Lately, Julia Pritzker is beginning to think she’s cursed. She’s lost her adoptive parents, then her husband is murdered. When she realizes that her horoscope essentially foretold his death, she begins to spiral. She fears her fate is written in the stars, not held in her own hands.

Then a letter arrives out of the blue, informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and vineyard —but her benefactor is a total stranger named Emilia Rossi. Julia has no information about her biological family, so she wonders if Rossi could be a blood relative. Bewildered, she heads to Tuscany for answers.

There, Julia is horrified to discover that Rossi was a paranoid recluse, who believed herself to be a descendent of Duchess Caterina Sforza, a legendary Renaissance ruler. Stunned by her uncanny resemblance to Rossi, and even to Caterina, Julia is further unnerved when she unearths eerie parallels between them, including an obsession with astrology.

Before long, Julia suspects she’s being followed, and strange things begin to happen. Not even a chance meeting with a handsome Florentine can ease her troubled mind. When events turn deadly, Julia’s harrowing struggle becomes a search for her identity, a race to save her sanity, and ultimately, a question of her very survival.

Twisty, transportive, and haunting—this is suspense with a passport.

4.5 stars

This was my second book by this author, and while it was very different from the first one I read, I ended up loving it even more. The plot may have been simple and a bit formulaic, but that worked in its favor. Sometimes, simple is truly better.

The story offered a little bit of everything: mystery, gripping chase scenes, eerie supernatural elements, long-buried family secrets, and even romance. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator, whose performance drew me deeper into the story. Since much of the book takes place in Italy, her accurate pronunciation of names and locations was a bonus. I know I would have stumbled over them while reading on my own.

This was the perfect summer mystery/thriller to sweep me away to Italy. The writing was beautiful and immersive, painting vivid pictures of the food, landscapes, buildings, and architecture. Every description felt rich and detailed, and the historical elements were seamlessly woven into the narrative, giving the story extra depth without slowing the pace.

The mystery kept me hooked from start to finish. I was so invested in Julia’s journey and in uncovering the truth that I found it hard to step away from the audiobook. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and the action sequences were tense and exhilarating. The family storyline added even more heart, following Julia, a woman who was adopted, as she searches for her roots and unravels her family history. I also enjoyed the romance subplot, which brought warmth to the darker elements of the story. Julia herself was incredibly likable, making it easy to root for her. Some scenes were unexpectedly emotional, even bringing me to tears, and those moments pushed this read into five-star territory for me.

I appreciated how the book explored deeper themes such as generational trauma, grief, loss, and identity. Julia’s unraveling felt raw and real—she’s grieving, questioning herself, and trying to make sense of a life that no longer looks like the one she imagined.

Overall, this was a twisty, atmospheric thrill ride that transported me to Italy and kept me captivated for days. I cannot wait to read more from this author. Highly recommended!!