Book: Last Night At Villa Lucia
Author: Simon McCleave
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Crime/Mystery
Places Featured: Tuscany, Italy
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: A thrilling murder mystery set in Italy? You know I’m going to be all over that! Unfortunately the book didn’t quite live up to the hype for me, though it was intriguing enough that I finished the book quickly (it always helps when it’s an audiobook and I can get things done while listening).

The description of this book is pretty vague and doesn’t really represent the story in my opinion. This book IS about a recently-divorced woman attempting to restart her life in Italy with a villa in Italy, but it’s also about her daughter, the family that’s staying with them, the locals that have worked at the villa for a long time, and how all of them become suspects when one of them is found dead in the villa’s pool.
Overall, I felt the book was a bit uneven–the pacing (sometimes slow, then rushed, etc.), the characters (some more developed than others), and the storyline (sometimes plausible, sometimes over-the-top). The narrator was also fine, though this one might have been good with multiple narrators.

If you’re looking for a quick thriller and enjoy vacation books/books set in Italy, go for it. If you’re looking for a great thriller, you can skip it.

Reviews posted on Instagram (@travelbooksandmovies) and some posted on blog (www.travelbooksandmovies.com)

This messy, twisty, toxic, psychological and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing it to life.

The story takes place at a beautiful vacation getaway, Villa Lucia, in Tuscany. When the main character discovers a body floating face-down in her pool, She seems to have a drinking problem and couldn't remember what happened. It seems everyone has a motive, but who did it is the twisty tale of this story. It was well-written and engaging; all the characters are flawed and navigating messy lives. I liked the utilization of the mutliple POV which enhances the flow of the story and makes it more engaging.The story has a good pace and is a quick read, perfect for anyone looking for a thrilling summer read. There are some trigger warnings for rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse. and alcoholism.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the audioARC.

The perfect vacation read! A whodunit that will leave you guessing to the every end, the author tying it up all loose ends with a bow. I listened to the audiobook version and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found the narrator very easy to listen to, even listening at 1.5x speed. A great read, but an even better listen!

This book had some really excellent elements and some really far fetched ones too.

I need my stories to be realistic to a point and this one had a few seriously outlandish things going on, it was hard to keep listening. I did though because there was a lot more good than bad,

When a guest dies at the villa, the villa Cerys owns, the one she is trying to make profitable, she can no longer hold onto her own demons and things start to unravel.

The writing was good, really good and the characters were all hiding stuff which I love. It was definitely a good audio book and if you can suspend your disbelief you will likely really enjoy this thriller.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so twisty! It took me forever to figure out who the murderer was. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives because it added more of the twists and turns. Many of the characters were unlikable and many of them got what was coming to them in the end. This was a fun read.

So many secrets, people who aren’t at all what they seem in a beautiful villa in Tuscany and a well crafted story that had me guessing until the end. Cerys is the proud owner of Villa Lucia, but is dealing with so much trauma. Sadly, she is handling that trauma by numbing herself with alcohol. She is barely keeping it together when new guests arrive. The wife and son are lovely, but the husband is not her cup of tea. Reminds her of her terrible ex-husband who continues to emotionally abuse and intimidate her though they’re divorced. They all have dinner together and it doesn’t go well. That’s when things go off the rails and the husband is found dead floating int he pool. The author wrote a compelling story that had me bouncing from character to character to the mostly surprising ending. Dark, creepy, scary, interesting complex characters and wonderful narration led to a terrific listen. I will definitely be checking out his other works.

This book was fun, I definitely had strong opinions about some of the characters which always indicates good writing to me! Some real jerks in this book! I loved the twists and turns and the ending was very satisfactory to me. I would recommend this for any thriller lover who enjoys somewhat unhinged characters as well!

Unable to put down this thriller. When a guest at a vacation rental is found dead face down in the pool, there are no shortage of suspects. Great plot and interesting characters that draw you in and keep you intrigued until the end.

I am a mystery/thriller girlie, and ESPECIALLY over audiobook these days. I love the Tuscan setting, the twists and turns, and the you-don't-know-your-spouse as well as you think you do vibes. What a great ride, I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

🏰💔🔍 Simon McCleave’s Last Night at Villa Lucia is a spellbinding psychological thriller that will have you hooked from the very first chapter. With its luxurious setting, complex characters, and a murder mystery that keeps you guessing, this audiobook is an absolute must-listen for fans of the genre.

🌅🏡 A Picturesque Setting with a Dark Secret
The story centers around Cerys, recently divorced and looking for a fresh start. She buys a luxurious villa in Tuscany, hoping Villa Lucia will be her escape from the past. But paradise quickly turns to purgatory when one of her guests is found murdered in the villa’s stunning infinity pool.

🚔❓ The Unraveling of Secrets
As the police swarm the villa, the idyllic setting becomes a pressure cooker of tension and suspicion. Each guest harbors secrets, and Cerys must navigate this web of deceit while confronting her own painful history. McCleave masterfully keeps the suspense high as the layers of each character's story are peeled back, revealing shocking truths.

👂🎧 A Captivating Audiobook Experience
The audiobook version of Last Night at Villa Lucia is particularly engaging, with excellent narration that brings the story and characters to life. The narrator’s ability to convey the tension and emotion of the scenes makes it impossible to hit pause. The immersive experience pulls you into the world of Villa Lucia, making the twists and turns even more impactful.

🌟 Final Thoughts
Last Night at Villa Lucia is a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller. McCleave's storytelling prowess shines through in the intricate plot, rich character development, and unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of The Housemaid, T.M. Logan, and Gone Girl will find themselves utterly captivated by this addictive tale.

📖🕵️‍♀️🔄 If you love thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, Last Night at Villa Lucia is a must-listen. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions and a jaw-dropping conclusion that will leave you reeling. This audiobook is a perfect blend of suspense, mystery, and psychological drama.

Don’t miss out on this utterly gripping story that will have you listening late into the night!

Opening scene: a body is floating face down in the majestic infinity pool. Cerys, the Tuscan bed and breakfast owner makes the discovery. This is just one more item to add to her ever-growing to-do list. Who is the murderer? There are suspects galore, but the evidence is sparse. I humbly admit to changing my mind while pointing the finger at different suspects. Last Night At Villa Lucas is a twisty thriller that will keep you guessing throughout the pages.

Set in Tuscany, Last Night at Villa Lucia was a good thriller. A family goes on holiday to a villa where there starts with one murder and it turns into 2. It was not really my favorite and Henry was terrible and I just did not like him at all. I did not really feel like any character was likeable and it just did not draw me in like I wanted it to.

Villa Lucia is a beautiful Tuscan holiday home owned and run by Cerys, a divorced alcoholic who is trying to move past her abusive ex-husband. Cerys and her ex bought the villa 2 years [prior in a last ditch attempt to save their marriage. There was nothing left worth saving beyond their daughter Lowri , 20, who is staying at the villa this summer as she sorts through the beginnings of a career in music. The staff, Lucia and her husband Lorenzo, conveyed with the property. Well, to be more exacting, Lucia's family owned the villa which bears her name. The villa where she cooks and cleans as an employee .Zoe, Harry and their 19 year old son, Charlie arrive for a two week stay. They insist that everyone join them for dinner but the evening ends with murder.

As past story lines are told through multiple POVs, the list of suspects grows. McCleave weaves the stories with a light touch and dropping clues along the way. This is a clever plot and beautifully narrated by Clare Corbett. Fans of Ruth Ware , B.A Hawkins, Hendricks and Pekkanen will enjoy this.

My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleave and narrated by Clare Corbett is the perfect summer thriller and in fact any time of the year that you want to be whisked away to stunning descriptions of sun-drenched Tuscany with a dark underbelly of murder!

Written with a steely grace and panache and a storyline that had me guessing and changing my mind throughout. This and the blinder of a twist means I have now become a firm fan of Simon McCleave. The narration by Clare Corbett was absolutely stellar and perfect for the ambience and cadence set up by McCleave

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing, Simon McCleave and Clare Corbett for this awesome ALC . My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

"Last Night at Villa Lucia" by Simon McCleave is mystery and thriller. It was interesting, and it had a couple of good twists.

Set in Tuscany, Italy, a family with a teenage son is on vacation at a nice small resort. The owner is a divorced woman whose 20 year old daughter is visiting. One morning, a dead body is found in the pool, and the story is then about who killed them and why.

Triggers in this include domestic violence, references to rape, sexual inappropriate advances by a man in power, alcoholism, and mild drug use.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 4/4
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5 by Clare Corbett
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 27/8 = 3 3/8 rounded down to 3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Select/ Storm Publishing, and Simon McCleave for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

Great summer read. I love a book about people going on holiday and there is not one but two murders! And you really don’t know who it is until the very end which was the best part. Very likable characters and great narration.

2.5 stars for this one - A family vacation for Zoe, her garbage husband Harry, and teenage son Charlie intended to help them reconnect in a Tuscan villa turns sour when incredibly unlikeable Harry winds up dead in the pool. Everyone and yet no one seems to be a suspect, including alcoholic host Carys and her teenage daughter Lowery (sp?), and the couple in the villa nearby who serve as groundskeeper and housekeeper. A whodunit shrouded in mystery with plenty of potential.

Alcoholism is the overwhelming theme in this book, repeated multiple times per chapter to make sure the reader knows Carys is an alcoholic and the reader is led to see her as a terrible mother and an unlikeable, weak minded character.

None of the characters in the book are likable, but the men in this book are all incredibly toxic. Rapists, abusers, murderers, liars. The son Charlie seems like a decent guy until he tells the girl he watched his father sexually assault she should keep it to herself so they don’t get implicated in his murder… this ends well.

A grown man punches a teenage boy in the face and there is no bruising/ no one asks what happened to his face amidst the murder situation. A man is found stabbed, and no one is worried they don’t know the people around them? It’s fine because he’s a garbage human… but why isn’t anyone worried someone amongst them is a murderer?

The narrator did a fabulous job and her accent helped to bring the Italian countryside into view.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW for family abuse/trauma/hard relationships, alcoholism, sexual assault (not too graphic, some detail), and domestic violence (not too graphic, some detail).

The characters in this book are so compelling, and I have enjoyed reading it. The family dynamics of the book are intense, and I love how the two families are intertwined while not really having known each other before the story.

This book tells a beautiful story of connections and relationships, how we impact each other, and how memory plays a roll. These characters arte well written, and I appreciate how much time we spend in the mind of each of the women.

**Spoilers ahead:




This is also a great female revenge story, but in a very different way then I've seen. It's a very "reclaiming your story and empowering yourself through revenge" angle.**

The fact that the story begins with a body face down in an infinity pool in Villa Lucia in Tuscany hooked me.
The description of the location alone made me want to be there. Cerys is doing all she can do to keep her bed and breakfast business going. Reputation is everything. Important guests are due to arrive when a body is found floating in the pool.

I enjoyed that I could not pinpoint who did it right away, too often are these books predictable. I enjoyed the true suspense and surprise as the story unfolded.

Clare Corbett narrated this story beautifully and delivered such a wonderful presentation. The story is told in multiple perspectives which can be confusing at times, but Clare's delivery made it clear who was speaking and when.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, Simon McCleave and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.