2024 the best historical fiction books review

Price: $12.99
(as of Dec 16, 2024 16:50:08 UTC - Details)

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

One of the NY Post's Best Beach Reads, an US Weekly pick for "mystery novels to read on the beach”, a Woman's World "captivating beach read you won't be able to put down this summer" ("a riveting saga"), an Eater food-filled beach read for your summer vacation ("an appealing mix of romantic escapism, whodunit intrigue, and feminist introspection.")

From bestselling author and award-winning journalist Jo Piazza, comes "A Journey to the Boot of Italy, With Murder, Romance and Ricotta” (The New York Times) about a disputed inheritance and a family secret that some will kill to protect . . .

Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered.

Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and learn the story of Serafina—a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly the more she challenges the status quo, the more she finds herself in danger.

As Sara discovers more about Serafina, she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. At once an immersive multigenerational mystery and an ode to the undaunted heroism of everyday women, The Sicilian Inheritance is an atmospheric, page-turning delight.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C9ZGSZBF
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton (April 2, 2024)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 2, 2024
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3761 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 383 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0008626189
Reviewer: SoCalMom
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Really enjoyed this book
Review: I thought it would be fun to buy this book as we were heading to Palermo and Taormina to visit family and a vacation. Being a Sicilian girl myself I thought this book would be really interesting and it did not disappoint. The author had such a beautiful description of Sicily, and it was so accurate down to the way the climate was back in the early 1900s and current day, the way she describes the culture was amazing because these are stories I’ve heard from my own grandparents. The book was such a page Turner and was so interesting because it bounces from modern day to going back to the 1900s it basically two women’s lives and hit on a lot of subjects that we are dealing with today as women. I can definitely relate to some of the subjects and things that the author describes in her book. I love the fact that it has a bit of mystery to it as well, humor and it’s very historically, correct.It really was a wonderful book to have on my trip and I definitely recommend it. Be warned the way she describes Sicilian cuisine in the book makes you very hungry. Lol.I highly recommend this book.

Reviewer: Susie | Novel Visits
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Like a thrilling vacation in Sicily!
Review: (Thanks to @DuttonBooks #gifted.) If you’re looking for the perfect summer read, look no further than 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 by Jo Piazza. No matter when you read this book, you’ll feel like you’re on a thrilling escape to Sicily! Inspired by her own family’s history, Piazza has written a truly fun book full of strong women, mystery, adventure, history, and even a little romance.⁣⁣Sara’s life is crumbling around her when her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara with a ticket to Sicily and a family mystery to solve. Half the chapters focus on Sara as she stumbles her way through a place she loves, but doesn’t really know. The other chapters focus on Serafina, who was Rosie’s mother. Serafina was “just a woman, just a mother” but she wanted more for her life and found a way to get it. ⁣⁣As Sara arrives in Sicily she has two tasks, to spread her aunt’s ashes and to claim the land that Serafina once held the deed to in her small village. I loved the way the story moved between these two women who held so much power without always realizing it. Across generations there seemed to be a strong connection between the two. They faced different obstacles, but they also shared deeply hidden strengths.⁣⁣While I enjoyed the dips into romance in this thriller, what I liked even more were the history lessons about Sicily. Piazza seamlessly wove pieces of the island’s history into Serafina’s story. Those were so interesting! I always like when a book both entertains and educates me and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 did just that. I also like when a book leaves me longing to visit the place where it’s set. Thanks to Jo Piazza, I’ve bumped Sicily way up on my list of places to visit. Sicilian vacation anyone? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reviewer: B. Goldberg
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Terrific read
Review: Occasionally a book comes along at the perfect time - this is one of those books. An ideal read during chaotic times - transporting readers to modern and historical Sicily. This is for lovers of dual timelines and strong female characters. And I dare you not to google “trip to Sicily” after finishing it.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Slow to start, engaging ending
Review: The first half of the book was slow, but the second half became more interesting. The last 4th of the book was very engaging.

Reviewer: Joseph J. Lapiana
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The book is fiction but reveals what life was like in Sicily in the early 20th century.
Review: Book is well written and fun to read about Sicily during the mass exodus between 1900 and 1920. Great descriptions and fun to revisit places I have been. The book is definitely a good read for women and younger girls if they want to know the history of the very early women’s movement.

Reviewer: bluegigi3
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Clear Your Schedule So You Can Read Straight Through
Review: Ignored by children and devoured this book! I’m not Sicilian, but my grandfather is from Calabria (and my grandmother from Tuscany). They came to the US in the 1920’s and I loved learning about what life might have been like in their small villages at that time. Many of the references reminded me of them and I couldn’t believe Rosie saying “stick your tits out and show them who’s boss” because my own grandmother often said that!As I get later into my 40’s and my kids grow, I feel an intense need to deepen friendships with the women around me. I despise small talk and crave friendships that get straight to the heart of things. I loved the relationships between the women in the village. Their devotion to each other and their secrets carried for decades.Guisy is one of those characters that jumps off a page. I love her. And hate her. Want to be her best friend. But am terrified of her. I certainly want to adopt some of her confidence and get my too small sexy clothes out of hiding.“Few things in life are as fundamentally satisfying as good, quick sex followed by a meal of mostly salty cheese”. I mean….that’s the truth of it right there 🤣Mystery, history, love, friendship…and in a gorgeous backdrop. A fantastic way to spend the afternoon!

Reviewer: sue K
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Entrancing
Review: The parallel stories of 2 women , generations apart , and the search for connection and closure , makes this book one of intrigue and keeps the reader guessing right to the end.A story of the strength and fortitude of 2 independent and intelligent women , bonded by genetic connection and tenacity !A good read !

Reviewer: Barry Glinski
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good read
Review: Interesting history of Sicily and the influence of other countries,

Reviewer: innocenza a.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Slow at the start but gets better and better as you read on . Loved it

Reviewer: Claire, Cornwall
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A great read that keeps you engrossed as it travels backwards and forwards in time. Fascinating learning about the strong women of Sicily in the early 1900s. Two protagonists equally appealing.

Reviewer: Bex
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This was such a fun read. It was really evocative of a sense of place, and had me hooked from the very start. I devoured it on a long journey and is was a wonderful way to spend the hours. Highly recommended.

Reviewer: rita simpson
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Loved this book. I read it in a day just couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns had me enthralled all the way through. Never picked the ending!!

Reviewer: Gary
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This book pulls you into the pages and you instantly become part of the lives of the characters, wanting to know what comes next and hoping for the best for them. A great story that compels you to reflect on the woman’s journey through life - the hardships and joys inherent in being alive as a woman. Thank you to the author for this story.