Loyalty

By: Lisa Scottoline

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Lisa Scottoline

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Number one bestselling author Lisa Scottoline presents Loyalty, an emotional, action-packed epic of love and justice, set during the rise of the Mafia in Sicily.

Loyalty can save a soul—or destroy one.

Franco Fiorvanti is a handsome lemon grower toiling on the estate of a baron. He dreams of owning his own grove, but the rigid class system of Sicily thwarts his ambition. Determined to secure a better future, Franco will do anything to prove his loyalty to the baron. But when the baron asks him to kidnap a little boy named Dante, Franco makes a decision that will change his life—and even the history of Sicily—forever.

Gaetano Catalano is an idealistic young lawyer whose devotion to justice is tantamount to a calling. He’s a member of the Beati Paoli, a real-life secret society of aristocrats who investigate crime in Palermo, a city riddled with graft. Gaetano sets out to find the boy and punish the kidnapper, but his mission leads him to a darker place than he had ever imagined.

Meanwhile, Mafalda Pancari is a new mother rejoicing at the birth of her daughter, Lucia, when disaster strikes. And Alfredo D’Antonio is a reclusive goatherd under constant threat of being discovered as a Jew. How the lives of these unforgettable characters collide makes Loyalty an epic tale of good versus evil, as the story twists and turns to its monumental showdown.

Listeners will be transported to the dramatic and ruggedly beautiful island of Sicily, the jewel of the Mediterranean, where lush lemon groves and mouth-watering cuisine contrast with a turbulent history of colonization and corruption. Scottoline brings her decades of thriller writing to historical fiction, creating in Loyalty a singular novel that no listener will be able to pause.

©2023 Lisa Scottoline (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A powerful, poignant exploration about the rise of the Mafia in Sicily, Lisa Scottoline's Loyalty is a gripping, compulsively readable tale of courage, loyalty, family secrets, and the price of honor. An unputdownable piece of historical fiction that puts Scottoline's talent for writing twisty plots and unforgettable characters on full display." —Kristin Hannah, author of The Four Winds

"I haven’t read a story set in Sicily that was this good since Giuseppe Di Lampedusa’s amazing novel The Leopard. The reader knows when an author’s heart is in their writing, and Lisa Scottoline’s heart and soul is in Loyalty. Historical fiction, when it’s good, is a time machine, carrying us back to a vanished world that we can inhabit for a while. Loyalty does that and more—it’s a magic carpet ride that will transform us and stay with us. A beautifully written tale, wonderfully told by a master storyteller." —Nelson DeMille, author of The Maze

"Scottoline brings nineteenth-century Sicily alive in this historical thriller...Every scene is a full sensory experience, as Scottoline weaves lemon-scented breezes, the ocean’s sounds, and sun-baked piazza stones into a timeless, tragedy-strewn story of love, power, and redemption. History fans will appreciate the novel's well-researched foundation, especially concerning the origins of the Sicilian Mafia and early mental-health institutions." —Booklist (starred)

Interesting and intriguing

The history and story was well researched and presented with a story of complicated circumstances and long history. It was difficult to follow and I had to stop and rewind often I stuck with it because I’m a loyal fan of Lisa Scottoline. I didn’t return it because I plan to revisit and try again.

Excellent historical fiction

Although I’ve seen mixed reviews of Lisa Scottoline’s book, Loyalty, I found it fascinating.

The novel takes place in Sicily in 1810 with the beginnings of the Mafia as the lower class finds ways of safeguarding their lemons on route to market.

The title and theme of loyalty is carefully crafted with each storyline. I appreciate the author’s notes and loved how some of the smaller stories were based in history.

The narrator, Edoardo Ballerini is one of the best male voices. He certainly made the Italian place names come to life.

Lisa hit another one out of the BALLPARK!

I love the Audiobook because I take it with me everywhere! Also listen multiple times! Please get a lifetime agreement with Edoardo Bellarini, he is the best.

Hypnotic

4.5 STARS

Anyone who knows me knows that an historical novel about the beginning of the Italian mafia is about as far from my interests as sci fi. Yet, when Lisa Scottoline writes such a book and the incomparable Edoardo Ballerini narrates, LOYALTY was an automatic preorder.

While LOYALTY started a bit confusing for me trying to figure out which character was which, Ballerini’s mesmerizing voice kept me listening and engaged. About halfway through, I realized I couldn’t stop listening, waiting to see what happened next. While not a thriller, I felt the same emotional vibes the entire second half of the book.

I don’t usually like historical fiction, but I’ll read anything Scottoline writes.

Master Storyteller

what an excellent book! The reader added to the book as well, but this story had its villains and lovable characters. The development of the characters was rich and done so well. Scottoline truly is a master and I enjoyed this book very much.

Excellent Historical fiction

4.5 I am so glad Lisa Scottoline has started written another historical fiction novel. Already looking forward to her next.

Riveting and multi-layered

I enjoyed so much about this book. It is more than a “mafia” story. It’s a story of relationships and the setting is real-lot of research went into this. There was a warmth between well developed characters and humor woven in.

Different characters

I liked the various sub stories and the description of classes of people. The villains were truly awful.

Another Good Book

The narrator’s Italian made me feel like I was in Italy.
I really got engaged in the different stories of the characters and Lisa Scottoline does her research well.
I definitely recommend listening to this audio book.

I truly enjoyed the narration

This book has too many characters, I really have pay attention to remember every single one. I enjoyed the historical fiction much more because of Mr Ballerini’s narration.