Based on real historical events ☑️
Covert intelligence operations ☑️
Influencing (rigging) world political agenda ☑️
The most magnificent atmospheric read ☑️
incredible food descriptions ☑️
The Colletta Cassettes is an interesting book. It opens up a part of history that we know very little of - Operation Gladio. The codename for Italy's stay behind army created by the CIA and NATO post World War II with the sole agenda of stopping the spread of communism in the Western world.

The book's events are recanted by Robert Bravo to an investigative journalist, Kentish, in the idyllic Italian village of Colletta. Unknowing to Bravo, Kentish has his family in tow who provide for the lighter aspects of the book in terms of exploring Colletta, young love, football and the like.

Dominic was my favourite character simply because he is outlined as such a sharp young boy! Though I did find Sebastian heavily annoying. The book read more like a documentary than a flowing story but I enjoyed learning something new through it!

This was a tricky book to review, as I feel it mixed several genres and was somewhat of an unusual book, unlike any historical fiction I had read previously.
The opening scenes drew me in straight away, and I liked Sebastian's character and quickly warmed to him.
As the book unfolded, I was given a lot of information about Italy and American history which was unknown to me, and this was fascinating. I did find some of it a little inaccessible to me though! American and Italian history are not my strengths! I definitely feel more educated about this part of history though, and it is a worthwhile read for sure.

An enjoyable mystery about a family vacation-or is it-that Sebastian takes with his investigative journalist father and the rest of his family in the late 70s. A few twists and turns and a satisfying ending make this a thoroughly enjoyable read.