Jo Piazza is a new-to-me author and I really enjoyed this tale that would appeal to a wide variety of readers, as it encapsulates family sagas, mystery/suspense, historical fiction, and romance, all set in Italy! I also thought it was really cool that the author explains at the end that she was inspired to write this novel based on the real murder of her Italian great-grandmother!

The story vacillates between present-day Sara, reeling from a divorce and career failure, who travels to Sicily after she learns that she has inherited land from her recently deceased great-aunt. To claim the land, she must prove that she is a rightful owner of the land by looking into her family history, including the suspicious death of Serafina, her aunt's mother. This moves Sara into dangerous territory, uncovering long-buried secrets that others would wish to remain hidden. The chapters alternate between Sara and Serafina, who guide us through unraveling the mystery.

Read this one if you like:
*Dual timelines & POVs
*Gorgeous, exotic locales
*Morally grey characters
*Strong female protagonists
*Women supporting women

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest feedback!

Phenomenal 5 star read!! Piazza did a wonderful job of marrying Italian history feels with a romantic twist.

Sara Masala has created an award-winning restaurant at the cost of her husband, her five-year-old daughter as well as her beloved Aunt Rosie who raised her after her parents were killed in a car crash. She regrets that all the plans she and Rosie had been making got lost in the race to grow her business. Out of the blue, she is delivered an out from Rosie’s will in the form of from money to pay for a trip to Italy and see if the family property could be sold to bale out her business.

The book is told in the present and also the past. Rosie challenges Sara to see if she can uncover the mystery of her mother Serafina’s death. As economics tighten, men are leaving to find work in America and the women take over the business of running their town. For readers of historical fiction.

I did something with Jo Piazza's "The Sicilian Inheritance" that I rarely do for a digital book: I read it one weekend.⁠
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My first inclination is to call it a mystery, but it really is so much more: it's historical, it's women's fiction, it's a romance, it's about self-discovery and change, there's some food and wine, and, of course, it's definitely a book with a great sense of place.⁠
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In fact, this is one I would highly recommend for anyone interested in Sicily. I lived in Sicily for two years--many years ago--and I found myself both identifying with certain parts in the book (nodding my head because something was described exactly as I remembered it) and being surprised because I learned something new and fascinating about this island.⁠
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And it was just a good story--interesting characters, an enticing mystery, and a powerful story about women.⁠
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Told in dual timelines, "The Sicliian Inheritance" tells the story of American chef Sara Marsala who has lost her business, her marriage, and her beloved great-Aunt Rosie who travels to Sicily to hopefully cash in on some family land. It's also the story of Sara's great-grandmother, Serafina, a Sicilian woman in the 1900s dealing with an absent husband, young children, a loss of her dreams, and a reputation as a witch.⁠
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When she arrives in Sicily, Sara realizes there is much more to her great-grandmother's story than just a piece of land...Sara needs to figure out who is responsible for Serafina's death. (The mob? The absent husband? The bitter best friend? The traditional townspeople against the "witch"?)⁠
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It was a quick enticing read with a great sense of place. Fantastico.⁠
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*I was given a version of this book for free in exchange for an honest book review--thank you to @netgalley and @duttonbooks.

This book was fantastic! It was everything I want in a family mystery and history. Add in the feminist angle and you had me hooked. This will be on my best of list for sure!

I was caught by surprise by how much The Sicilian Inheritance affected me. There's mystery and suspense, but there's also the persecution of talented, intelligent women who dared to become something more than men want them to be. Told in two separate time periods, separated by 108 years, Jo Piazza weaves together a magical, addictive story of two Seraphina's. Don't miss the author's note in this one, because it makes the book all the more special, which I wasn't sure was even possible. This is one that I'm going to be sharing with all my female friends.

(Thanks to @DuttonBooks #gifted.) If you’re looking for the perfect summer read, look no further than 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 by Jo Piazza. No matter when you read this book, you’ll feel like you’re on a thrilling escape to Sicily! Inspired by her own family’s history, Piazza has written a truly fun book full of strong women, mystery, adventure, history, and even a little romance.⁣
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Sara’s life is crumbling around her when her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara with a ticket to Sicily and a family mystery to solve. Half the chapters focus on Sara as she stumbles her way through a place she loves, but doesn’t really know. The other chapters focus on Serafina, who was Rosie’s mother. Serafina was “just a woman, just a mother” but she wanted more for her life and found a way to get it. ⁣
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As Sara arrives in Sicily she has two tasks, to spread her aunt’s ashes and to claim the land that Serafina once held the deed to in her small village. I loved the way the story moved between these two women who held so much power without always realizing it. Across generations there seemed to be a strong connection between the two. They faced different obstacles, but they also shared deeply hidden strengths.⁣
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While I enjoyed the dips into romance in this thriller, what I liked even more were the history lessons about Sicily. Piazza seamlessly wove pieces of the island’s history into Serafina’s story. Those were so interesting! I always like when a book both entertains and educates me and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 did just that. I also like when a book leaves me longing to visit the place where it’s set. Thanks to Jo Piazza, I’ve bumped Sicily way up on my list of places to visit. Sicilian vacation anyone? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this dual time period historical fiction with a little bit of mystery, and a little romance too! In the present day, we have Sara, whose life is in chaos with a separation from her husband, the bankruptcy of her restaurant, and her beloved great-aunt Rosie has just died. Then she discovers that Rosie has left her a piece of property in Sicily, and booked a trip for her there before she died, asking that Sara go and investigate the death of Rosie’s mother (and Sara’s great-grandmother) Serafina there many years before. And in the early 20th century, we see Serafina’s life in a small village of Sicily. As Sara investigates in the present day, we slowly see the years go by for Serafina as well, with plenty of developments for both of them.

I loved Jo Piazza’s solo book Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, and have also loved her two books written with Christine Pride, but this might be my favorite of her books! Writing historical fiction is definitely a departure for her, but she did it so well, really bringing to life Serafina’s life more than 100 years ago. And I love that the story was inspired by the mystery of Jo’s own great-great-grandmother.

This book reminded me of Sarah Jio’s books, or maybe Lynda Cohen Loigman, but set in Italy, so if you like their books I’d recommend this one too.

4.25 stars

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I’m not sure why I felt this way, I guess I’ve read too many Italian who done it’s! So I was hesitant to read this one, But I am drawn to Stories from Italian descent and have heard many personal family stories about the past in Sicily, Naples and in Rome from my own family, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. But the premise was very interesting and the character development was instantaneous and exceptional and I easily fell into the story pretty deeply and quickly. It is well written so easy paragraphs with fast chapters that were engrossing. I did not solve the mystery until it was given to me! That’s always a plus! I would definitely check this story out. It gave me all the emotions and excitement I needed. I was rooting for our protagonist from the first page. A adventurous and very interesting, informative historical story.

Review will be posted on 4/10/2024
Sara's life is unraveling. Her restaurant is going under, she is filing for divorce and custody of her daughter, and to top it off, her beloved great-aunt Rosie has died. Rosie has been a larger-than-life presence in Sara's life for so long. They had plans to travel back to their ancestors' home in Sicily, but they weren't able to make it happen until now. Sara is going to go to Sicily as Rosie has left her a plot of land that was Serafina's (Rosie's mother). This land could sell for a pretty penny and this would change Sara's life. But once she gets to Sicily, things become complicated. She is taken under the wing of Giusy, the innkeeper of the town, and she pretty much knows everything about the town and its people. She lets Sara know that Serafina didn't die of the flu, as her family thought, but rather she was murdered. It's a lot to take in, but Sara starts digging into her family's history and things get even more complicated. Plus, she is starting to ruffle some feathers in town. There's a dual timeline from Serafina's point of view and it takes readers back to the early 20th century in Sicily. Women barely had any rights, but when most of the husbands went off to the mainland for a job, women ruled the island. What could have made Serafina a target, so much so that it got her killed? Jo Piazza's The Sicilian Inheritance is a compelling historical mystery with a lot of family drama.

I was rooting for Sara from the start. She starts as a bit of an underdog and she is down and out. I liked how she slowly unraveled her family history and what exactly happened to Serafina. There are some romantic scenes as well, so there's something here for everyone in The Sicilian Inheritance. The chapters from Serafina's point of view satisfied my love for historical fiction and truly brought to life how things were for women in Sicily in the early 20th century. Essentially, The Sicilian Inheritance shines a bright light on motherhood, then and now, as well as the sacrifices many women made for their families. I did find some parts to be a little bit preachy and far-fetched as I did question Serafina's choices from time to time, but overall, that made the story much more entertaining. And no Sicilian story would be complete without the mafia! They play a part in the story as well.

My favorite aspect of The Sicilian Inheritance was the setting. Readers can tell that Piazza has visited Sicily many times and studied its history. She brought it to life so well, that it made me want to travel there immediately. The food, its people, its complicated history, and the beautiful scenery all made it memorable read for me.

If you love family sagas and you want to satisfy your wanderlust, look no further. The Sicilian Inheritance will have you daydreaming of sipping a glass of wine in a piazza and eating delicious food by azure waters. So, are you a fan of Jo Piazza? Is The Sicilian Inheritance on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments below.

THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza contrasts events in the 1920s and today in the Sicilian countryside. Serafina Marsala is an independently minded woman who learns to be a healer after her husband heads to America in the early part of the last century. On her own, Serafina was treated with suspicion and ultimately seen as a brutalized murder victim; her descendant and namesake, Sara Marsala, arrives to claim a property inheritance and to try to set her own troubled life back on track. There is much Sara does not understand about local customs and her innkeeper, Giusy, is often an unreliable source. Readers will empathize with Serafina's long ago efforts to use her medical skills and to help the villagers despite many prejudices. A much weaker character who yearns to be more of a role model for her young daughter, Sara, too, faces grave physical danger. Filled with vivid descriptions of Sicilian life and culture, THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE received a starred review from Booklist. 3.5 stars

A great inter-generational story with lots of history. Sara's restaurant has just failed, and she put so much of herself into it that she finds herself lost. When her beloved Aunt Rosie dies, Sara gets a letter that reveals that Rosie is paying her way for a trip to Sicily, where Rosie claims she still owns a plot of land. Sara has a week to check things out -- an incredible week that has her uncovering amazing family secrets. I look forward to recommending this title.

This is a book written by a woman for women. Not common women, but very special persons who shaped and marked the history of Sicily amid tragedies, epidemics, and the emigration of their men. Women with no role and no social relevance, but with an inner strength and an uncommon courage.

This is also the story about a family of bold women who risked to remain trapped in the cruelest prejudice the Sicilian tradition has ever generated. Forced to be only wives and mothers, these women, indeed, never had the opportunity of a social redemption, and those who aimed for the most got blamed and considered bitches or witches.

It is in this tragic scenery that Jo Piazza retraces the origin of this Sicilian prejudice and narrates the life of Sara Marsala and her great grandmother Serafina Forte.

The characters are fictional, but represent the Sicilian ancestors of the author.

The novel is partially set in America and mainly in Sicily, in the fictional village of Caltabellessa, which, as a matter of fact, coincides with the real village of Caltabellotta, in the province of Sciacca.

Sara Marsala is going through a harsh moment of her life: the double failure of her business and marriage.

But, just before her entire world falls apart, she receives an important assignment from a letter of her recently deceased aunt Rosie. She must go to Sicily in order to claim a land that belonged to her great grandmother Serafina Forte.

At this stage, the book splits into two novels, with chapters set in the present time of Sara, and the others set in the past time of Serafina. Sara’s ancestor lived in the 1920s. A span of 100 years, masterfully depicted by the author with the transformations occurring in Sicily, and related to the social and personal troubles of Sicily women.

These particular and special women lived in a time dominated by prejudice, ignorance and superstition, in which, when a little girl menstruated, she got tortured, because considered possessed by demons.

This detail gives Sicilian readers a shriveling along the spine, because, just recently, in Altavilla Milicia, a village near Palermo, a man killed his family because he believed them possessed by the devil.

It is really impressive how an American author perfectly described an awful prejudice that still today survives in the poorest angles of the island.

But the novel is not focused on that, only, but on the compelling life of Serafina Forte, who wants to go to school, get a job and her own independence and, instead, ends up married to Giovanni Marsala, emigrated to the United States for a better life.

At the time, tons of Sicilian women were abandoned by their husbands, because of the massive emigration of men to America. Alone, and with no financial support, these women took the role of their fugitive husbands to raise the children and work hard to sustain and feed them.

However, this important social role never was rewarded and considered. But, above all, it never was respected. Serafina is a woman who saved many lives during the flu that ravaged Sicily at the time, but the only concern of her relatives is to make sure she does not betray the migrant husband.

In the novel, Serafina gets, apparently, murdered. Maybe for an honor crime.

But, amid gripping twists and facts regarding Sicilian places and culture, Jo Piazza provides readers with a poignant glimpse on the most painful contradictions of Sicily.

Sicilian expressions make the plot realistic and palpable, such as cu picca parrau mai si pintiu (those who speak little never regret), a way of saying that recalls the mafia culture.

This aspect is mentioned in the book , as well, but the mafia power is blurred and remains in the background of the story, which is centered on the heroic deeds of Sicilian women called to fight and get what life always denied to them: an inheritance made of dignity and respect, not of submission or fear.

The Sicilian Inheritance is part mystery, part literary fiction, and part finding yourself. The story follows two women about 100 years apart. Sara, who is a recently failed restauranteur on the brink of divorce; and Serafina, her great grandmother, who is a devoted mother in Sicily, but stifled by the limitations of her role. Sara's dear great aunt has passed away and sent her to Sicily to learn about her roots and track down a plot of land that's resided in the family, but never been utilized. Serafina is a young mother living in the early 20th century. She always showed strong aptitude in school but falls pregnant as a teenager and shortly marries her suitor. She loves her children but wants more from her life. Her husband and many of the men from the village depart for other places to make money to support their families.

Early on when Sara arrives in Sicily, she learns her great grandmother, Serafina, was murdered and the vicious crime was never solved. Sara finds out that part of the reason she is there is to find out what happened to her great aunt's mother. I really liked the descriptions of all of the food and of Sicily. Being in the country helps Sara rediscover her passion for food. I loved Serafina's story and how she and the community of women took advantage of their circumstances in the best way possible. They created a loving community, supported each other, and took on many roles to support their community. Serafina is able to use her intelligence and inherent aptitude to provide medical support to women and children. Despite living in a patriarchal society that limited women's freedoms, they were able to do so much, up to a point. If you stepped too far out of line, you put yourself at great risk.

Sara has lost her restaurant and then she lost her husband. She is truly at a crossroads. So, when her beloved aunt passes away and leaves her a letter telling her to head to Sicily. Sara jumps at it! Sicily and her family heritage end up being a bit more than she bargained for.

Sara is a character that is a bit lost and I loved her! Then there is her grandmother, Serafina. Serafina’s tale begins in the early 1900s. She is a healer…but it is complicated. Sara needs to find out what happened to her to gain her inheritance.

I enjoy a novel with dual timelines and this one is right in my wheelhouse. The only reason for the 4 star rating, it slows down a bit in the middle. I wanted this to unfold quicker. But, the atmospheric setting and the family secrets are not to be ignored!

Need a good family mystery tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I've never read a book by Piazza before, but I loved her writing. It was fun, lighthearted, deeply enriched in history (without being overly historical fiction heavy), and mystery. Piazza does an excellent job of setting description to the point that I truly felt like I was there -- could see, taste, smell, feel, and hear Italy. Also, I truly love a book with multiple perspectives. This book goes back and forth between present day character Sara who has traveled to Sicily to sell the land left to her by he great aunt and Serafina, a headstrong woman overtaken by the social norms in her tiny 1800s Sicilian village. I found myself laughing out loud at the blunt Sicilian banter. This book truly is for the girls.

This book made me feel rage and sadness to levels I've never felt before, I could feel the rage of all my female ancestors flowing through me and while I'm writing this review with Labour by Paris Paloma on repeat, I hope they're looking down on me and knowing that I feel everything that they've felt, maybe not to the same level, but I truly don't think the universal experience of being a woman has changed much.

The prologue to this book may make you gasp but everything you read afterward will make you scream all your female ancestors rage. I went into this book thinking it was gonna be another normal murder mystery, but this book is so much more than that, it has history and real life in it.

While the author did say that the things that happened in this book only had a sliver of her family history in it, we all know that everything else that happened in this is real, the way women are still treated to this day, the fact that there are countries in the world where more than one woman dies every 24 hours because of men and their fragile egos, and their ability to not take "no" as an answer.

While Serafina and Sara's stories progress and end in two different ways, they both make you feel an immeasurable amount of rage and they will both make you cry. Please read this book, from a woman to everyone out there, please.

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza has dual timelines and two pov's. It has a mystery, strong women, a Sicilian setting, and family secrets. I was totally engaged and breezed through the book quickly in order to find out what happened. I can't recommend it enough if you are looking for a vacation read or just wanting to get away. It is also a fictional account of the author's own family history.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced digital copy of the book!

Would so love Jo Piazza to come to our store! This novel was so special, and you could feel the personal connection. The Sicily location is absolutely stunning—I felt like I was there. This book will sell incredibly well, and it will appeal to lots of different types of readers.

This was a great piece of historical fiction dealing with a subject I’d never heard of before. I enjoyed the characters, the dual timelines, and the mystery of it all. The strong women theme throughout wraps it all up in a nice, big bow. I recommend this book to those who like a bit of mystery, girl power, and want to feel like they’re visiting Sicily.
I give a big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for this ARC.