalena and April in Bangkok ended badly and they have not been on speaking terms since. After some initial hesitation, April agrees and travel to Italy to investigate what happened to Irene, with help from local law enforcement.

In the case of cozy crime mysteries, I have been ok to not critically evaluate the procedures and even the plot tie-up. However, this is a stale story repeated over hundreds of novels & movies. There is some reasonable character development for Irene, Maddalena and April, but most of the other characters are flat. I could guess how the mystery would be tied up early on, and yet the last sections were far more poorly written than I expected. The prospective future outlook offered for the central characters (especially April) was very silly and abrupt.

On the positive side, this is a book which you can finish pretty quickly.

I typically love books written by Louise Douglas, but this one missed its mark for me. I felt it was a great storyline, but moved very slowly. I found myself getting mad at a few characters for making poor choices! The ending did a good job of wrapping the story together and solving the mystery that had haunted the family for decades.