Villa Triste

During 1943 the Nazi’s settled in Italy and remained there until the Allied Forces swooped in and pushed them out. Until help arrived groups of Partisans rose up to stand and fight against the Nazi’s. Secret meetings were held in the dead of night, operations were mapped out and executed, and heroes came in all shapes, sizes, and genders. For two women it meant forgetting the normalcy of life and using their skills and courage to not only help defend their people against tyranny but to help lead them as well.

I was pleasantly surprised by Villa Triste (a historical location in Italy that housed the Nazi headquarters and was a hellhole for Partisans who were captured during their campaign against the Nazi’s). The novel starts you off in Italy in 1943 and slowly moves in to the present day. It is here we find Inspector Alessandro Pallioti investigating the murders of aged Partisan heroes, their mouths filled with salt. Connecting the two timelines is an aged diary from one of the two sisters who fought in the campaigns against the Nazi’s those many years ago. Following the diary, Pallioti uncovers some shocking truths that shed light on his murder investigation and could change the reputations of some of Italy’s beloved underground heroes.

I don’t read as much as I used to, but when I look at the books in my collection very few have strong female leads. Aside from Nancy A. Collins’ gothic vampire punk novel, A Dozen Black Roses (1996), and Jody Lynne Nye’s An Unexpected Apprentice (2007), the majority of strong female novels in my house are all Young Adult novels I read to my girls. It was nice finding one that was both for adults as well as one that allowed the characters to simply be without putting too much emphasis on the fact that the female’s were strong characters (if you know what I mean). In any case, as I read the story of Caterina and Isabella Cammaccio and their lives in the early 1940’s I grew fond of them, invested in their well being, invested in everything that they were doing and the people they loved and protected. Their characters and their plight were very well written.

I find it pretty powerful that when the story transitioned to the present with the inspector I didn’t feel conflicted when I was torn out of Isabella and Caterina’s story to follow the murder investigation that somehow tied in with the sisters and their lives back then. Being somewhat of a detective fan myself it was pretty easy to get myself invested in the investigation and even easier to find myself enjoying the character of Pallioti, an aged inspector who has come out from behind his desk to handle the case. So many familiar names came to mind such as Poirot, Morse, even George Gently. He’s a warm character that portrayed all the attributes I like in a good detective and his story line was well connected all the way up to the end, which was a bit of a shocker.

I highly suggest checking out Villa Triste if you like historical novels, detective stories, or stories with strong female leads. It was sad, suspenseful, and really had me on a roller coaster of emotions as you find hope, betrayal, hatred, and justice throughout. Enjoy.