The Cypress Maze

By: Fiona Valpy

Narrated by: Henrietta Meire, Ruth Redman

In this haunting tale from the bestselling author of The Storyteller of Casablanca, Beatrice kept a wartime secret to protect the innocent. Now, could telling it set her free?

Tuscany, 1943. Stranded in war-ravaged Italy, Beatrice’s dream of an escapist year teaching English is shattered. Granted shelter at the Villa delle Colombe, she seeks refuge in Francesca and Edoardo’s beautiful walled garden, hidden from the outside world, with an elaborate cypress maze at its heart.

But Beatrice is not the only one seeking an escape here. Francesca has brought children to the safety of the house, as well as other adults, all of them seeking sanctuary on the estate with its mysterious maze. As the war closes in, the residents are forced to witness—and do—unthinkable things…

2015. Tess arrives at the villa raw from the agonising loss of her husband. Beatrice, now custodian, guides her to the solace of its gardens, where Tess begins to heal. But all hope of peace is shattered by the arrival of Marco, the estate’s absent owner, who wants nothing more than to hand it over to developers.

Distraught, Beatrice realises she must finally reveal the villa’s painful past if she wants to save it. As the extraordinary story unfolds, Tess realises that Villa delle Colombe is not just a refuge, but a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. Can she convince Marco to give it a new lease of life—and find a way back to happiness herself?

©2023 Fiona Valpy (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A poignant, luminous tale.”—Woman's Own

"Valpy’s writing is beautiful, and she makes this villa, with its spectacular garden and, especially, the cypress maze at the heart of it, come to life.”—Historical Novels Review

So good!

The best characters and great lessons in life! “Grief is just love that has no where to go. “

What a beautiful story!

Totally enthralled by the the two intertwining stories. I only wish there would’ve been better closure to Alberto’s fate.

Beautiful story

I enjoyed the story, I just found Tess's character a bit 'winey' and the narrators voice a bit irritating at times.

This is a beautifully written book

I loved this book because of it WW2 background and the scenery that the author lays out and describes so beautifully

The imagery of the landscapes presented from the story.

Did not care for the narrator of Tess - a little too overdramatic and hysterical at times.