The Witches of Santo Stefano

A Novel

By: Wendy Webb

Narrated by: Xe Sands

An investigative journalist uncovers the haunting secret history of her own ancestors in a bewitching novel by the bestselling author of Daughters of the Lake.

When Cassie Graves discovers her husband’s affair, it’s enough to chip away at the foundation of her life. But after researching her family’s Italian ancestry, it completely crumbles beneath her.

Her grandmother Gia’s often-told stories about the past are a lie. Her much-romanticized great-grandfather Giovanni may not even have existed. Most alarming of all, it appears her mysterious great-grandmother Violetta died by stregoneria—witchcraft. Now, piecing together the puzzle of her family tree in the small, centuries-old hill town of Santo Stefano, Cassie finds help from a welcoming group of locals: the accommodating Renzo; Dante, whose own family history connects with Cassie’s; and the ethereal Luna, an interpreter of dreams who gives Cassie a protective amulet—and the warning that she may have walked into a trap.

When Cassie comes upon an old spell book, she gets closer to unearthing long-buried family secrets, the truth about a powerful female lineage, and the haunting discovery of who she really is.

©2024 by Wendy Webb. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“An impressively original and simply riveting read from start to finish.”—Midwest Book Review

Wonderful narration!

Slow in places but one I figured out the cadence of the overall narrative, I truly enjoyed this story of family.

It's not the crime it's the accusation

Overall I loved the story. I picked this book because I thought it was set in a place that feels familiar to me having read several other Wendy Webb ( what a great name!) books. But this book takes us to Italy. Love that link.
I did get confused sometimes bouncing back and forth in time with the old family and modern family characters names.
Other than that a good listen . Xe always does a great job.!

Story line was good

Didn’t care for the narration. Too many dramatic pauses but an interesting story and the variation on time periods was compelling

Another wonderful story

I was trying to explain to by husband how good it was. How it reminds me of three of my favorite movies… Understand the Tuscan Sun, Chocolat, and Practical Magic.

The story has a beautiful flow to it. The performance, as always, is so well done.

I recently found out that my great grandmother’s family came from a very similar town in the same region. I didn’t know I was Italian at all. All my roots and DNA say Scottish, Welsh and Irish. This was so perfectly timed. My Italian family came over around the same time. It’s crazy how much it resonated for me. Love it.

Even if it I didn’t find all of that out about my own family, I still would have enjoyed this book very much.

A book that transports you to Italy….

I may be partial to this book having Italian heritage, roots, and Strega ancestral ties but this book was truly picturesque. If you want a good fictional story that brings you to Italy exploring a small town and glimpses of that town in the past this is your book! My only downside and why I really rate this a 4.75 is that the "witchy vibes" were just that, vibes. No true Strega or witch ties and magic like I was hoping.