Villa in Italy

By: Elizabeth Edmondson

Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Marvellously atmospheric tale of strangers summoned to a grand but neglected villa on the Italian coast. Each of them has been named in a will, but nobody knows their benefactress....

Four very different people are named in a will. Delia, an opera singer robbed of her voice by illness; George, an idealistic scientist who cannot face what his skills have created; Marjorie, desperately poor and unable to dislodge her writer’s block; and Lucius, ostensibly in control but whose personal life is in chaos. All are summoned to the Villa Dante, home of the late Beatrice Malaspina. But who was she?

While they wait to find out, the villa begins to work its seductive magic. With its faded frescoes, overgrown garden, and magnificent mediaeval tower, it is unlike anywhere they have been before.

Slowly four characters who have gone to great lengths to hide their troubles find that change - and even hope - is possible after all. But the mysterious Beatrice has a devastating secret to reveal that will affect them all....

A beautiful evocation of Italy in the aftermath of World War Two and the personal consequences of living through such a time and a celebration of humankind’s ability to heal and learn to love again, this most absorbing novel will win Elizabeth Edmondson a host of new fans.

©2006 Elizabeth Edmondson (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Worth enduring the beginning and narration

This appears to be an older volume than the Very British Mysteries I have so much enjoyed from this author. How it ever made it to print with the quality of writing at the opening is a mystery, or why an editor didn't feel empowered to correct it, may be an even greater mystery than the story. Perhaps it's that unsophisticated start that shows, and if it's being pushed after later successes maybe editing didn't seem feasible, but should be reconsidered. But I'm happy to say that it's pretty much just the opening. I almost never give up on books, but was really ready to with this, and I'm glad that I didn't.

There's another and sizeable hurdle in the narration. It's acted well enough, and never monotonous, but the characterization of the voices is ghastly and a trial. The leads are lovely young women in their mid-late 20s from upper class British families, but the voices lead you to picture redoubtable women "of a certain age" in the vein of Agatha Christie. Another character, Marjorie, is finally stated as being 37, but long after you've fixed an image of her as a formidable Imelda Staunton-like woman in her 60s.

I feel that the author or publisher ran a "find and replace" function for every instance of the benefactress' name, since it is deeply annoying and wholly unnecessary for every character to refer to her by her full name throughout, no matter how formal the era in which it's set.

If you can get past all this though, it's quite a delightful story. It is un-subtle as a sledgehammer, but the world and characters are nicely realized and the plot intricate enough to be rewarding. I think it is also quite heartening and inspiring if you're a creative type, in the style of Under the Tuscan Sun and The Artists Way.

It could be so much better re-released after a little judicious editing, with a new narration. I think it would even make a successful movie if that hasn't been done already.

Wonderful Book

I loved this book.
I cant believe it's over wonderful ending.
Now I hope I can find another one like it

truly unique and extraordinary story!

fascinating storyline. intricately woven together in a believable manner without being farfetched or contrived. very refreshing change of pace.

Interesting storyline but took notes...

I found this to be an interesting story with many details and detailed characters. I stopped and started this several times but at a point continued without interruption. I am uncertain if that was the reason for thinking the characters were so detailed, had such complex backgrounds. Again, interesting but I found I needed to jot notes about each character. This is a nice book and in my opinion is best read continuously with few interruptions to recall the intricacies of each character and their relationship to each other and to the Villa Dante.

Entrancing

Oh so sorry for this to end. I feel that these characters and the villa will stay with me. I loved the artful and gradual unraveling of their histories

Enchanted Villa

I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought I wouldn’t like the characters who were distant and judgmental of one another, but as they’re drawn into the puzzle of “where’s the codicil?” they warm to each other and grow close. As others said it reminded me of “Enchanted April” with the place and their mysterious benefactor working their magic and healing the characters’ wounds from the War and life. The narrator was is also very good.

Slow start, great finish.

An unusual mystery. No murder or really any crime but why did the late owner of the Villa Dante, Beatrix Malespina, decide to invite the apparent unrelated four people to her villa after het death? None of them know her or even heard of her. why did she include them in her will and why and where did she hide the codiccile to the will that actually specifies thier individual legacies? It all fits in at the end like a nice puzzle made of human lives.

Enjoyable read

I liked the story it unfolded slowly so you get to know the characters. The narrator was good though sometimes it was hard to tell the characters apart. Nice story for a lazy afternoon

Engaging novel

This novel was very engaging. I love how it pictured the beautiful Italian villa surrounding, it’s like I was there. The author masterfully portraits various human emotions through the wonderful characters. All are intriguing. The narrator was doing wonderful job, very engaging.

Intrigue at the Villa Dante

Was abit slow to start, but entirely captivating with a truly satisfying ending! Thoroughly enjoyable