The Sicilian Inheritance

Description

From bestselling author and award-winning journalist Jo Piazza, comes a transporting novel rooted in the author’s own family history about a long-awaited trip to Sicily, 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.“Jo Piazza’s book is a charming page turner packed with wit and wicked twists that will keep readers engrossed”
—Town & Country, “The 45 Must-Read Books of Spring 2024”

“[T]he stories are inextricably bound, most effectively through the way Piazza writes about the universal experience of what it means to be a woman and a mother. Fans of historical fiction, women’s fiction, and mystery novels will be equally dazzled.”
—Kirkus (starred review)

“Piazza offers mystery and romance and great questions about who does what work in society and why . . . Smart, adventurous, and impossible to put down.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“This paean to furbezza, the “devious intelligence” of women, succeeds on all counts.”
—Publishers Weekly

“The Sicilian Inheritance is an addictive family saga with a rich abundance of strong women, quick wit, immersive history, and page-turning suspense. What else could one want from a novel? With her wise prose, Piazza grabs us by the hand as we journey through the picturesque Italian countryside while our heart thumps in anticipation of what Sara will find next. Mined from Piazza’s own family history, this novel is a lyrical elegy to the past and its influence. . . . Narrated by two powerful women who refuse to let others define them—Sara, a butcher, and Serafina, an Italian woman healer—will steal your heart and threaten to never give it back. Piazza is a master storyteller with a voice of deep wisdom, and The Sicilian Inheritance is don’t miss historical fiction with a dash of Mario Puzo and a hint of Nora Ephron.”
—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

“Equal parts riveting mystery and engaging family saga, The Sicilian Inheritance will transport you to the gorgeous island of Sicily and keep you up all night.”
—Emily Giffin, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Meant to Be

“I loved this epic tale of one woman’s quest to learn the truth about what happened to her great-grandmother a century ago. A gripping story of motherhood, ambition, misogyny and female power, now and then, it is also a great mystery that kept me guessing until the final pages.”
—J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times bestselling author of Friends and Strangers

“Strong women, rich history and page-turning suspense make for a rich and satisfying read . . . In The Sicilian Inheritance, Jo Piazza turns her formidable talents to the dual present/past timeline of a woman who goes to Italy because of a bequest but discovers much deeper—and more dangerous—family secrets.”  
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Sapphire

“A gorgeous, propulsive read that keeps you guessing until the last page, The Sicilian Inheritance is a poignant meditation on secrets and myths that exist in family lore. I finished the book and immediately wanted to research my own roots.”
—Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Paris Library

“The Sicilian Inheritance is a thrilling adventure throughout a beautiful landscape that tells the stories of two women who persevered despite the many factors working against them. It’s enjoyable, satisfying, but also motivating. It might just inspire more underestimated women to make bold moves, defy the odds, and redefine success on their own terms.”
—Forbes, “One Of 2024’s Most Anticipated Novels Is Actually A Masterclass In Leadership”

“A sweep-you-away story about three generations of women who rebel against the expected in search of their own sense of self—it feels as much a feminist adventure as a redemptive family mystery, with as much wit and humor as heart and soul. Jo Piazza gives us complex, original heroines, a rich Italian setting, and a puzzle-piece journey that keeps the pages turning. There’s nothing not to love here—I was gripped and entertained from start to finish.”
—Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push and The Whispers

“All of The Sicilian Inheritance shimmers and stuns: the gorgeous writing, the complex and fascinating history of Sicily, the immersive Italian setting, and the propulsive family mystery that had my jaw hanging open. But what leaves a mark most of all are Piazza’s heroines, the unforgettable and inspiring cast of women who defy the patriarchy and the odds stacked against them and learn to live life on their own terms.”
—Carola Lovering, bestselling author of Tell Me Lies and Bye, Baby

“The Sicilian Inheritance is the perfect travel novel!! A fiercely original family saga that you need to pick up for your next flight.”
—Jane Green, New York Times bestselling author of Sister Stardust and Jemima J.

“Equal parts rich historical fiction, gripping murder mystery, and a moving exploration of identity, grief, and the long shadow of the past. With lush prose and airtight plotting, Piazza’s novel made me laugh, cry—and start planning a trip to Sicily.” 
—Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here
 
“This rich and complex family mystery is completely addicting! A tale of delicious food and wine with a cast of vibrant characters that is easy to devour in a single sitting.”
—Jenny Mollen, New York Times bestselling author of City of Likes and Live Fast Die Hot

“Jo Piazza’s latest is everything a person could want in a novel: Instantly gripping, gorgeously written, ingeniously plotted, filled with complicated, fascinating characters, both timely and timeless, and, of course, underpinned by Piazza’s characteristic wit, intellect, and warmth. I couldn’t put it down and now can’t stop thinking about it. Remarkable, astonishing, and just plain wonderful.”
—Joanna Rakoff, bestselling author of My Salinger Year
Jo Piazza is the international bestselling author of twelve books, including the Good Morning America Book Club pick We Are Not Like Them with Christine Pride. She’s also the host of the critically acclaimed Under the Influence podcast. Her work has been featured in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among other publications. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and three feral children.US

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