The House by the Sea

​Edie is not unduly saddened when she learns that her former mother-in-law, Anna, has died. She blames the woman for the death of her only child, Daniel, and the subsequent break-up of her marriage to Anna’s son, Joe.

This is the powerful scenario at the heart of this book and when Edie is dismayed to discover that she and Joe are joint inheritors of Anna’s ancestral home in Sicily, it sets up a dramatically fluctuating story that will challenge Edie to face her demons and ultimately alter nearly everything that she believes to be true.

But this is so much more than a novel about complex contemporary relationships and healing, there are also mysteries and crimes, all tinged with shades of the gothic, and even echoes of the paranormal.

The descriptions of the decrepit and ghostly Villa della Madonna del Mare and its gardens are exquisite and spine-tingling. Yet at the same time the author doesn’t detract from the plastic-strewn seedy side of modern-day Sicily, with its undercurrents of dark dealings by the Mafiosi, family secrets and revenge.

None of the characters is perfect which makes them all interesting, and the ways they find hope and new beginnings come together in a pleasing way. Although the main villain is fairly obvious from early on, there is an unexpected relationship twist that adds another dimension to Edie’s opinions about Anna.

I often tend to gloss over too many lavish descriptive passages in books, but the skill created here makes them all a pleasure to read in full as they help you to absorb the atmosphere and tension.

It is a truly satisfying read! I galloped through this in a couple of days and will definitely look for more titles by author Louise Douglas.

Five stars.


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