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.

I highly recommend!

The story was riveting, interesting and most important. I was invested in the characters. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a while. The 2 timelines blended together seamlessly!

I was attracted to The Sicilian Inheritance, by Jo Piazza, because my paternal grandfather was Sicilian, his family came from Palermo, Italy. Several chapters in this book take place in Palermo. The Sicilian Inheritance was so freak’n good! It keeps listeners' guessing right up until the end-! I didn’t even expect a couple of the surprises that were revealed.

Speaking of endings, dear listeners, what an explosive one it was! KABOOM!!! Though, everything was eventually revealed and tied up neatly in a nice little bow. This book is REALLY hard to stop listening to.

The main character, Sara Marsala, is confused with her life. She is a restaurant owner and butcher by trade in Philadelphia, PA. Her Great Aunt Rosie (who is QUITE the character) dies. This sends Sara on an escape from her dismal life and provides her a window into her past via a trip to Sicily, funded by Aunt Rosie. Aunt Rosie leaves Sara with a deed to a possible valuable land, which sets off a ton of bombshell family secrets and spiraling events and a menacing force to take Sara down!

Dear listeners, so much happens in this story that sets up many trails for Book Club discussions! I just couldn’t put this book down!

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.