THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza was a fascinating, captivating story about a woman seeking closure and discovering the past holds secrets that must be released. Set in a place I have never been, the story immersed me into the past and present of a beautiful, mysterious island and of a family long divided between Italy and the United States, between the ones who stayed and the ones who left for another life. I found the situations to be realistic and engaging, including an all-too-relatable custody battle for a child. The story flows between different points of view, but throughout I found it totally engaging, utterly gripping, tightly written and taut with heartfelt passion and impossible dilemmas. In short, I loved the smiles, tears, and gasps of an exceptional novel. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my now, unbiased thoughts.

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza was such an engaging story.
The mystery is intriguing and the characters are engaging creating an unputdownable read that was very difficult to escape from.
This was one adventure I didn’t want to end.

Thank You NetGalley and Dutton for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This novel set in Sicily with two timelines, one in the past and the other in the present held some unexpected surprises. I knew very little about Sicily so it was interesting to widen my knowledge of Italy. The story about secrets that are discovered after someone dies definitely added to the suspense of the story. The very up to date notion of parents battling for custody of their child and one accusing the other of being obsessed with work is very timely especially since it's not the man who is the one supposedly at fault. This is definitely that type of book that you will stay up late reading to find out what happens!

If you'd like to jaunt off on a luxurious trip to Sicily, but can't quite swing that at the moment, just pick up this book and take off! I absolutely loved how atmospheric Jo Piazza's writing is in this novel (more info on that in her author's note, which is super interesting!) and I truly felt as if I'd been whisked away to another land. The story is told in alternating perspectives, spanning two different time periods (which can often be tricky), but I had no trouble keeping up with the characters/story line and everything came together really well. While there is certainly a bit of mystery, there is also plenty of personal and historical discovery that unfolds for the present-day protagonist and I enjoyed following along. This is a fun, engaging read when you need a true escape!

The Sicilian inheritance by Jo Piazza is a dual timeline Historical Fiction novel set in beguiling Sicily in 1915-1925 and present. It is about sorrow, family ties and secrets, and the roles and societal expectations of women.

Sara and her cherished great-aunt Rosie were emotionally close and hoped to travel to Sicily together one day. But Rosie's death changed everything. She left Sara a plane ticket to their ancestral land as well as the startling claim that Sara's great-grandmother Serafina didn't die of natural causes. Not only that but a twisty inheritance is involved. Sara's travels took her where she didn't expect while she investigated and learned about her family's secrets, especially those of Serafina. But equally important, she learned more about herself in the process.

My favourite aspect was the setting. Sicily is every bit as mesmerizing as depicted here from the ancient history to gorgeous villages to compelling culture (including mafia links) to wondrous food. I also like that the author based the story on her own roots, a lovely personal touch. In spite of this, I did not connect to the story on the level I was hoping to. The characters didn't capture me.

My sincere thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this atmospheric novel.

This book was part mystery and full immersion in Italy! Loved the food and scenery descriptions throughout the book. The mystery grabs you from the beginning and pulls you along until the very end. This is also a very empowering book for women and was a fantastic story that spans a hundred years. #NetGalley

Jo Piazza has written the PERFECT summer novel, striking a delicious balance between being relaxing enough to enjoy on the beach but thought-provoking enough to discuss with your book club.

I was swept into the story of Sara and her quest to learn about her unexpected inheritance and the possible murder of her great-grandmother, Serafina. To solve the mystery and claim her inheritance, she must travel to the Italian countryside – giving her a break from her recently closed restaurant and her failed marriage.

The dual-timeline narrative focuses on Sara’s quest and Serafina’s life as a woman coming into her own in the 1900s. The stakes are high for both women as they balance staying true to their dreams in the face of society’s oppression of women, especially when it turns dangerous.

I could go on and on about this one. The vivid imagery that Jo paints with her writing had me picturing the town, tasting the food, and smelling the Sicilian soil. I SWEAR, at one point I touched my chin to see if the oil from the meal she was writing about was dripping down my own face.

It’s a multi-genre, multigenerational masterpiece of a beach read.

I’m ready to pack my bags for Sicily.

What To Expect-
🍝Dual POV’s
🍝Dual Timelines
🍝Complicated Friendships
🍝Romance & Adventure
🍝Some Amazing Food Descriptions

My Thoughts-
This was a quick, fun read. I loved the themes in this books, you have a little bit of everything. Mystery, historical fiction, mafia and romance. Both timelines and POVs were engaging enough. I felt like I kept losing interest but something would pull me back in. I loved the references to Sicily’s small towns around Sciacca. Towards the end of the book the historical facts about the hardships faced by Sicilian women was very interesting to learn. But the actual story ended quite abruptly.

Overall- it was an okay read, I would recommend this book to anyone who like historical fiction with some add mystery.

✨ Thanks to NetGalley, Jo Piazza, and Dutton Publishing Group for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest revie

"Welcome to Sicily. Holding and maintaining grudges is our national pastime."
What a great line that is!!
This is a story about the strong women of Sicily and their ancestors, told in alternating time lines. The characters are complex, strong, and lead interesting lives well ahead of their times.
Sara Marsala travels to Sicily to see about the land left to her by her aunt who recently passed away and to find out more about her great grandmother Serafina, who is the other main character from the 1900's. Both women encounter ruthless individuals and danger along the way. There are family secrets, lies, betrayal, and even murder in this mesmerizing tale.
Plus, there is a plot twist that you won't see coming!! A great read that you won't want to miss!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

When Sara's adored great aunt died, she left her a ticket to to Sicily and paved the way for her to explore the family history and mysteries there. The timing was auspicious, since Sara's marriage was falling apart and she had been forced to close her restaurant. This novel moves back and forth between Sara's story in the present and the life of her great grandmother Serafina in Sicily in the early 1900's. Both women are strong and perceived as a threat to the status quo, which puts them in extreme danger. As Sara tries to learn about Serafina's murder so that she can claim her inherited land, she learns more than is safe about the culture of her ancestral village. The setting both past and present becomes quite vivid. Because there are parallel characters in both times, i found that they became blended in my mind, leading to some confusion on my part. I really liked the unexpected ending.

From bestselling author and award-winning journalist Jo Piazza, comes a transporting novel rooted in the author's own family history about a long-awaited trip to Sicily, a disputed inheritance, and a family secret that some will kill to protect . . .

Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie's death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara's great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered.

This was a fantastic read! I was totally invested in both timelines and could not wait to see how they both played out. It is also so rich in atmosphere, I loved hearing all about Sicily, the towns, the people and the food. I love being transported to another place in a novel, and this one did such a great job. There we so many little mysteries that were revealed along the way. I loved watching it unfold and felt it was a truly perfect ending!

I am also slightly obsessed with the origins of this story being inspired by events in the author's past. I cannot wait for the podcast to learn all about this! Put this one in your Summer beach bag for sure!

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguingroup, @dutton for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

HE SICILIAN INHERITANCE is a captivating historical mystery with an empowering feminist lean (Out April 2!) This page-turning story is loosely based on Jo Piazza's own family history with threads of her great great grandmother’s story.

In the present day timeline we meet Sara Marsala who is reeling from her failed business and marriage when she receives a ticket to Sicily and a deed to a plot of land from her recently deceased Aunt Rosie. Rosie believes their family matriarch, Serafina, was murdered in Sicily while her husband worked in America.

Rich with historical detail, Jo paints a picture of the distinctive Sicilian culture and political landscape that was fascinating to learn about. Packed with cross-country adventure and a dogged determination for the truth, THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE will be a win for fans of historical fiction.

I’m eager to listen to Jo’s new podcast where she attempts to solve the real life murder of her great great grandmother which she describes as "Only Murders in the Building meets White Lotus.” Sold.

Read This If You:
-Love to root for generations of women living on their on their own terms
-Appreciate women from history who challenge the status quo
-Would enjoy the accompanying true crime podcast Jo started as she seeks to solve this murder

Sara’s restaurant has failed. Her marriage is over and she has lost full custody of her daughter. As the world she carefully designed implodes, her dear Aunt Rosie quietly passes away. Always a spicy one and full of surprises, Rosie has left Sara a letter, her final instructions. She has arranged a trip to Sicily where their family lived for hundreds of years. Sara is meant to scatter Rosie’s ashes and confirm that the valuable piece of land Rosie inherited from her great grandmother, Serafina, still exists. If the land is legally theirs, Sara will inherit the property and finally have a chance to start over. Inheritance can be a tricky thing and many people want a piece of that pie. When Sara arrives in Italy she is immediately bombarded by a cast of quirky characters who appear little too anxious to help this beautiful American girl. With each step she takes, Sara uncovers more secrets than she ever imagined hidden beneath the ruins. Narrated by Serafina in the early 1900s and intertwined with Sara's contemporary journey, this captivating tale envelops us in the lives of courageous women driven by the pursuit of freedom, family, and love. Set amidst the breathtaking mountains of Sicily, this page-turner brims with rich historical detail and intriguing mysteries.

Told in alternating timelines, this is the story of Sara, an American woman in the middle of a messy divorce and a custody battle who has just lost her restaurant. And then, her beloved great Aunt dies and leaves tickets and instructions for her to travel to Sicily to see if the deed they have for land there is worth anything, and by the way, was the great aunt's mother murdered. In the other timeline, we get the story of Sara's great grandmother, Serafina. She is a strong Sicilian woman who raises a family at a time when woman had few rights, yet most of the men had left for other areas to make money, so if the women didn't step up, nothing could get done. Both storylines are compelling, and you will be impressed by how smart and crafty the women are, and you will be angry at how they are treated. Throw in some evil mafia in both timelines and you have a fascinating story of family secrets that all comes together in the end.

My thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an advance copy. My opinion is my own.

Penguin Random House provided an early galley for review.

My family roots on both sides trace back to Sicily, so I was certainly drawn to a book with this title. Plus, the cover is simply gorgeous and inviting.

The story is broken down into two narratives - the modern day with Sara and the past with Serafina. There are rich details throughout, in both geographic descriptions and historical accuracy. With these, Piazza definitely did her research (as her author notes confirms). There are also some very intriguing secondary characters.

There were, however, a couple things that did impact my reading experience. First, the two names of the main characters are very similar which could lead a reader to confusion. In fact, there is even a third character with a similar name introduced. Second, both the stories of Sara and Serafina are told in first-person past tense, alternating chapters. This kind of narrative approach that is not a favorite of mine as it can lead to more confusion (especially when both characters are of the same gender, are in similar settings and are similarly named). Also, with alternating narratives, I find the momentum of the story, for me, gets derailed every time we jump back to the other time period. Together, these are several strikes against the book for me.

I definitely think this book can appeal to the right audience. I just wasn't the right audience.

I can’t decide which timeline I loved most! This book has incredible women, complicated friendships, a little romance and adventure, and some delightful descriptions of food. I’m ready to pack my bags for Sicily.

Sara is sent on a journey into her family history to small villages outside Sicily, learning about her family and herself along the way. Going between Sara and Serafina’s POV, each chapter left you wanting to read more. It’s rare I find myself so invested in both of a dual storyline. So many twists with a historical fiction feel. The Italy bits made me miss that amazing country! I appreciated the author’s note at the end.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

If you're looking for a captivating book that will keep you hooked from start to finish, then this is it! This book has everything you could ask for in a novel - mystery, suspense, romance and history all rolled into one.

Jo has done an exceptional job of telling the story, and the writing is so vivid and detailed that it feels like you're actually in Sicily with Sara, experiencing the culture and the beautiful landscape. The stories of the women left behind while the men went to "la Merica" are touching and rich with history.

The book alternates between Serafina's story in the early 1900s and Sara's story in 2016, both told from their own point of view. The way the author weaves the two stories together is masterful, and you'll find yourself eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction or a good mystery. Don't miss out on this captivating novel. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Putnam, and the author for the gifted e-book. This book will be published on April 2nd.

Women through history have often been called upon to discover hidden strengths to protect their families, their communities, and each other. In this dual timeline novel of the 1920s and 2020s, women living in a small, poor village in Sicily rise to the challenge when nearly all the men emigrate to America for work, leaving them impoverished and dealing with the mafia and spreading illnesses. In the current day, a descendant returns to Sicily to spread her aunt’s ashes and to sell some property left to her. There are many twists and surprises, questions about who to trust, and discovering the unbreakable bonds between women. The beautiful Sicilian landscape is a big plus!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton/Penguin Random House for the ARC to read and review.

4.5/5
I learned of Jo Piazza when I was addicted to her podcast on motherhood influencers (Under the Influence - check it out), but didn’t know what to expect from her novel. I loved it. It was a combination of historical fiction, murder mystery, motherhood, and the way women connect. In present day, Sara has hit rock bottom when her great aunt dies, sending her on a Sicilian adventure. A hundred years ago, Serafina is a mother striving for more while her husband is working America. Piazza weaves their stories together masterfully, with a strong theme of feminism/fighting the patriarchy. Myonly critique is some of the story lines are a bit far fetched. But honestly, I loved it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC