Saturday, January 7, 2023

Audiobook Review: The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

 


The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
Publication Date: January 3rd 2023 by Macmillan Audio
Pages: 288
Audio Book Length: 7hrs 57 min
Narrators: Julia Whelan, Shiromi Arserio, Kimberly M. Wetherell
Source: Publisher 
Rating: 
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Emily and Chess, childhood friends, are spending the summer in Italy at Villa Aestas. Emily, a moderately successful cozy-mystery writer has been suffering writer’s block, going through a contentious divorce, and Chess is now a famously successful self-help guru. They’re supposed to be taking this time in Italy to reconnect, yet you can feel the underlying tension between them, each a little jealous of the other even though they’re supposed to be besties.

Emily finds out that Villa Aestas is actually the scene of the infamous murder of the musician, Pierce Sheldon, back in 1974, and begins to investigate what actually happened there. The story is scandalous with rumors of bed-hopping, drugs, and alcohol, but the two women involved, Pierce’s lover Mari and her stepsister Lara go on to become famous artists, each tight-lipped about that tragic summer. Emily uncovers secret pages written by Mari, re-awakening her passion for writing, which sparks more tension between her and Chess.

I disliked most of the characters in The Villa, but I couldn’t help but root for Emily in the present and Mari in the past. Neither one was perfect, especially by the end, but something about each of their situations had me on their side, enraged by the treatment by those close to them. Chess, Matt, Pierce and Noel all self-centered unlikable people, Pierce toping that list for me. The ending was in some ways tragic, and unsettling, but also felt a bit justified. I felt bad over the fate of one character.

It's interesting to note that Mari’s story in 1974 was inspired by the summer in 1816 Mary Shelley spent in Italy with her future husband, poet Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, John Polidori, and her stepsister, Claire Clairemont, referenced in THIS article. One dreary night Lord Byron suggested they each come up with a ghost story which led to Mary writing Frankenstein, and John Polidori writing The Vampyre.

The Villa was full of betrayals, jealousies, and toxic relationships, but the unfolding mysteries and motivations were captivating, and the story was hard to put down.

Julia Whelan is a phenomenal narrator. She gives each character, Emily, Chess, and those in the present-day story, a unique, separate voice and it’s hard to remember you’re listening to one person perform different characters. Shiromi Arserio is a new-to-me narrator and does a fantastic job performing Mari and the 1974 cast. Kimberly M. Wetherell, also new-to-me and wonderful, did the news articles and announcements. I listened at usual 1.5x-1.75x normal speed. The audio is a definite recommend.

4 Stars


Book Description:

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, 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 a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara 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.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

26 comments:

  1. Maybe I should have listened to this one. I love Whelan, I didn’t find it hard to put down, until the last 20%. I thought it really slogged at the beginning.

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    1. I think the audio really enhanced the story. It might have made a difference for you.

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  2. ooh Julie Whelan did this one? That is super neat, I do have this author on my list to try out this year so I am looking forward to it. Great review of this one. Glad it turned out to be a solid read for you.

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    1. Whelan is so talented! Thanks! Wasn't sure with all the unlikable characters, but it worked.

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  3. I've seen good reviews for this one and I love Julia Whelan. I love the historical tie-in you shared.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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    1. Yes, she's so talented as an author and writer. It made the story even more interesting to me!

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  4. I think it's sad so many books have such unlikable characters these days. Glad there were a few to root for in this one. :)

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    1. Yes, I'm not a fan of featuring a bunch of unlikable people. I need a few to connect with to fully enjoy a story. Thankfully there were a couple here. :)

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  5. I've been super curious about this one since reading a Rachel hawkins earlier this year. I did NOT know that about the historical connection or inspiration- and Fleetwood Mac always gets my attention too. :)

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    1. It was an interesting tidbit! I listened to Fleetwood Mac a bunch as a kid when my parents would play them. I've always liked them. :)

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  6. I've seen seeing really good reviews for this one all over the place.

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  7. That makes for an interesting book when you can dislike the characters and still be deeply in tune with the story. Interesting connection to the real life group of writers gathering at Lake Geneva.

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    1. Yes, I liked that it was based in some reality I didn't know about until now.

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  8. I read this, but I bet the audiobook was better! I love Julia Whelan.

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  9. I hummed and hawed about The Villa because her last book was so crazy, but I am going to give it a go. Great review, Rachel. I loved your thoughtful comments.

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  10. Yes, the last one was crazy! This one is too, but not as wild. Thanks, Carla! I hope you like this one more than the last. :)

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  11. You all impress me with the speed you can listen to audio books (not beyond 1.25 X for me). I need to listen to more books by Whelan. She really is a wonderful narrator. I don't tend to do well with unlikable characters UNLESS the plot is amazing. Since this was captivating, I am going to assume it had a great plot.

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  12. I hope to listen to this one soon. It sounds great and I love Whelan's narration.

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  13. I completely agree with you on this one! Not a good character in the bunch, but I sure couldn't help but root for them!

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  14. They all sound incredible. There were some fixed reviews for the Villa on GR but that cover is so gorgeous.

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  15. This one has stayed off my TBR, but may end up there. I'd definitely opt for the audiobook too since Julia Whelan's one of the narrators.

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  16. Audio is def a good way to do it then

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  17. I'm not sure why so many thrillers are like this with a cast of characters who are ALL unlikable, even the hero/heroines! I'm with you, though - if I can at least sort of identify with them in some way, that's usually enough to keep me reading. Especially if the plot is super engrossing. Sounds like THE VILLA was a hit for the most part.

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    1. I know, Susan! I really wish they'd stop making everyone so unlikeable. I need at least one or two sympathetic characters so that I can enjoy the story. Thankfully, I had a couple to root for here!

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