The Ancestor

A Novel

By: Danielle Trussoni

Narrated by: Heather Masters

From the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of the Angelology series comes a bewitching gothic novel of suspense that plunges readers into a world of dark family secrets, the mysteries of human genetics, and the burden of family inheritance.

It feels like a fairy tale when Alberta ”Bert” Monte receives a letter addressed to “Countess Alberta Montebianco” at her Hudson Valley, New York, home that claims she’s inherited a noble title, money, and a castle in Italy. While Bert is more than a little skeptical, the mystery of her aristocratic family’s past, and the chance to escape her stressful life for a luxury holiday in Italy, is too good to pass up.

At first, her inheritance seems like a dream come true: a champagne-drenched trip on a private jet to Turin, Italy; lawyers with lists of artwork and jewels bequeathed to Bert; a helicopter ride to an ancestral castle nestled in the Italian Alps below Mont Blanc; a portrait gallery of ancestors Bert never knew existed; and a cellar of expensive vintage wine for Bert to drink.

But her ancestry has a dark side, and Bert soon learns that her family history is particularly complicated. As Bert begins to unravel the Montebianco secrets, she begins to realize her true inheritance lies not in a legacy of ancestral treasures, but in her very genes.

The Ancestor by Trussoni

A great gothic tale crammed with unbelievable characters brought to life in a castle in the Italian Alps. This story of an inheritance touches on the human emotions of love and hate, loyalty and legend, hope and responsibility. I love ancestry and the truth that comes from it. Like it or not, DNA does not lie. See for yourself. This is truly a novel to get lost in, finding your own roots and comparisons. Well written and narrated superbly by Heather Masters. A must listen or read.

It Could Have Been Better If....(Spoiler Alert)

First of all, I am a huge, huge fan of the genre. I am becoming a big fan of Danielle Trussoni.

I am old school, and I believe this could have been a terrific horror story. I would have liked to see the family secret be that they are werewolves, or vampires, or immortal, instead of Yeti. It's easier to believe in Werewolves than it is to believe in Yeti's in Europe. Vita could have been the 102 year old countess who did not look a day over 27. But. It's not my story. Not my characters. I still enjoyed it.

Another masterpiece by Ms. Trussoni

The story was fascinating and created wonderful imagery in my mind. All heightened by the fantastic acting by the Ms. Masters.

Very unique

I really enjoyed this story. The writing, while being a bit too easy of a read, is compelling enough to keep on during the building of the plot & ive not ever read anything with a plot quite like this before which was a pleasant surprise (113 books read this year; it’s hard to surprise me). Overall, I am pleased with this purchase and definitely recommend this novel especially for fans of Victorian Gothic horror novels.

Love this author

Her books make you think “could this be true?” Maybe.....
This one was very Interesting. I love the descriptions of the mountains