A murdered guest at a Tuscan villa forces the owner to confront the past she has been hiding from.

I thought this was going to be a lot more murder mystery (which was part of it), but it does focus a lot more on Cerys, the villa owner. There were multiple POVS early on, which I always find hard for a thriller as it can take away from the suspense.

I’m definitely one for a summer thriller, so I try to read as many as I can. I’m sure glad I got my hands on this page turner! I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while. Told from multiple perspectives with great characters and sub plots.

Zoe, husband Harry and 19 year old son Charlie travel to Tuscany to stay in Villa Lucia owned by recently divorced Cerys, her daughter Lowri also comes to stay at the villa with her mum leaving her dad Nick back in England.
The book kicks off with Cerys waiting for the police on 8th July as there is a body in the pool, we are then catapulted back two days to the lead up of the discovery, not knowing who the body belongs to. Told on multiple timelines we learn of goings on in the past for Cerys and also her caretakers Lucia and Lorenzo.

This was definitely a book to get lost in, well developed characters and interesting premise. Many thanks to NetGalley , publisher and author for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I MIGHT kill to live at the Villa Lucia in Tuscany!

The infinity pool, the surrounding Olive Orchards, and the vineyards of plump black Sangiovese grapes-it sounded like heaven on earth.

But, Cerys is just trying to keep her bed and breakfast/yoga retreat afloat and stay ahead of any potential bad reviews that can ruin her livelihood. And, to stay ahead of her dependence on alcohol which she is turning to earlier and earlier in the day, to get her through the stress-while hiding her drinking from her teenaged daughter, Lowri.

Today, Harry, the Director of A &R at Kismet Records will be arriving with his wife, Zoe and their teenaged son, Charlie, and he isn’t known for his patience. But, that will be the least of her concerns.

The book opens with a body floating face down in the infinity pool-

Breathe in for five seconds, hold for seven, and breathe out for eight-Cerys reminds herself…

The story is then told from multiple, alternating POV’s as Detective Saachi pieces together WHAT happened at the Villa and WHO is responsible for the MURDER.

I suspected just about EVERYONE at point or another which always makes reading a book like this fun-and the story is PLAUSIBLE as well as SURPRISING and SUSPENSEFUL-which is another PLUS for me.

No wonder this UK author who burst onto the scene in 2020, has become an Amazon bestselling author with over 2 million books sold. His DI Ruth Hunter Snowdonia series (19 as of today) is currently in development as a TV series to be filmed in North Wales where the author currently lives. He also has another successful five book crime series set on Anglesey.

This is a STANDALONE and, I am really excited to have discovered Simon McCleave’s work! I paired the Audible with a written copy and enjoyed both.

Although the book contains references to Sexual Assault, Domestic Abuse, and Alcoholism, nothing is graphic in description.

AVAILABLE July 26, 2024

Thank You to Storm Publishing for both the Kindle and Audiobook versions-provided through NetGalley and NetGalley shelf, respectively. These are my candid thoughts!

There were twists and turns that weren’t expected. During the storyline you followed Zoe, Cerys, Lowry and Lucia. The women were the main characters and the men the supporting cast. I loved hearing the sides of each of these women and not being 100% certain if one of these women had something to do with the body in the pool or not.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy.

"Last Night at Villa Lucia" is an enthralling thriller that captivated me from the very first page. This masterfully crafted novel weaves a web of suspense and intrigue that kept me hooked until the very end. The plot is intricately designed, with judiciously placed clues and unexpected twists that make for a truly compelling read.

One of the standout features of this book is its structure. The short, cliffhanging chapters are perfectly paced, each ending with just enough tension to make it impossible to put down. I found myself constantly trying to piece together the puzzle, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next revelation in this gripping whodunit.

The storyline is refreshingly straightforward, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the mystery without getting lost in convoluted subplots. The author's vivid descriptions provide an excellent sense of the setting, transporting readers to the atmospheric Villa Lucia with its haunting beauty and dark secrets.

It's important to note that the book does touch on some heavy themes, including alcoholism and domestic violence. These elements are handled with sensitivity, adding depth and realism to the characters' struggles without overshadowing the main narrative.

I wholeheartedly recommend "Last Night at Villa Lucia" to anyone who loves a good thriller. It's a riveting, well-written novel that will keep you guessing until the final page. Prepare to be enthralled by this unforgettable story of mystery and suspense.

This is a very compelling "whodunit" one that I thought that I had neatly wrapped up.............until the end, it is also written by an author new to me but one that I will look out for.
Cerys had escaped an abusive marriage and managed to hang on to the beautiful, luxury villa that she and her husband had bought. Set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside Cerys was determined to make a success of hiring out the villa as a relaxing holiday home, she would offer yoga classes in the beautiful outdoor space, if only she can keep her drinking under control. Staying with Cerys was her daughter, Lowri, a would be singer/songwriter.
Zoe and her abusive husband Harry and son Charlie had hired the villa, Zoe had suspicions that arrogant Harry was also having an affair. Charlie had grown up watching his father abuse his mother and although he loved him because he was his father he also despised him.
Also living close by were Lucia and her ex mafia husband Lorenzo, they were the caretakers at Villa Lucia but Lucia also had ties to it.
When Harry's body was found floating face down in the pool with stab wounds a murder hunt was launched. It soon becomes clear that Harry was a very unpleasant character and many people had a motive to want him dead, many people had the opportunity but who actually did the dirty deed ? Throw into the mix Cerys's abusive ex husband Nick, and you have a great list of suspects.
I love the way the author has described the stunning Tuscan countryside, it is my favourite place in the world and I could feel myself back there, I also applaud the way that he confronts the problem of drink, it's effects and it's addiction, I also enjoyed the really neat finish.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC copy.

This wasn’t really my style. Put this down a handful of times and forced myself to go back to it to keep reading in the hope I hadn’t figured it out and it gets better.

It is a very slow burn. I felt there was a lot of fluff in the book. Irrelevant chapters or context or even descriptions of the Tuscan countryside. Also quite a bit of rinse and repeat.

I also felt cheated at the end. The author threw in a lot of chaff and redirect, but not fundamentally key to the plot.

The story could have been condensed and more play on twists could have been added.

I didn’t feel akin to any character. In fact the alcoholic with issues has been done so many time before.

The sexual assaults was only lightly touched on. Which made me grumpy. It was like, oh yeah bad man. Shouldn’t have done that. Then voila it’s the same man who assaulted me, tries to assault my daughter. What are the odds. It wasn’t believable. Sorry!

I did love the intensity of that last quarter of the book. That had me reading for a few hours non stop. If only that urgency and intensity was throughout the book.

⭐️⭐️ from me.

Zoe, her husband Harry and son Charlie have just arrived at Villa Lucia for a holiday, hoping that for once they can all get on with each other. Set in Tuscany, the villa is aimed at the wealthy and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. Cerys owns the villa and currently has her daughter Lowrie staying with her, on the proviso that Cerys doesn't drink, otherwise Nick her ex husband will be taking Lowrie back pronto. Harry has an explosive personality and Zoe suspects that he is having an affair. Nothing is ever right or good enough for him and as a director of a record company he appears to think everything should be done to please him and nothing less. Lucia and her husband Lorenzo are housekeepers, the villa previously having been owned by Lucia’s family. Lorenzo has a past and they are constantly on look out in case someone comes after them- we know not who or why to begin with. Occasional chapters take us back in time with varying ones of the main characters. When Harry's body is found in the pool, there are numerous suspects. Who has killed him and why?

This is a new author to me and one I will most certainly look out for in the future. The premise grabbed me from the start and didn't let go. Each of the main characters has something about them to put them in the frame one way or another and it's a very clever, well executed concept, almost a locked room one. Most of the story centres around Cerys, her drinking and why this came about from her past. A read where I was “ just another chapter” - to me a huge pointer to a great read. A stunning, brilliant read. Look forward to the next one from this author.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter (X) @nickisbookblog
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4.0 / 5.0 Stars.

"Last Night at Villa Lucia" by Simon McCleave is a compelling thriller set in Tuscany. The beautiful cover and intriguing blurb grabbed my attention to request the ARC. The story pulled me in further. It was well-written and flowed at a fast pace. The narrative alternates between Cerys' first-person perspective and the third-person perspectives of the other characters, incorporating flashbacks that illuminate the present. This book can easily become confusing to a distracted reader.

I am looking forward to revisiting the audio book.

This book comes with several trigger warnings such as alcoholism, toxic and abusive relationships, and controlling men.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

This was such a great read with all the great twists and turns! What should be a vacation, ends up in murder.. I totally enjoyed this one and will definitely recommend d this!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader copy!!

great page turner!!! i truly couldn't put this book down. perfect quick read! i would love to read more from this author!!!

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an early release of Last Night at Villa Lucia.

This book follows Cerys who owns a Tuscan villa and rents it out to guests. The book begins with her finding a dead body in the pool and then the book flashes back over the last two days leading up to finding the body. Every time I thought I had it figured out I was wrong!

I really enjoy a good thriller and this book did not disappoint!

This story took me a little bit to get into, but once I did, I flew through the rest.

It starts with a body being found, then goes back in time to two days before so we can meet the characters.

I enjoyed this book and will look for more from this author!

Thanks so much to Storm Publishing and Dreamscape Select for my ARC/ALC.

Carys owns a villa in Tuscany which she rents out, A body is found in the pool, everybody has a reason to want him dead, but who. A very good thriller as you would expect from Simon Mccleave. Loved the story. The characters and plot were well written and kept me engaged till the end. Thanks to Storm publishing and Netgalley for this review ARC.

I like the ending and I liked hating the murder victim. Otherwise I did not relate. I do not drink and it seems kind of awful. I really loved the ending though.

Cerys is living in a beautiful villa in Italy with her daughter, but when a guest is found muttered in the villa’s pool, the police open an investigation. It seems the victim was an abusive husband, a disinterested father and had also tried to rape Cerys’ daughter. Everyone seems to have a motive for wanting him dead..,,

I enjoyed the ride! There are some trigger warnings to be aware of and some heavy/darker topics. But it was a really good thriller for Summer and enjoyed the atmospheric aspects.

LAST NIGHT AT THE VILLA LUCIA by Simon McCleave is a long hot soak in a tub full of secrets and lies! And it’s awesome!

Following her divorce, Cerys Williams lives in the annex of the Airbnb she rents out in the Tuscany hills and vineyards. Maybe not a great place to live when you are an alcoholic. Her daughter, Lowri is currently staying with her and her controlling, abusive ex-husband is miles away in London. As the new guests arrive for their week in the sun, we meet misogynistic Harry Collard who is big in the record industry but small in the eyes of his wife, Zoe and son, Charlie. Zoe is convinced that Harry is having an affair and is weary of his recent interest in family bonding. Harry acts like a spoiled boy wanting everyone around him to know how important he THINKS he is. Cerys and Lowri both take an instant dislike to the man. After a verbal altercation at dinner with Lowri and Charlie, Harry stomps off. Following much too much drinking, the mothers are rolled into their beds to sleep it off. In the morning, however Cerys finds Harry face down in the pool. And it seems he was murdered. What the heck happened LAST NIGHT AT THE VILLA LUCIA?

Also living on the property are Lorenzo DiNardi and his wife Lucia (yes, THAT Lucia). Lorenzo is hiding from the mob while being the sometime chef, all-around handy man and groundskeeper with Lucia acting as the housekeeper and sometime waitress. They are ever watchful that the mob will someday catch up with them. And speaking of hiding…does it seem like Charlie and Lowri are hiding something from their mothers?

Detective Saachi is on the case and will leave no stone unturned as he searches for the truth. When Lowri’s father shows up to support his ‘little girl’, the battle lines are drawn. Then another death rocks the inhabitants and more importantly, new information is discovered which could leave the kids in hot water (yeah, I know. But it fit with the theme).

This is the PERFECT whodunnit for lounging by the pool or on the beach. Just make sure someone else is watching the kids because you won’t want to put this one down. There were a very few editing errors but the book was so strong, I can’t take any points off my 5 star rating. I see that Simon McCleave has other novels and I will certainly be checking them out in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

When I saw that this thriller takes place at a villa in Tuscany I quickly requested it on netgalley. I’ve visited the Italian countryside in Tuscany so I could picture the gorgeous setting of the villa, with the unforgettable views. This was a thrilling ride that takes place in present day, flashbacks with multiple points of view and then the months that follow the fateful night. The flashbacks were woven into the story and brought the characters to life. The author also tackled some tough topics including spousal abuse, alcoholism and sexual assault. From the moment we meet Cerys we learn how deeply intertwined her volatile relationship with alcohol is with her past trauma and ex-husband. What really happened the night before a body turned up floating facedown in the pool? The guests all have fuzzy memories, especially Cerys, and struggle to walk through the previous nights events with the police. As they begin to put the pieces together the timeline begins to unfold, leaving many unanswered questions, until the end. This book will keep you guessing and although I had an inkling about a few things, I did forget about some things that surprised me in the end. I don’t want to give away too much, so that is all I will say! This book was fast paced and could easily be read in one sitting, perhaps in Tuscany by a pool?

I love any sort of vacation-esque thrillers and this one did not disappoint!

Cerys is recently divorced. She purchased a gorgeous villa in Tuscany in the hopes of moving on. Ready to start a new chapter, Cerys is determined to make the villa a success. Her daughter joins her at the villa prior to the latest guests (a family) arriving. Things quickly take a turn when one of the guests is found murdered in the pool. The guest is murdered fairly early on, so the remainder of the book is guessing "whodunit".

There are enough characters to keep the "whodunit" aspect interesting. It was hard for me to put this book down as I needed to find out the identity of the killer! The author did a great job at planting the seeds, having me really look at each character to see if they were the murderer. Additionally, the author did an excellent job with the character development. I felt like I really go to know each character and any motivations they might have for killing the guest.

This is definitely a mystery whodunit rather than a thriller but I still loved it! The Tuscan villa provided the perfect backdrop and imagery.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cerys is living in a beautiful villa in Italy with her daughter, but when a guest is found muttered in the villa’s pool, the police open an investigation. It seems the victim was an abusive husband, a disinterested father and had also tried to rape Cerys’ daughter. Everyone seems to have a motive for wanting him dead. Cerys’ drinking starts to spiral out of control during the investigation and it seems everyone has secrets to hide.

This was a great contemporary thriller set in gorgeous Italy, with a timeline that moves back and forwards. It deals with several serious issues including alcoholism, domestic violence and sexual assault but not in a manner that makes it a heavy or dark read.

A great story that’s easy to read and keeps you interested from the start right through to the end,