The Sicilian Inheritance

A Novel

By: Jo Piazza

Narrated by: Rachel F. Hirsch, Carlotta Brentan

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.

A true adventure

It’s like I went on an adventure while listening to this book. It was fun and addictive and makes me want to board the next flight to Italy.

Great setting with interesting story of women of bygone times in Sicily

I truly enjoyed this book. She did a good job with bouncing back and forth through two time periods and tying it all together. The setting was great and it was an another educational viewpoint on what women had to persevere through. The narrator was outstanding and a joy to listen to.

A good listen

It was an entertaining book. There were a few plot twists, some things that were never resolved. In my opinion, the ending was meh.

Compelling read

Intricate story with unusual twists and great girl power message. Also nice insights to old Sicilian life.

The best read ever!

This could’ve been the fictional story of my great grandparents except they were from Ukrainian area of Russia. The manner in which they were raised, and the values taught were so immensely similar! What they lacked in material wealth they had tenfold in stamina, fierce love, and loyalty. This is my #1 favorite book that we have read in book club, which I joined in 2015! Well done, Jo Piazza!!!👏👏👏