The Villa

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'Gave me Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes and I loved it from start to finish... captivating' reader review 'Grabbed me by the heart and didn't let go! I was literally gasping with every twist' reader review 'Complex, suspenseful, creepy... perfect for those who love Ruth Ware or Lucy Foley' reader review 'A phenomenal read that kept me up way past my bedtime' reader review 'Daisy Jones and The Six vibes... A fantastic summer read' reader review _______ 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 breathtaking, 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 and Lucy Foley, with the rock-and-roll glamour of Daisy Jones and the Six . _______ Praise for The Villa '"The White Lotus" vibes with a side of moody, gothic suspense elements? We'll take it ' The Skimm ' 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 . . . Hawkins is the reigning Queen of suspense ' Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author ' Clever and wickedly fun , The Villa i s 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 'Fans of twisty, creepy, layered thrillers will revel in their suspenseful stay at The Villa ' Bookpage ' Slick, twisty... a perfectly delicious read . I devoured it as fast as I could and wanted to read it again immediately. Buy one for yourself and another for your best friend because you'll want to talk about it for days ' Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'Gave me Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes and I loved it from start to finish... captivating' reader review 'Grabbed me by the heart and didn't let go! I was literally gasping with every twist' reader review 'Complex, suspenseful, creepy... perfect for those who love Ruth Ware or Lucy Foley' reader review 'A phenomenal read that kept me up way past my bedtime' reader review 'Daisy Jones and The Six vibes... A fantastic summer read' reader review _______ 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 breathtaking, 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 and Lucy Foley, with the rock-and-roll glamour of Daisy Jones and the Six . _______ Praise for The Villa '"The White Lotus" vibes with a side of moody, gothic suspense elements? We'll take it ' The Skimm ' 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 . . . Hawkins is the reigning Queen of suspense ' Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author ' Clever and wickedly fun , The Villa i s 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 'Fans of twisty, creepy, layered thrillers will revel in their suspenseful stay at The Villa ' Bookpage ' Slick, twisty... a perfectly delicious read . I devoured it as fast as I could and wanted to read it again immediately. Buy one for yourself and another for your best friend because you'll want to talk about it for days ' Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author

An unforgettable story set off the sun-soaked coast of Sicily for fans of Dinah Jefferies, Faith Hogan and Santa Montefiore 'The perfect holiday companion' Heat 'The ultimate feel-good read' Candis 'Sun-soaked escapism' Best ********** When Tess Angel receives a solicitor's letter inviting her to claim her inheritance - the Villa Sirena, perched on a clifftop in Sicily - she is stunned. Her only link to the island is through her mother, Flavia, who left Sicily during World War II and cut all contact with her family. When Tess goes to Sicily, Flavia realises the secrets from her past are about to be revealed and decides to try to explain her actions. Meanwhile, Tess' teenage daughter Ginny is stressed by college, by her blooming sexuality and filled with questions that she longs to ask her father, if only she knew where he was... ******** SEE WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT ROSANNA LEY 'An impeccably researched and deftly written narrative that kept me hooked until the end ' Kathryn Hughes ' Loved it from start to finish. A brilliant holiday read' ***** ' Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Victoria Hislop and Leah Fleming ' Candis 'On so many levels a fantastic read' ***** 'A fascinating story with engaging themes' Dinah Jefferies, bestselling author of The Tea Planter's Wife 'Warm, enthralling, one of my favourite authors ' *****

An unforgettable story set off the sun-soaked coast of Sicily for fans of Dinah Jefferies, Faith Hogan and Santa Montefiore 'The perfect holiday companion' Heat 'The ultimate feel-good read' Candis 'Sun-soaked escapism' Best ********** When Tess Angel receives a solicitor's letter inviting her to claim her inheritance - the Villa Sirena, perched on a clifftop in Sicily - she is stunned. Her only link to the island is through her mother, Flavia, who left Sicily during World War II and cut all contact with her family. When Tess goes to Sicily, Flavia realises the secrets from her past are about to be revealed and decides to try to explain her actions. Meanwhile, Tess' teenage daughter Ginny is stressed by college, by her blooming sexuality and filled with questions that she longs to ask her father, if only she knew where he was... ******** SEE WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT ROSANNA LEY 'An impeccably researched and deftly written narrative that kept me hooked until the end ' Kathryn Hughes ' Loved it from start to finish. A brilliant holiday read' ***** ' Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Victoria Hislop and Leah Fleming ' Candis 'On so many levels a fantastic read' ***** 'A fascinating story with engaging themes' Dinah Jefferies, bestselling author of The Tea Planter's Wife 'Warm, enthralling, one of my favourite authors ' *****