The bombing of Monte Cassino is one of those moments in WWII that makes you wonder, like Dresden. Was it necessary ? It surely destroyed centuries of history as it usually happen with war.
This is darkly humorous story, poignant and compelling. A story about people and how they survived. It's also a story about arts and coming of age.
The author is an excellent storyteller and this fast paced story is compelling and a page turner
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Curse of Pietro Houdini is a wonderful book, full of great writing. The characters are very well drawn, and the sense of time and place are remarkable. Highly recommended.

Its my privilege to have read an early copy of Derek B Millers epic story, The Curse of Pietro Houdini.
In general, I’m not fond of war stories but I’d read anything Derek Miller writes and this one is a real delight. I absolutely loved the skilled storytelling and his characters really stand out. Set in 1943, just before the Allied Forces destroyed the Abbey of Monte Cassino, home to one of the most treasured art collections in Europe, it is the story of how one man and a young boy joined forces to make their way through enemy lines, saving some precious artworks as they do so.
Two strangers meet on a dusty road south of Rome in the height of World War II. One is a young orphan, being beaten by some thugs; the other is a man who helps chase them away. Neither will use their real names. The orphan calls himself Massimo while the man tells Massimo that his name is Pietro Houdini. Massimo was only fourteen when the Allies bombed Rome, leaving him orphaned. Now he is looking to find his relatives in Naples.
Pietro tells Massimo that he is a master artist and that he is on a mission from the Vatican to restore the paintings and frescoes at the nearby Abbey of Monte Cassino. Promising to help Massimo get to Naples, he tells the lad that he will take him on as an apprentice.
Houdini is determined to stop the Nazis from taking all of the fantastic art that is stored in the abbey of Monte Cassino. They are on their way and their mission is to strip the Abbey of all the artworks and take them back, ostensibly to Rome, but Pietro believes they will be taken back to Germany. Pietro has a plan and that plan is both devious and dangerous. But first Massimo lands them in a spot of bother all on his own. Pietro is a showman, a teller of stories and he spins a great yarn. He can talk himself out of most situations, a facility that comes in very useful.
“Pietro Houdini had the sorted mind of a scientist but the spirit of a shaman who had seen too much and expected to see much more of it, a thinker and a storyteller and a liar who had as little reverence for the facts as P.T. Barnum. And yet, his dedication to truth—to God’s own truth, a truth Pietro claimed to know and I now believe he did—was bottomless.”
Once the Germans arrive, which comes swiftly, Houdini and Massimo go to great lengths to save three Titians while the Monks negotiate the removal of the art from the Abbey of Monte Cassino. In the process they save some at risk lives, in ways which are both brave and full of bravura. Together they assemble a small band of misfits including a wounded German soldier, an Italian soldier, a monk, a nurse, and a flautist alongside Ferrari, the most heroic mule in Italy.
The Curse of Pietro Houdini is a brilliantly told story and is full of fascinating factual information about the German occupation of Italy, which is lightly worn. I learned to my horror that the Germans actually parachuted mules behind enemy lines when they knew that tanks would not get through.
Derek Miller’s writing is so rich and vivid and the character of Pietro Houdini such a complex one that it comes as a surprise when we understand who and what he really is. Although there are plenty of warm moments and a lot of downright funny ones, Miller does not shirk from the horror of war and more than one of his characters will kill. Pietro, however, is a man whose tales are difficult to discern. Is this one the truth, or is it a bald faced lie?
Whichever, the writing and the storytelling are wonderful and you become immersed in this story, watching as Massimo learns more than any young person should and Houdini watches over him, saving his life more than once.
Verdict: There is tragedy and there is beauty in this relationship, but most of all there is loyalty and friendship. It is such a wonderfully told story that I was carried away by the prose. When it was finished I felt like I could go back and start it over, just to experience its delights once more. This one is a keeper.

American author Derek Miller has what can only be called an eclectic output. His Girl in Green looked at the consequences of the invasion of Iraq while more recently, Radio Life was a post apocalyptic adventure tale. He has pivoted from this to a fascinating and moving piece of historical fiction, set in Southern Italy during World War II and revolving around art theft and the destruction of an ancient monastery in The Curse of Pietro Houdini.
The Curse of Pietro Houdini is a story told by a narrator who has three Renaissance paintings which she says were rescued from the Nazis. The story starts in Rome, where a teenage girl loses her family in an allied bombing. In making her way south she ends up in a small village called Cassino where she is set upon and beaten by another group of boys. She is recused by a man calling himself Pietro Houdini (after the famous American escaplogist) and he takes her with him to the monastery of Montecassino where the girl becomes a boy called Massimo and Houdini presents themselves as an art restorer and his assistant. But soon the Nazis become interested in the huge art and document collection at Montecassino and seek to take it for themselves. Houdini hits on a plan to save some of the paintings. While Massimo just seeks to survive and find a way to their family in Naples.
This is just the set up for a novel that follows the characters through the last two years of the war. Over time the monastery becomes a refuge but then as the allies approach, a target. While the depravity of the Nazis comes through the narrative, Miller does not shy away from the equally destructive path of the allied troops, particularly a regiment of Moroccans who raped and pillaged their way across southern Italy as part of the allied advance.
The Curse of Pietro Houdini is effective and evocative historical fiction, often with a philosophical edge. Miller creates a kind of found-family within the monastery but also uses the relationships that Massimo (later Eva) forms to capture the precarious existence of life during wartime. As a result readers will find themselves learning and understanding much about that time and place without any feeling that they have been preached to or read reams of exposition. While at times The Curse of Pietro Houdini can be a confronting read, it is also both fascinating and ultimately redemptive.

Even if you feel you have read more than enough on WW2, I strongly urge you to read this enthralling, multi-genre, philosophical, profoundly moving, magical delight of a art heist adventure from the talented Derek B. Miller that illuminates the power of art and in particular the darkest periods in time as people struggled to survive. In this artful blend of history and fiction, a recently bereaved 14 year old Massimo has lost his parents in a US bombing raid on Rome, he is rescued from a beating by the enigmatic and charismatic Pietro Houdini, becoming his assistant, cleaning paint brushes, at the Montecassino Abbey, packed with art treasures and books, in the hope they will survive the war in the care of the monks.

Whilst Houdini might not be all he claims to be, chemist, painter, scholar, confidant of the Vatican, close and trusting relationship develops between him and Massimo, listening to him talk and rant, declaring secrets and lies are illusions and one must commit to the illusion if it is to work! Massimo is determined to discover Houdini's real name, but Massimo has secrets of his own, and but he will eventually discover the truth. It soon becomes clear the Nazis are intent on acquiring the art, books and treasures of the Abbey, with Houdini intent on doing what he can to hide 3 poesies by Tiziano. In this coming of age story, Massimo is to undergo several transformations in identity as a result of a harrowing war and the love that springs up, becoming part of a group of misfits, along with Ferrari the mule, aiming for Naples, but will any of them survive to make it there.

Miller paints a nuanced picture of the war, the Americans are not always liberating heroes, willing to bomb the sacred, not all Germans are villains, whilst some Morroccans bring shocking savage terrors. Art can expand perceptions, playing a vital role in documenting history, and reducing the feelings of being so alon, fostering creativity, opening new ways of being expressive, in the process enriching the soul without the obstacles placed by earthly limitations. Houdini plays a pivotal role in Massimo's life in the war and beyond, particularly in his acquired understanding of art, as can be observed life continues, despite the war, there is love, even when it can seem as if love has no dominion. Massimo is the curse of Houdini, forced to endure a war waged due to some lunatic madmen's arbitary theories on blood and race that results in the loss of his parents.

This is a remarkably stunning piece of utterly engaging and morally ambiguous WW2 fiction that overflows with humanity and humour, that captivates and informs, including on the issue of sexual identity, and which I think will appeal to a wide range of readers. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I did it again, sat on a tube platform to finish a book. I was intrigued by the title “The Curse of Pietro Houdini” and that the book was set in Italy during WW2. It was a wonderful novel filled with a cast of unforgettable characters. Heartbreaking, humorous and full of love it was beautifully written.
Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday for letting me read this, I would definitely recommend this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks PRH & NetGalley for this early copy. Really enjoyed this historical tale which is described in such detail that at times it was like I was there. The mix of historical fact and fiction is brilliant, and I loved learning about a piece of history that I didn't know existed.

"The Curse of Pietro Houdini" by Derek B. Miller is a captivating and unique take on World War II, delving into the lesser-known aspects of the Italian occupation and the bombing of the Montecassino abbey. The narrative, grounded in historical truths, weaves a tale of resilience, hope, and survival. The characters, each with their own quirks, make the novel a rich tapestry of personalities, contributing to a compelling found family dynamic in the second part of the story.

Miller's skillful use of a lighter, sometimes sarcastic tone through the charismatic Pietro adds a refreshing touch to the wartime setting. The relationship between Pietro and young Massimo is heartwarming, as the characters evolve, facing internal struggles and growing together. The story is beautifully written, offering insights and humor amidst the tragedy of war.

However, a notable departure in tone during a brutal scene towards the end feels jarring, raising questions about its necessity. Despite this, the novel remains a beautiful, insightful, and bittersweet exploration of wartime experiences, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

“The wrinkles around his eyes and on his forehead spoke more of wear than years and I felt his presence to be dramatic and theatrical and magnetic: as though my eyes couldn’t help but fall on him and when they did—like being drawn to a performer under a spotlight onstage—I was unable to break away because of the promise of some inexplicable drama yet to come.”

The Curse of Pietro Houdini is the fourth stand-alone novel by award-winning American-born author, Derek B. Miller. It’s August, 1943, and the fourteen-year-old, determined to reach family in Naples after being orphaned by an Allied bomb dropped in Rome, is rescued from a beating at the foot of Montecassino by a man calling himself Pietro Houdini, with the same destination.

This “opinionated but charming polar bear with a big personality and a beautiful accent” somehow exudes trustworthiness, and seems to have a plan for the teen, who takes the name Massimo. They climb up to the Benedictine monastery founded in 529AD where Pietro identifies himself as the Vatican-endorsed Master of Art Restoration and Conservation from the University of Bologna, and declares Massimo his assistant. Massimo has been told his role is to ““Keep cleaning the brushes, especially if you hear someone coming. And listen to me talk. You don’t have to pay attention. There will be no test. But you must feign interest at all times.”

But as Maestro Houdini pretends to work on the frescos, and Massimo pretends to clean brushes while listening, around them the monks are negotiating with the Germans. Montecassino is, just then, one of the greatest repositories of culture on earth, a storehouse for treasure and history and art. And while Fridolin von Senger is assuring the Archabbot Gregorio Diamare that the monastery will remain neutral, safe from attack, Lieutenant Colonel Julius Schlegel is insisting that the irreplaceable artworks and manuscripts be loaded onto German trucks and taken to the Vatican for safe-keeping, just in case.

Brother Tobias, torn between St. Benedict’s admonition for silence and a peasant’s unstoppable need to gossip, shares the gist of the discussions with Pietro and Massimo. Pietro is unconvinced about the supposed sincerity of the Nazis: he believes that Truman Konig is shopping for Hitler, and that not all the loot will make it to Rome.

“It was hot and his body was perfectly still. His mind, I felt, was building a plan as big as a cathedral” Pietro hatches a scheme to deprive the Germans of a few pieces that will also serve an important personal purpose: his intentions aren’t wholly altruistic either. Keeping this under the radar takes a bit of cleverness with the monks’ meticulous inventory, and Massimo observes “Pietro’s actions seemed like those of an alchemist and his ramblings part of an incantation.” Everything done with flair.

Once their pieces of art are ready for travel, a few incidents delay their departure and, ultimately their sudden flight in the face of Allied bombs resembles a radical nativity scene that includes a wounded German soldier on a mule, a nurse, a monk, a fourteen-year-old, an Italian soldier, a flautist, and a limping art restorer. Pietro tells them “We will need to lie, cheat, steal, fight, kill, and sin our way to Naples. We will hold our own lives as precious above all others. We will trust no one but each other, and we will try and remember that in this country, at this time, there is no way to tell friend from foe.” Do they make it to some sort of safety?

Miller effortlessly evokes his era and setting, and his descriptive prose is marvellous: “Pietro Houdini had the sorted mind of a scientist but the spirit of a shaman who had seen too much and expected to see much more of it, a thinker and a storyteller and a liar who had as little reverence for the facts as P.T. Barnum. And yet, his dedication to truth—to God’s own truth, a truth Pietro claimed to know and I now believe he did—was bottomless.”

He gives his cast insightful observations: “My father was dismissive because he thought that things that don’t make sense don’t matter, when in fact they are the things that matter most” and “Secrets and lies are illusions and one must commit to the illusion if it is to work!” are examples. Based on certain actual events, Miller’s glimpse into war and its myriad effects is a moving, sometimes blackly funny, and thought-provoking page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld.