Villa Triste [Paperback]

In 2006 in Florence, Italy, Police Detective Allesandro Pallioti investigates the murder of a WWII "honored hero" Giovanni Trantemento. He soon learns someone is executing "honored heroes of the Resistance" with a bullet to their respective heads and symbolic salt poured into their mouths. Pallioti learns much more about the "honored heroes" who seemingly readapted to civilian life after the war ended and the motive for their murders when he finds Caterina Cammaccio's war diary on Trantemento's desk.

In 1943 Italians hear rumors that the country has signed an armistice and Bagdolio fled Rome. Caterina expects her oldest brother Enrico to come home from Rome and her fiancé naval medic Lodovicio to return from Northern Africa shortly and soon after they will marry. However, as the family prepares for her wedding and her mom's fiftieth birthday, the Nazis arrive. They take over Villa Triste where they incarcerate and interrogate partisans and their supporters while hunting Jews. Caterina's sister Isabella resolutely supports efforts to force the Germans from Villa Triste.

Rotating eras between the 2006 investigation and the 1943-44 resistance, Lucretia Grindle provides a taut deft police procedural-historical blend. Readers will enjoy Pallioto's inquiry as he copes with more than a serial killer; pondering "what happens when the statue on the pedestal comes crumbling to the ground" (Blessed Is the Rain by Brooklyn Bridge). The 1940s entries are also top rate, especially the diary, as the war arrives in Florence causing the upper class sisters and others to deal with the occupiers. Villa Triste is a strong thriller.

Harriet Klausner

A great historical novel about Nazi freedom fighters during WW11, and this story covers that period as well as a police detective's search in 2006 after three murders are committed that cover three men who were involved during that war. There was little about the Villa Triste (which confused me about the title of the book)! I found the story of the two sisters a page turner and would like have read more about them. There were so many names and places during the detective's investigation that I had to turn some pages back due to double names....but it all fell into place at the end! Well written ending, except I had hoped the detective would have tossed some things into a fireplace!

A great spy story. It tells of the struggle of the people of Italy as well as the heroine. The characters are vivid and spell-binding. You do not want to put this book down.