As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

I absolutely loved The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins, so I was eager to pick up another one of her books. The Villa was my second read from her, and unfortunately, it left me disappointed. I had hoped for a fun summer thriller filled with tension, twists, and a gripping murder mystery. Instead, the story felt slow and uneventful for long stretches, and I kept waiting for something more engaging to happen.

The book is told through two points of view and alternates between past and present timelines. I listened to the audiobook, which featured three narrators. Their performances helped distinguish the timelines, which I appreciated, but I found myself far more drawn to the present-day storyline. The sections set in the mid-1970s focused heavily on the sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll atmosphere of the time, and I never connected with those characters or their drama. By contrast, the present-day characters felt more compelling, and I was much more invested in their experiences.

The Italian villa setting made the story feel like it had the potential to be a perfect summer thriller. I only wish there had been more vivid descriptions of Italy to bring the location to life. I did enjoy the concept of the “murder house” where the two present-day friends were staying, and I liked that one of the women became fascinated with the villa’s history and began writing about it. Still, I did not feel the 1970s storyline was necessary. It might have been more intriguing to uncover what happened back then solely through the perspective of the present-day characters.

Overall, The Villa had an interesting premise, but I do not think it was executed as strongly as it could have been. It was not a terrible read, but it also was not the engaging thriller I was hoping for. Also, there is language, but no spice. 

While this book did not quite work for me, I know others may enjoy it more. I still plan to read more of Rachel Hawkins’s work, as I hope some of her other backlist titles will be a better fit for my taste.