Dark, Compelling..
A beautiful villa, the sultry Tuscan sun and a dead body floating in the pool - one single night that will change everything. A stand alone psychological suspense from this already established author, a dark and compelling whodunit with a carefully crafted cast of characters populating a propulsive plot with twists aplenty and a well imagined backdrop. The difficult themes throughout the book are deal with sleight of hand and with empathy. Emotionally charged and immersive.

First off, the cover drew me in -- well done. Second, the story was pretty captivating. I didn't really have to guess much, but there were several twists that made things interesting. I was invested in the story, and any more, that doesn't happen very often.

This was my first book by the author; it won't be my last.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

3.5⭐This messy, twisty, toxic, psychological thriller, is a perfect summer read.

The story takes place at a beautiful vacation getaway, Villa Lucia, in Tuscany. When the main character discovers a body floating face-down in her pool, she thinks she is imagining it. She had been drinking heavily and couldn't remember what happened. It seems everyone has a motive, but who did it is the twisty tale of this story.

It was well-written and engaging; all the characters are flawed and navigating messy lives... Utilizing multiple points of view enhances the flow of the story and makes it more engaging... all the male characters are portrayed as violent and horrible individuals, a common theme, I have noticed lately in many contemporary stories. The story has a good pace and is a quick read, perfect for anyone looking for a thrilling summer read.

Content: mention of rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse. alcoholism, drugs.


Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

The setting is a luxurious villa in Tuscany owned by Cerys a woman who has a troubled past and an ex husband who is a manipulative bully .
She is a functioning alcoholic, which brings with it its own issues .
Cerys’ daughter is staying with her and is upset by her mum’s constant drinking and the denial that her mother is in.
The villa is ready for the new arrival of holidaymakers , the family consists of Zoe , Harry and their son Charlie .
On arrival it’s quite obvious that Harry is an obnoxious man and the family is not a happy one .
The following morning a body is found face down floating in the pool and that’s where the story really begins .
A great psychological thriller with plenty of twists making it a gripping read with a perfect ending !
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing .

Cerys, a struggling alcoholic, is the owner of a beautiful Italian Villa that serves as her home as well as an Air BNB. Originally, it was the dream of Cerys and her horrible husband Nick to run the Villa while he also focused on his writing. But alas, they ended up divorcing with Nick moving back to England, and Lowri, their teen daughter in tow.

Another family - Harry, Zoe and Charlie, also from England, have booked a holiday. Harry is immediately seen as a pompous ass, and winds up face down, dead in the Villa’s pool. As it turns out, Zoe and Cerys have a lot in common, as do Charlie and Lowri. I was sucked into this story quickly, and loved the vivid description of the area. A number of red herrings had me guessing the ending, but never correctly - at least not confidently!

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Simon McCleave for the eARC.

This thriller was a fun read.
This is about a family vacationing in Italy at Villa Lucia. Harry, Zoe and their teenage son Charlie. Zoe fears that her marriage is at the edge of divorce and hoping this trip will help things. Cerys is their gracious host who has some of her own personal struggles and her teenage daughter Lowry is visiting the same time. Less than 48hours into the vacation, Cerys finds a body in the pool. She calls the police and the investigation starts. We get multiple POV’s into the past and the events leading up to the devastating morning.
I really enjoyed the short chapters and multiple pov’s. It made the story move by at a quick pace. It did get a bit repetitive near the end and the chapters started switching into the past versus the last 24 hours which started to confuse me a bit when it didn’t need to be so specific. Some things didn’t make sense or was said that didn’t add anything to the story. Even with those cons I did overall enjoy the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the early arc copy in exchange for my honest review. I have a more in depth review on my YouTube channel.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon McCleave and Storm Publishing for the ebook. I loved the setting of this book, a villa in the Tuscan mountains. A murder mystery that has you guessing until the very end. The author wove this story so well and had you really thinking it could have been every character! You won't be able to guess the twists!

This was a little slow starting, but after you get through the first portion of the book, where you meet all of the characters, it took off. A Tuscan villa sounds divine and a wonderful place to vacation. But this Tuscan villa is full of secrets and suspects after a guest is found dead in the pool. Paradise never looked so grim.

This book was told from many points of view by the characters within the pages. The timeline goes back and forth from past to present so you will more understand the characters and what makes them tick. It will keep you guessing and suspecting every single character in this book. I had pegged everyone as a murderer at some point in the story. The twisty ending really threw me for a loop. If you enjoy a solid mystery with many suspects to choose from, you will enjoy this story.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 stars from me.

I thought it was a little slow in the beginning, but I also understand that it was just setting the stage for the chaos to unravel!

I’ve got about one working brain cell, so normally it’s intimidating to read through more than 2 people’s POVs. However, I had no problem keeping up with this book!

Also (since, again, only one brain cell here) big words aren’t my strong suit. I feel like I spent the first 15% of the book, looking up what these words meant🤣

Kept me on the edge of my seat:✅
A perfect ‘who done it’:✅
Tied up all loose ends at the end:✅

Once I got past the beginning part of the story where the characters and storyline were introduced, I didn't want to put the book down. There are plenty of secrets going on and some similarities between the two main families in the story. The biggest mystery is who is the murderer and why. I loved the description of the villa and felt like I was there. Some of the parts are hard to read, but they are reflective of situations that do happen in real life. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I will definitely be reading more of his works.

Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleave is a chilling, suspenseful story.
McCleave masterfully weaves multiple POVs and timelines making this story intriguing.
These characters were brought to life and the author’s writing and descriptions of the characters and scenery were really well written.

Thank You NetGalley and Storm Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was a good book. I love how friendships were made through different tragedies. This book kept me intrigued, and the twist in the end caught me by surprise.

This is shown as a thriller, but to me it was more suspense, without the thriller part.

Last Night at Villa Lucia is an interesting read. The beginning is rather slow, and you really don't care for the MC right off the bat. However, the book does pick up as you move toward the middle, and then it is rather BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. That kep me reading.

Overall, decent read. A good poolside read.

Cerys has bought Villa Lucia in Tuscany. Harry is found murdered in the Villa's pool. The police descend on the property in order to discover who killed Harry. Can Cerys uncover the truth before everything shatters around her? The story is in multiple timelines. The characters were unique. I liked some of them but disliked others. A lot of characters were alcoholic so there were themes of alcoholism and abusive relationships. The plotting was good with twists and turns which made the story good reading until the very end. If you like stories about characters overcoming addictions then you will love this book. I look forward to reading another book by Simon McCleave and I highly recommend this novel.

Told by multiple POV’s in the present and past, this well written, page turner of a psychological thriller will have you guessing to the end, I certainly changed my mind on several occasions. The setting in Tuscany was beautifully described and I found myself transported there with ease. The subjects of alcoholism and abuse were covered well and I particularly found myself rooting for Cerys. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read and review this book.

This book is a perfect example of a beach read set in beautiful Tuscany with idyllic descriptions of the area. Cerys is a functioning alcoholic and owns Villa Lucia, renting it out for holidays. Zoe her husband Harry and son Charlie arrive for a blissful holiday in the sun. But after only a few days, cracks are showing in their relationship and after a particularly fraught dinner one of them is found dead in the swimming pool. What follows is a tense fast paced read. The story is told by the 4 main characters detailing their vulnerability and concerns. There are characters you love and also those that you really won't like at all. Everyone has a motive to kill but if you're like me you'll change your mind who the culprit is right up until the reveal.
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced copy my opinions are my own and not expected
Review posted on goodreads bookmory and Amazon

I was interested to read this book as I am a huge fan of Simon McCleave’s series set in and around Anglesey, although a different setting and a standalone as appose to a series I really enjoyed the book and would read more standalones by the author.

Zoe, her husband Harry and their teenage son Charlie arrive at Villa Lucia to begin their summer holiday, they are far from a happy family and when Harry is found dead in the pool, everyone including his family become suspects.
The villa is owned by Cerys, a recently divorced, alcoholic mum. Her daughter Lowrie comes to stay for the summer and they are dragged into their guests tensions and the Police investigation.
Lucai and Lorenzo live nearby and work at the villa cleaning and cooking. They have their own secrets that they are trying to hid from the Police and the reader is left to wonder if they would go as far as murder to protect them.

The story is told from multiple POV’s in the run up to and the events after Harry’s murder as the local Police investigate. There is also a duel timeline aspect looking at Cerys recent past and her decent into alcoholism.

The story was well plotted and I enjoyed the reveal. I loved the setting, the descriptions helped me feel like I was there so it is a great summer read.

Excerpt:

Simon McCleave’s Last Night at Villa Lucia is a gripping mystery set in a luxurious Tuscan villa, filled with suspense and dark secrets. With vivid descriptions and a compelling protagonist, this book keeps readers hooked until the very end.

Full Review:

Simon McCleave’s Last Night at Villa Lucia is a gripping mystery that seamlessly blends suspense, intrigue, and the allure of a Tuscan paradise. Set against the picturesque backdrop of a luxurious villa, the story quickly escalates from a serene retreat to a thrilling whodunit that keeps readers captivated until the final page.

Recently divorced and seeking a fresh start, Cerys buys a luxury villa in Tuscany, hoping it will be the key to moving on from her painful past. However, her dream of a peaceful, successful venture is shattered when one of her guests is found murdered in the villa's infinity pool. As the police investigate, the secrets and hidden motives of each guest begin to unravel, revealing a complex web of lies and deceit.

McCleave masterfully creates an atmosphere of tension and suspense, with Villa Lucia serving as the perfect setting for a mystery filled with dark secrets. The lush descriptions of the Tuscan landscape contrast sharply with the dark undertones of the story, enhancing the overall sense of unease.

Cerys is a well-drawn protagonist whose struggles and determination resonate with readers. Her journey from a place of personal pain to one of strength and resolution adds a compelling emotional layer to the narrative. As she navigates the chaos unfolding around her, she is forced to confront her own demons, adding depth to her character and the story.

The plot is intricately woven, with each guest at Villa Lucia harboring secrets that gradually come to light. McCleave’s pacing is spot-on, revealing just enough to keep readers hooked while maintaining the mystery. The twists and turns are well-executed, leading to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.

While the story excels in many areas, the large cast of characters can sometimes be challenging to keep track of, and a few subplots feel slightly underdeveloped. However, these minor issues do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, Last Night at Villa Lucia is a thoroughly engaging read that mystery lovers will appreciate. Simon McCleave’s skillful storytelling and vivid descriptions make this a standout novel, perfect for those who enjoy a blend of suspense, drama, and picturesque settings. Cerys’s journey and the intricate plot will leave readers eagerly awaiting McCleave’s next work.

There were several good things about the book, for example the characters and the Italian countryside. Somehow I did not really hit it off with the crime itself. Maybe it came a bit too late for me, or maybe it felt like everything happened suddenly just around the crime, and then the ending came quickly. I did however feel the Tuscan sun on my face, and I enjoyed the great villa with its quirky people.

Two families are on holiday in Tuscany when a man ends up dead in the pool. Who killed his and why?
I really enjoyed this read, it is a slow starter, but it’s gripping once you keep reading. I enjoyed reading each characters point of views of what happened. It keeps you guessing who the killer is.

A thrilling 4.5 star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.