Books : The Villa in Italy

Rating: - Cleverly done. Lovely tale of delightful intrigue
Having just finished reading "The Villa in Italy", quite honestly I wish I hadn't. It had become a restful yet highly entertaining companion for those private relaxing moments which are so special in life. It also gave me food for thought, which is always an excellent diet.
The four main characters are drawn to the Villa Dante by being named in the will of the deceased owner, a lady who is a complete stranger to them all. Beatrice Malaspina soon becomes a richly engrossing enigma and her cleverly laid plan creates an atmosphere where they begin to interact with each other at a deeper level, and to shine a torch into all the dusty corners of their lives. Gradually, as the mystery starts to unravel amid the magnificent yet tranquil magic of the Italian coastal landscape, the characters learn the truth about the whens, whys and wherefores of their visit. Then the healing can begin and the myriad gifts contained in the will can be discovered and accepted.
This author writes with a gently flowing style which is totally absorbing and the story is populated with well drawn characters who are easy to become attached to and interested in. What isn't easy is the predictability of any of the outcomes. Ms Edmondson never telegraphs much about the details of her plot before they are revealed, providing the reader with a constant flow of surprises to keep the pages turning.
This is the second of Elizabeth Edmondson's books I have read, and I relish her style and great ability to weave a clever mystery.
If I have one complaint it would be that I find it hard to believe that these characters could suddenly take so much time off from their daily lives at such short notice to spend a month or so in Italy. There again I think that could be just plain old jealousy!!

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Rating: - Beautifully written mystery
Having read The Frozen Lake I was keen to read another of Elizabeth Edmondson's novels and have not been disappointed. Four strangers collect at the Italian home of the late Beatrice Malaspina, drawn there by a legacy to each of them which they can only claim if they can find a codicil to her will. None of them knew the deceased, and their gradual discovery, first about their own lives, and then about how they are connected with her, is a fascinating and wonderfully written tale. Ms Edmonson perfectly captures the sense of peace and calm that they all find at the villa, and I found it hard to put down. Little of the outcome can be guessed at, and if I have a tiny complaint it is that so much is unravelled in the final few pages, and I wanted a few more to find out how they all settled after discovering the truth. Though perhaps it was just that I didn't want the book to end. I am a big fan of her writing style and look forward to reading more by her. Many books I purchase get passed on or given to the charity bins, but this is one to put back on the shelf to be enjoyed again sometime. Highly recommended if you like Rosamund Pilcher, Michelle Pavey.

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Rating: - Who needs enemies with families like these?
I've read Edmondson's 2 previous novels which were excellent so approached this with great expectations. This was as complex as the others with an extremely original plot and fascinating characters, especially Lucius,but it was a bit far-fetched and gelled too well. Readers want a complete ending of course, but somehow this was a bit beyond belief for me. I did like the Greek references, however, which reminded me a little of Fowles's The Magus - on a simpler level. Edmondson might have been trying too hard for the opus magnum and for me it didn't quite work. I enjoyed the book, especially the flashbacks of Marjorie, George and Lucius, but it was a bit too neat. I'll look for her next novel however. Hope it's a bit shorter too - I found myself skim reading some bits and that does detract from the enjoyment. It never fully gripped me but I knew I had to finish it.