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Beautifully written, chillingly atmospheric and utterly compelling, The Secret by the Lake is Louise Douglas at her brilliant best' Tammy Cohen, author of The Broken The Secret of Villa Alba by Louise Douglas is a well-crafted mystery that strikes the perfect balance between suspense and family drama. The narrative is shared across two timelines with the present day told in the third person with excerpts from what can assume are Irene’s journal/letters covering the timeline in the 1960s. The 1968 Belice earthquake is incorporated into the 1960s timeline and is well woven into the events of the story. The dual timelines are seamlessly woven into a consistently paced, well-structured and engaging narrative. Each of the characters (the main and supporting characters) is well defined though the resolution of a few sub-plots did feel a tad abrupt. I could predict part of the final reveal around the halfway mark (plenty of breadcrumbs, so it wasn’t difficult to do so) but there were several twisty surprises along the way. The elegant prose, immersive setting and suspenseful pacing render this an enjoyable read that I would not hesitate to recommend. As well as the mystery, Louise Douglas drew me in to the Sicilian way of life and the landscape. The setting is stunning. Villa Alba in its decline felt authentic with whispers of its past echoing around the rooms.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Given April’s role in the book, the reveal should have come from her. What’s the use of having a detective working with another local detective if someone else takes over the climax? While April does connect a few dots, her standing on the sidelines during a crucial scene doesn’t give a good impression. The Secret Of Villa Alba was an intriguing, gripping dual timeline mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. Though I like paranormal elements, I want them to be more than just ‘feelings’. We have quite a few references to ghosts and stuff, which go nowhere in the plot. This seems more like an attempt to create an atmosphere. It’s not necessary and only causes a distraction (I kept wondering if something will come out of it). The Secret of Villa Alba is set up with really good characterisation throughout and sound storylines. The cast list is relatively small, which helps when keeping up with the who’s who in the villa. Yes, there were elements which I thought predictable, but these were served up with some perfectly plausible twists which made the novel compelling reading. In fact so much so that I read it in two sittings, racing way past my bedtime on one occasion! I would have liked a little more descriptive scenery, but the flow of dialogue made up for this.Twists are plentiful, especially in the latter half of the story. One particular twist left me gawping. I actually read the sentence thrice to make sure I read it right. I was like WOW! Mind blown! There is a lot of tension within the family, and you can tell how important April is to them. They answer all the questions that she asks knowing they must be as much help.as they can possibly be, but is someone lying to April?. Will she find out who and why?. The ending is class!!!.
As time counts down to Milo Conti’s exposé, he whips up the locals by dropping hints of his evidence on TV. This has a huge impact as they take action. Such a tense and alienating time for the family! I couldn't help but feel sad for all the parties involved in this mystery, from Irene to Enzo to Maddie to Donatella and her family. Whatever happened - it wasn't anybody's fault, per se. Just two sad people who thought they could lead a happy life but didn't expect the surprises that life had in store for them.My favourite aspect is the enchanting Sicily setting with its glorious scenery, fascinating culture, wondrous food and hospitable people. Author Louise Douglas beautifully captured the very soul of Sicily in her descriptions which made my heart happy. I know Sicily and was easily able to envision multitudinous nuances. To me, Sicily is a star character. The mystery itself is interesting but so are the characters, some of whom are likeable, others not, creating a fabulous sometimes angsty atmosphere.
April makes a great team with an Italian police inspector called Luca Mazzotta, and together they go through all they find out separately, and deduce from that what could have happened.I did enjoy this one very much. The family relationships, both in the past and present make for an captivating read – there are secrets and deceit which April needs to work through, with the assistance of a local Detective Inspector.
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