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The Villa

A captivating thriller about sisterhood and betrayal, with a jaw-dropping twist

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About this listen

 THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable, but 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 breath-taking, but it has a dark past: in 1974 it was rented by a notorious rockstar, who was joined by up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon and his girlfriend, Mari. By the end of the holiday Pierce is dead, and Mari goes on to write one of the greatest horror novels of all time.

As Emily digs into the villa's history, she begins to think that Pierce's murder wasn't just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but something more sinister - and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari 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.

An enthralling tale of gothic suspense that will keep you reading late into the night, The Villa is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Alice Feeney and The House in the Pines, with the rock-and-roll glamour of Daisy and the Six.

'"The White Lotus" vibes with a side of moody, gothic suspense elements? We'll take it' The Skimm

'Clever and wickedly fun, The Villa is a moody labyrinth of a novel fortified by Hawkins's evident knowledge of Gothic conventions: missing manuscripts, debauched aristocrats, isolated locales... a spooky, intricate thriller' Washington Post

'An engrossing tale about betrayal, sisterhood, and the power of telling your own story. Captivating!' People

'A deliciously dark tale filled with twisted secrets, suspect loyalties, and deadly encounters. I tore through this haunting thrill ride at breakneck speed but hated to see it end... pitch-perfect' Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author

'Fans of twisty, creepy, layered thrillers will revel in their suspenseful stay at The Villa' Bookpage

(P) 2023 Macmillan Audio©2023 Rachel Hawkins 20th Century Crime Thrillers Historical Fiction Mystery Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Scary Fiction Friendship
All stars
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Great book - very clever weaving of two storylines and two sets of ‘sisters’. Easily hooked!

Hooked

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I enjoyed the story - clever weaving of two stories. Yes one flaw re healthcare but in UK but not a problem. Narrators good. Will be looking for more books by the author

Enjoyed

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The story however was truly terrible. Main characters were entirely unlikable and I found no reason to root for anyone.

Narrator did a great job.

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I enjoyed this book, I liked the split storyline and the characters. An easy listen

Very good

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This kept me guessing. Two sets of two women - making their way in a man’s world. I really enjoyed it.

Twists and turns

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