Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an early copy of Last Night at Villa Lucia, the cover is GORGEOUS! This was a great book, I felt as if I was there and part of the story. I Loved how it ALL turned out, the two nasty characters got what was coming to them. Very fast reading and I liked when things were said in Italian that it was explained right away in English. All in All a fantastic read.

It always throws me a bit when narrators try to switch their voice between genders. Although I get why it’s necessary, it’s the truth. L That was really my only gripe with this story. So twisty and suspenseful. I loved the ending. Girls supporting girls always.

There was a bit of fluff that didn’t really seem necessary but honestly I was enjoying the ride so I didn’t really even notice until the end.

This is the first book I've read by this author and while I enjoyed it to a point I felt the characters lacked a certain something that I can't quite put my finger on. The setting of the villa in Tuscany and how Cerys came to be living there with her daughter was described very well. However the constant theme throughout the book is her addiction to alcohol. I understand that this is all consuming for a person, and how it affects the whole family but I felt it overshadowed the subject of the book: the fact that there's an actual body floating in the infinity pool one morning.

There are multiple suspects and credible motives for each of those on the list, from the son staying in the villa who has a couple of reasons why he could have committed murder, to the gardener and maintenance guy Lorenzo who has a very weak back story which could have been developed far more interestingly in my opinion. Cerys herself is a distinct possibility, or as the dishy detective suggests maybe it was a burglary gone wrong. Lucia, the maid who the villa is named after, also has her motives. But despite all the speculation and scene setting involved, I don't think there was a chapter that went by without the mention of alcohol in some guise or another which really became slightly tedious towards the end, and quite a distraction from a murder investigation. There are a couple of twists along the way, but nothing that properly shocked me unfortunately. My favourite characters were Charlie and Lowri who stood out from the cast and who I was most invested in.

I feel this would be a good holiday read when you don't want to expend too much effort working out whodunnit whilst lying by the pool, but if you want a gripping thriller then this one just lacks that feeling of any substantial depth to the characters and plot. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Having read all Simon Mc Cleaves previous books I was intrigued with the change of location and genre. I have to say I was not disappointed. The descriptions of the villas and surrounding are was so good you could imagine yourself under the hot Italian sun. Alcoholism and domestic violence were treated very sensitively? Love the plot twists which kept you guessing. Such a good read.

Ive had a bit of a short break from thrillers to read some non fiction but this reminded me why I love a good thriller.
fast paced and intriguing this is a fast, fun and entertaining read with a chiller twist i didn't spot coming!
Perfect beach or garden read this summer . I loved it

Wow. I guess this is the perfect book for a buddy read; I really enjoyed making notes of the suspects along with my sister, Druti! The first few chapters were quite slow, but the story quickly picked up its pace. I loved the fact that it was multi-pov but I don't understand why only Cerys' POV is in first person, while the others in third person. This book was definitely intriguing and had me on the edge of my seat!

The only reason this book isn't a 5 star from me is because the characters were really unlikeable. Don't get me wrong, there was insanely good character development, but I couldn't relate to them nor feel their emotions if you get what I mean. Many parts were also dragged A LOT!

Lots of sudden plot twists and red herrings in this interesting and suspenseful thriller that also deals with a couple of social behaviour issues. If this seems like your cup of tea, this book will be perfect for you. I really enjoyed this book a lot and thank you NetGalley and Storm publishing for providing me with an opportunity to read this book!

Book felt a bit slow for me, almost too many characters included to make you have more to suspect but just felt like it was too many characters to make you even care about one. The end was a bit of a surprise but at that point there were so many red herrings and twists that I wasn't that shocked and just wanted to finish.

This story takes place in Tuscany, where it follows two families. You have Cerys, who owns the villa, and her daughter, Lowre who’s staying with her. And then you have the guests, a couple and their 19 year old son, who is there for a holiday.

One morning, they find a body in the pool, and everyone is a suspect. Their holiday vacation turns into a nightmare with the police coming and going and not really knowing who murdered the victim.

The premise of this book was very exciting. I’ve always loved the wealthy family drama trope for books, but this one just wasn’t it for me. I feel like the pacing was all over the place, the multiple POVs and time lines ended up being a bit confusing, and the characters were all unlikeable. I didn’t connect to any of them and they all did a lot of annoying things.

I felt like the ending was a bit predictable and anticlimactic. I did love reading about the beauty of the Tuscan countryside and the idea of doing yoga on the cliff, but the rest of the book just really drug on for me.

I think it just wasn’t a book for me.

A very slow burner. Unlikeable characters. Some twists but not enough to keep me enthralled. Just ok. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

I had high hopes for this book due to the great reviews. And that cover is gorgeous. But the characters fell flat for me. It was a slooow process to finish.

A beautiful villa in Tuscany. A yoga teacher / villa owner and her teen daughter. A family from London, with their teen son, on holiday in Summer. An Italian lady, Lucia, who should rightfully own the villa, but now forced to clean it. What could go wrong?

Sit back and get ready for a twisty story that will leave you on the edge of your street. I was sure this was an obvious ending. I was wrong. Bravo Simon McCleave!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm publishing for providing me with the ARC

Excellent book! If you like Rachel Hawkins or Lucy Foley, this is a must read! “Last Night at Villa Lucia” is a great page turner. I read half in one setting cause I couldn’t put it down. Intense characters with a great air of mystery. This book had me questioning til the end. Go out and pre-order this one, coming out July 26th. It will not disappoint. Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for this advance read.

This is my first book from this author and i am happy to say that i quiet enjoyed reading it.
Last night at Villa Lucia is a story about two families. One family is the host and the other family come to stay there for a vacation and how their lives are entwined is the story.
I was hooked from the first page of this book and though there are many chapters in this book, all are short chapters and its a quick read.
Characters are likeable and it progresses quickly.
I will definitely recommend this book to everyone who likes mystery/thriller genre.
Lastly i would also like to thank NetGalley and Storm publishers for giving me this chance to read it.
Thank you :)

Simon McCleaves latest novel is a true whodunnit mystery that Agatha Christie would of been proud of, set in the picturesque Tuscan countryside there is a holiday villa owned by Cerys an alcoholic who bought it with her husband now ex and lives here with her daughter. Zoe Harry and son Charlie come to stay and after a drunken night Harry is found floating in the pool, is it a accident or murder, it’s cleverly written as any one of them could be responsible but it will definitely keep you guessing to the end. My only criticism would be it dragged a little in places but all in all a good summer read.

A vacation in the beautiful Tuscany countryside was to die for….and for one person it was.
Secrets, entitled bully’s that took what they wanted, alcoholism and rape have a profound effect on the characters. I thought each time I knew who the killer was but another twist had me looking elsewhere. A long book with short chapters, but worth the read. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy. These comments and review are my personal opinion.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Last Night at Villa Lucia By Simon McCleave
Publication Date: July 26, 2024
Publisher: Storm Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

Last Night at Villa Lucia was a really fun whodunnit mystery, reminiscent of Knives Out. Set in the Italian countryside, this story captivated my interest from start to finish!

This book features short chapters told from multiple POVs of the book's characters, which made it a pretty fast read. There are multiple timelines going on throughout the book too, so I felt like I had to carefully read each chapter's headings to be sure I knew WHO was narrating and WHEN they were talking about. This book was rich in character development, which I loved. I will say, though, there were parts of some of the character's storylines that felt unfinished and underdeveloped. I'm sure these pieces of the storyline were thrown in as red herrings, but I still would have liked to have seen the loose ends tied up. I also felt like there were some parts of the story near the end that were a little cheesy and admittedly had me rolling my eyes amidst some of the cliches.

Ultimately, there were many different ways this whodunnit could have turned out. I liked the multiple suspect options and the way the mystery built, little by little, with each chapter. I appreciated the twists and turns the writing took in the last third of the book, because I was left guessing about whodunnit and howtheydunnit until the very end.

If you are someone who loves a good mystery, with multiple suspects and multiple POVs, that's a quick and fun read, I think you will really enjoy this one -- I know I did! I definitely recommend picking this book up if you have the chance!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the pre-approval of this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!

#LastNightAtVillaLucia #SimonMcCleave #NetGalley #ARC #NetGalleyReviews #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #thrillerlovers #thrilleraddict #booklover #mysterybooks #mystery #thriller #suspensereads #bookcommunity

ARC REVIEW
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I wish I read this as a holiday read!
It reminded me of another popular book in the beginning… but the story developed and once I got to about 60% I flew through it

📖 Review:
Simon McCleave’s Last Night at Villa Lucia is an absolute gem of a psychological thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish! If you love suspense, mystery, and jaw-dropping twists, then this book is a must-read! 📚💥

Picture this: a stunning Tuscan villa, a serene infinity pool, and the promise of a peaceful escape. But for our protagonist, peace is shattered when she spots a body floating in the pool. The blazing sun and the beautiful scenery make the perfect backdrop for the dark and twisty events that follow. 😱🌄

The flashes of last night’s chaos – the heated arguments, the ruined meal, the endless wine – create a tantalizing mystery. McCleave brilliantly weaves these moments into a suspenseful narrative that had me hooked. I felt like I was right there with her, feeling the tension rise and desperately wanting to know what really happened. 🍷🔍

As the police sirens break the morning calm, the urgency to get her story straight adds another layer of suspense. The protagonist’s struggle to remember and piece together the night’s events is gripping and intense. I found myself racing through the pages, eager to uncover the truth. 🚔📄

The twist? Absolutely jaw-dropping! Just when you think you’ve figured it all out, McCleave throws in a surprise that leaves you reeling. The blend of beautiful settings and dark secrets makes this book an unputdownable read. 🤯💫

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

3.5 stars

Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleave is a thrilling whodunnit where each of the characters has their own reasons for potentially murdering the victim that keeps the reader guessing the entire book.

I enjoyed this book and the mystery it presented as far as who the murderer might be. It was enjoyable to try to piece together who the culprit might be by trying to read between the lines of potential clues presented and both the lies characters would tell (and why they might be telling them), as well as their inner thoughts the book gives insight into as it switches from one point of view to another.

I thought the setup for the crime was very well done, in that it presented the victim and each of the potential suspects (excluding a possible third party) and essentially built up to why each of them might have been the one to commit the crime while leaving it entirely up in the air as to who the real criminal might be. Rather than feeling like unnecessary setup as it does in some cases, it actually felt essential to creating the mystery of who might have murdered the victim and added necessary backstory as to how it could literally be any of them because of their respective relationships with them victim. Then, once the crime actually happens it becomes a matter of who is telling the truth, and who is an unreliable narrator, or whether it was someone completely uninvolved who might have done it. So very enjoyable as far as keeping the story going all together.

I did find the ending dragged out a bit too much in my opinion. It felt like things were solidly wrapped up with a suitable amount left up in the air, but then it just kept going and ruined the openness of interpretation that I think would have been more suitable in this case. Other than feeling it could have wrapped up quicker it was a solid read, with decently interesting characters that it felt possible to connect with, and an interesting plot.

Decent enough plot/storyline but the writing needs improvement. Story wandered at times and could have been edited.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210226856