Digital Reads Reviews

Many thanks to publisher Boldwood Books for my spot on this Blog Tour.

A multifaceted mystery that pulled me in with the first chapter. I was drawn to the cover, and the prose tempted me with its quiet mystery. There was something in the background which played hide and go seek with me, a puzzle I needed to solve.

Edie and Joe had lost their son Daniel ten year ago, and mother-in-law Anna was blamed for it. Upon her death, Anna had left Edie a painting where one of the faces was scratched out. It was up to Edie to get to the truth of the face behind.

My first book by author Louise Douglas, I was hit by the emotions of a grieving mother who had not moved on, right from chapter 1. Every page I turned hushed me to go about slowly, reading every word. There was a hint of timelessness in the house left behind, daring me to discover its secrets.

The house was captivating in its descriptions, I was awed by the words chosen by the author. The writing flowed like a gentle brook stepping over the stones, yet giving me powerful imagery. Louise Douglas is a brilliant writer whose lines captured the poet in my soul. I wished I had better words to describe it.

The story did become suspenseful when someone tried to sabotage their restoration. It pulled at my senses. It was lovely to see Edie coming out of her shell, I liked how her grief was transformed. There was an aura of peace around her, except for the troublemakers.

Haunting descriptions, lyrical prose, and characters which touched my heart along with the underlying mystery made this a beautiful read.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.

All my reviews can be read here

The new chilling and captivating novel from the bestselling author of Richard & Judy pick The Secrets Between Us.

When Edie’s mother-in-law, Anna DeLuca, dies, she is relieved. Edie blames Anna for the accident that destroyed her family. So, when her will lures Edie to Sicily and the long-abandoned Villa della Madonna del Mare, she sees through Anna’s games.

Suspecting Anna is meddling from beyond the grave to try to reunite her and her ex-husband Joe, Edie is determined to leave Italy as soon as possible. But before she can, the villa starts to shed its mysterious secrets.

Who are the girls beside Anna in her childhood photos, and why has one of them been scratched out? Why does someone, or something, want them to leave the past untouched? The villa is a place where old ghosts feel at home, but does their legacy need to be laid to rest before Edie and Joe can move on…

Publication Date: February 2020