The Medici Curse

by Daco S. Auffenorde

A family curse. A missing heirloom. A house full of secrets.

A descendant of a powerful Italian dynasty reckons with her family’s troubled legacy and her own fractured memories in this Gothic thriller from the author of The Forgotten Girl.

When aspiring artist Anna de’ Medici Rossi inherits her family’s opulent villa in Tuscany, she returns to a place steeped in tragedy and mystery. Living there as a child, Anna suffered from debilitating night terrors, frequently waking to find that she had wandered far from bed. During one such episode when Anna was twelve, her mother took a fatal tumble down the stairs. Vittoria’s death was officially ruled an accident, but an heirloom ruby-and-diamond necklace was missing from her bruised neck. Whispered suspicions suggest that Anna pushed her mother and stole the precious jewels. Anna, remembering little from that night, is afraid they’re right. But if that’s true, then what became of the necklace, which has long been associated with legends of a family curse?

Now back in Tuscany after sixteen years, Anna is shunned by the local townspeople as a killer who escaped justice, while only a few distant relatives and an old childhood friend offer solace. As she explores the sprawling villa, Anna uncovers hidden rooms and memories shrouded in fog, reigniting the violent night terrors of her youth. Plagued by unsettling visions and eerie occurrences, she questions her sanity and embarks on a harrowing journey to unravel the truth of her past. As her search deepens, she confronts shocking revelations that expose her to dangers she never anticipated.

Blending Gothic and supernatural elements with a gripping exploration of identity and legacy, The Medici Curse is a beautifully crafted tale of family scandal, murder, art, and intrigue.

Genres: Mystery, Gothic, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Italy

320 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2025

About the author

NPR Featured Author on Bob Kustra's Reader's Corner
Best of 2020 Thriller Suspense - SUSPENSE MAGAZINE
Best Action Thriller in the 2021 Best Thriller Book Awards
Book of the Year in the 2023 Best Thriller Book Awards

Daco is a storyteller at heart, raised in the Deep South where tradition meets imagination. As an award-winning author of thrillers and suspense, she writes gripping, emotionally rich stories designed to keep you turning the pages late into the night. She loves connecting with readers—feel free to leave a review or reach out with a question!

She is a member of the ITW, MWA, Alabama Writers' Forum, Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., and Alabama State Bar.

CONNECT with Daco here:

WEBSITE: http://www.authordaco.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dacoauffeno...
X: https://x.com/AuthorDaco
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDaco

Reviews

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ad much love for my advance copy @scarletsuspense #partner

Medici Curse

Loved the family tree before the book even started - such a fun way to start things off.

Anna returns home after sixteen years away. As a child, she was plagued by nightmares and haunted by the feeling that someone - or something - was after her. But she’s not a child anymore. Still, she belongs to a family bound by a cursed heirloom.

Now that her father has died, Anna is back to prove everyone wrong. They say she pushed her mother down the stairs. The necklace her mother was wearing that night has vanished. Some believe the curse lives on. Others don’t. But the Medici Curse is hard to ignore - every woman in the family who died tragically was wearing that same necklace. Each one died young. Each one with an injury to the neck.

Oh, how I enjoyed this book so much. The story is gripping and hooked me from the very beginning. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I absolutely loved it. It surpassed all my preconceived notions.

The writing is fantastic - engaging, and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat. I started listening and reading on Tuesday night and stayed up way too late to finish it - I just couldn’t stop reading it. The suspense, the mystery, the grit - it was all fantastic.

Highly recommend this one to all the suspense and mystery lovers. You will enjoy this, and that’s a PROMISE. Oof! I also loved the creepy painting. Not gonna lie - this book creeped me out - in the best ways possible.

Memorable
Devil bug

[Magen • Bone Chilling Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars, so rounding up to 4!

I usually don’t jive with supernatural themes, but this was done well. The writing really transported me back to the week I spent in Italy years ago 😍 Thank god I didn’t encounter people there that I read about! What a mess of a family they are.

While I suspected things were going to end the way they did, I still found myself invested in the story and rooting for Anna.

If you love gothic vibes, supernatural themes, murder, family drama, art, and an Italy setting, this book is for you!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was Anna responsible for the death of her mother who fell down the stairs at their Tuscan villa years ago? This dazzling gothic tale will keep you up into the wee smalls, lights blazing 'til dawn. Whew!

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Medici Curse is a fast-paced historical thriller. It has a nice mix of art, mystery, and romance. I enjoyed trying to unravel the secrets tied to this ancient curse and I liked the twists through out the story. The past and present timelines kept me entertained for hours. The setting in Italy is beautiful. Overall, I thought the book was nicely written so I'll definitely be picking up her books in the future.

Many thanks to Kaye Publicity and Scarlet for my gifted copy.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Medici Curse
By: Daco S. Auffenorde
Publisher: Scarlet
Pub Date: July 1, 2025
Sharing with THE PULSE
Tuscany is gorgeous and the food, people and culture lures tourists every year. I have had the pleasure to see parts of Italy, so I could vision the scenes.
This novel is perfect for those who enjoy a Gothic and supernatural element. This is not my normal genre, but I was pleasantly surprised how invested I was in Anna de’ Medici Rossi/s story.
As a child Anna lived in a villa in Tuscany, but her childhood was filled with night terrors an her mothers fatal accident. Her mothers accident was suspicious and a precious necklace was missing.
Now, she is returning years later as she has inherited the family villa. What will she discover after all this time? Will she find out more about her mothers fate? More about the necklace?
Sometimes it is nice to find out about your past, and sometimes things are better not discovered.
A beautiful novel full of intrigue, mystery and secrecy.
My colleagues and I at Thriller Book Lovers THE PULSE are loving this novel.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family curse. A missing heirloom. A house full of secrets.

The Medici Curse hooked me from the very beginning.  I loved the Italian seting and the creepy, gothic vibes. I thought this book was well written and fast paced. I loved the web of mystery and intrigue that the author created. I was kept on my toes and on the edge of my seat the entire time. I couldn't wait to see how the story would unravel in the end.

If you're a fan of unique gothic thrillers with supernatural elements, you won't want to miss The Medici Curse. 

*I was provided an ARC copy of this via the publisher, in exchange for an honest review*

[booked.with.julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love gothic thrillers…throw in the setting of Tuscany and I am obsessed. Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse is buzzing about this one for good reason!
It has a moody Tuscan setting, an ancient ruby necklace gone missing, and the looming question…what really happened to Anna’s mother that night? I was completely hooked.
Three words. Atmospheric. Twisty. Immersive. Be sure to pick this one up!

[Anns Bibliotherapy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sitting down with this book and a cup of tea I was transported to the world of Tuscany, the villas, the food, the people  the superstitions and beliefs of a world that's steeped in history.

Anna knows better than most what this world can do to someone, the way it can turn the world against you on the flip of a coin but still she goes home.

Now, did Anna kill her mother during one of her night terrors.... where is that necklace... does Anna know more than she thinks she knows, those were the questions I wanted answers to, and ohh did I get answers.

I loved this book, it was full of mystery and suspense, thrilling in it's originality this book kept me glued to it.

A solid four-star read for me I'd love to know what you think if you've read it.

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Daco Auffenorde for providing a copy of this ebook, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts are my own.

[Saltygalreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna de Medici Rossi has inherited her family villa in Tuscany and goes there intending to clear out the house and sell it. She hasn’t been there since she was twelve years old, leaving after the tragic death of her mother. The villa is full of painful memories, and Anna begins having terrible nightmares again, as she did when she was young. She gets drawn into the family circle of aunts, uncles, and cousins, and begins digging into the secrets of the past, aided by her faithful protector and relative, Eduardo. In particular, Anna wants to find a precious heirloom, a valuable necklace passed down through the family which hasn’t been seen since her mother’s death. But someone wants Anna to leave the villa and stop uncovering the past. Is it the family curse, or does someone want Anna dead?

This is an addictive read with a twisty plot and a very sinister atmosphere. It is never clear who is trustworthy and who is acting a role. The uncertainty leaves Anna very alone and vulnerable. Anna is haunted by memories of her past, especially guilt over her mother’s death. She was only a child when it occurred and many of her memories are hazy and confused. She finds the family very reluctant to discuss the past or to provide straight answers to her questions. Although they outwardly display a welcoming attitude, in subtle ways Anna is made to feel like an outsider, or a “guest” rather than a permanent part of the family. Over the course of the novel, Anna matures from being a lost child manipulated by her extended family to an adult assuming her rightful place and inheritance.

I listened to this on audio from RB Media and simultaneously read my own hard copy. It was well narrated and an entertaining, quick read.

[Corinna ⚓️ Reading At Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Medici Curse. The setting - an old, grand Tuscan family estate with hidden rooms, dungeons, and secret passages - was moody and vivid, and it gave the whole story an eerie gothic, unsettling feel. The main character, Anna, returns home after years away and is immediately pulled into a mystery surrounding her mother’s death and a missing necklace that might be cursed. From the start, you can feel that something’s off, and that tension just keeps building.

I liked how the story played with memory and trauma, and how Anna wasn’t even sure if she could trust herself. The flashbacks and dreams added a psychological layer that made the mystery even more interesting. The pacing was pretty solid, though there were a few slow chapters in the middle where not much happened. I also would’ve liked a little more development for a couple of the supporting characters. The entire book is written from only one POV - could’ve been a little more interesting if it were multiple POVs.

Still, the ending delivered. I had some guesses along the way, but there were enough twists to keep me hooked, and the final reveal was satisfying. Definitely recommend it if you like dark family mysteries with an old-world vibe.

[Dive Into A Good Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I hear gothic thriller, I am running to get my hands on that book. This one took the cake with the setting. A villa steeped in tragedy in Tuscany. You cannot start a book any better. I ripped through this one like I was running for my life. It kept me on my toes. While constantly yelling at the main character, Anna. I seriously wanted to shake her, slap her, and ask what she was doing? Anna made the wrong choice every single time. No matter the proof that was right before her eyes.

Anna de’ Medici Rossi is flying back to her childhood home. Anna's father finally passed away and she can make the trip. It has been sixteen years since she last saw the villa. The place where her entire life took a turn for the worst at the age of twelve. Her mother died before her eyes, and everyone blamed Anna. She cannot remember that night. She was gripped in a night terror. Now she is back and ready to finally figure out what happened that horrifying night. Anna cannot believe that she did that too her mother, so who did? As she enters the villa everything is the same. Nothing has changed, the bedding, the curtains, everything looks exactly the same. It appears as though it has never aged. As she begins to search the villa for the cursed necklace that disappeared the same night her mother was killed. She stumbles upon hidden rooms, a locked basement, caves, and family that she does not trust. Will she finally remember what happened that night and find the Medici Falchion?

If you are in the mood for a fast paced, thrill a minute ride, on a vineyard in Tuscany. This is a good book to pick up. I would love to explore the ins and outs of this villa. Oh the fun I would have, the creepy things can stay away. Thank you to Daco S. Auffenorde, Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse and Scarlet for my gifted copy.

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna de' Medici Rossi, a budding artist residing in New York City, makes the decision to return to Italy upon inheriting her family's Tuscan villa. It has been sixteen years since she was last there, a time marked by the unfortunate tragic passing of her mother. Her mother's death involved a fall down the stairs, and the disappearance of her heirloom ruby-and-diamond necklace. That fateful night, Anna was experiencing one of her night terrors, and she is uncertain whether she pushed her mother or if it was truly an accident. She has no recollection of the events. However, whispers have spread, suggesting that she may have been responsible for her mother's death and the theft of the necklace. The necklace is believed to be cursed. Consequently, her return to Italy is met with a less than warm reception from some individuals but her extended family welcomes her with open arms. While exploring the villa, she uncovers hidden rooms, and memories of her past flood back, accompanied by her night terrors. She is determined to find answers about her past, but will she be able to maintain her sanity and survive?

I really enjoyed this book. It had all the gothic vibes; it was atmospheric and haunting. There was even a supernatural element. There was lots of family drama that kept me entertained and so many secrets that kept me in suspense. I adored the Italian setting, and the author's descriptions made me feel like I was actually there. This was an immersive read with twists and turns that I would recommend🩷

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Tuscany and dripping with atmosphere and supernatural suspense, THE MEDICI CURSE is one of the most immersive novels I've read in a long time. Fans of MEXICAN GOTHIC and Elizabeth Kostova will love this story about Anna de’ Medici Rossi, who returns to the villa where her famed opera singer mother died when Anna was a child and where local gossip about Anna's possible involvement in the accident still abounds. A cursed missing necklace, a slew of suspicious characters, hauntings, and dark family secrets lend themselves to Auffenorde's rich and layered storytelling. Terrific!

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I really wanted to like this one but it felt convoluted and disjointed. I did like how the author described the Italian setting but the writing as a whole felt abrupt and jerky. I found myself focusing on the writing style which took me out of the story.

Mine is definitely the minority view so please take it with a grain of salt. If you like domestic suspense, dysfunctional families, and a gothic vibe, then you should check this one out.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Medici Curse by Daco S. Auffenorde was an entertaining and thrilling book, although a conundrum, especially for a linear thinker like myself. Anna de Medici Rossi has returned to her villa in Tuscany sixteen years after her mother had died; the consensus was that Anna had killed her by pushing her down a flight of stairs. The villagers avoided her but she had family who seemed to accept her and she had her loyal houseman, Eduardo, who took exceptionally good care of her. She came needing answers. She had no memory of the night of the accident, but she did remember the bad dreams and the night terrors. She had the reputation of being a difficult child. Her mother had been a famous opera singer, known to all. Her father, a man with no money and no apparent way of making a living. But, they went to America together. Now, he was dead, and she was home. She needed to find out the truth and she needed to locate the Medici heirloom necklace that had disappeared that night.

Anna seemed fine, determined, even. She did not appear to be suffering the mental illness many ascribed to her. She liked her “aunt” Francesca and her three cousins, Antonio, Paulo, and Jonna. Antonio was a bit of a rake but easy to get along with sometimes. The other two were friendly and supportive. Excellent character development from all of them. The mystery of the necklace and the locked door to the caves beneath the house continued to haunt her as she slowly unraveled the mystery of who pushed her mother down the stairs. It was an excellent listen, something confusing at every turn. Terrific, complicated discoveries at every turn.

The reader is Cassandra Campbell, who did a wonderful job keeping it all on an even keel, even as the words said other wise. I recommend her.

I was invited to listen to The Medici Curse by HighBridge Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HighBridgeAudio #DacoSAuffenorde #TheMediciCurse

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna inherits her childhood home, a villa in Tuscany that she was forced to leave after the murder of her mother. A murder that she is thought to have committed as a twelve-year-old while in the midst of a night terror. Even Anna doesn’t know the truth about that night. The women of the family are supposedly cursed by the Medici necklace passed down between the generations and dooming each one, and anyone else who wears it, to death. Her mother was wearing it the night she died, but it was stolen and hasn’t been seen since. When Anna returns to Italy so do her nightmares, along with more death and dark secrets coming to light.

This was a perfect thriller for summer. The imagery was both beautiful and eerie. I purposely only listened to this during daylight and still got goosebumps at least three different times. Anna is an unreliable narrator which I love. She makes some questionable choices and I honestly did not see the plot twists when it came to the murder, though I had suspicions about another twist that I was excited to be right about! The whole story had me wondering what was real and what wasn’t. If I could trust Anna or any of the neighboring family she was distantly related to. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a little spooky warm weather read. The short, well paced chapters made this a quick read that pulled me in right away and the audio was fantastic, especially for the parts in Italian I would have butchered in my head without the narration.

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

[ChyenneReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Release Day!!

I received a copy of this book as an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

“As my late father taught me, you can’t trust anyone.”

Anna returns to her childhood home in Tuscany after years away. When she arrives, she finds that all the towns people believe the tragic accident that killed her mother was either Anna’s fault, or due to a cursed family heirloom.

Anna goes on a hunt to find out what happened to the heirloom, and the truth of what happened to her mother. She uncovers lies, betrayals and decades-old secrets that have affected her entire life.

As much as I loved the story and the writing, I did not love the narration. Some parts of this book are full of trauma and emotions and I felt that the narrator was a little flat and emotionless.

Thank you to the author, publisher, narrator and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to The Medici Curse!

[Julie Friar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna returns home to the family home in Tuscany following the death of her father. She left at the age of twelve following the death of her mother. Anna remembers of that night but many blame her for the death. Anna searches the family village looking for her mother’s missing necklace, which is supposed to be cursed.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Excellent characters in this well paced, mystery novel. Anna has night terrors and is finding out more and more about her family. Much is shocking and there is danger for digging up the past.

[Jacklyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! This book is part mystery, part gothic thriller, and part supernatural vibes - sprinkled with an ancient curse! They all work really well together and I loved the Tuscan setting too!
I really enjoyed the mystery of the necklace and overall sense of creepy tension.

I was really rooting for Anna! The opening of the book is the death of her mother…with some very questionable and suspicious things happening. Now they she’s older, she is back after inheriting her children home…and she has some questions.

This is one of those books that grabs your attention right from the start and never lets go!!!

“Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself.” -William Shakespeare, Richard III [I, 3]

[Lauren (litwithlauren_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & HighBridge Audio for the ALC!

RECAP: When Anna inherits her family’s Tuscan villa, she returns to the scene of her mother’s mysterious death and a missing heirloom. Haunted by night terrors and village rumors, she must uncover the truth—and whether a family curse is to blame.

REVIEW: I think this book had a lot of potential, and it kept me listening - I wanted to know more about this “curse” & dive deeper in Anna’s familial history and backstory. But the plot didn’t deliver like I’d hoped it would. No plot twists, nothing particularly juicy, and it felt like it started to drag toward the end.

[Karrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of the book for review. The cast of characters is a seemingly crazy family with more drama than most. I was shocked by the many twists and turns exposed throughout and really enjoyed the story. I was most happy with the ending and appreciated how the author wrapped up the story. Would definitely recommend you give this one a chance.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I’m a big fan of gothic novels, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. No spoilers, but pick this book up if the any of following interest you: gothic suspense; a suspicious death (was it murder, or an accident?); and a necklace that is believed to be cursed. And the setting: beautiful Tuscany. Read it!!!!

[Keena · Rating 3 out of 5]

That intimate relationship between those 2 characters gave major ick factor. It ruined the book for me. That aside, if you can move past it, the narrator was good, the setting incredible but thats where I'll leave it.

[Jaime Lynn Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! Tuscany was its own character with the rich descriptions, I felt like I needed to read this with a cappuccino and a gelato! I love atmospheric gothic novels and this delivered on all fronts. Add in the family curse and compelling mystery and it's a solid winner

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful and captivating mystery surrounding a family necklace. Anna de Medici Rossi is the daughter of a famous Italian opera singer and has inherited a fabulous house in Tuscany. She is returning to the family home after 16 years having left with her father under suspicious circumstances: She is believed to have murdered her mother. Upon her return she is treated poorly but wants to search for the necklace lost upon her mother’s death. The book is filled with lovely descriptions of Tuscany and the de Medici house supported by art and history. Anna has suffered from terrible memories of her life in the beautiful house until she left at age 12 and these return but they become clearer as she tries to solve who might want her did and if she really killed her mother. I listened to this book which was delightfully narrated - I always appreciate when words are in a foreign language that they are spoken fluently. Enjoyed the listen.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric with a great mystery and family drama

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one moved differently. It wasn’t racing forward the whole time — it took its time, building this layered feeling like something hidden was always just under the surface, both in the past and the present. I could feel the weight of everything unsaid in both timelines. And somehow, even though I knew they were connected, I kept second-guessing how.

The setting helped a lot — Italy wasn’t just background here. It felt lived in. You could smell the dust on the old stone, feel the quiet corners of rooms people had left things behind in. The past chapters had this heavy atmosphere — not dramatic, but dense, like history that never really settled. The present-day parts felt sharper, like someone digging up something they maybe shouldn’t.

There are secrets in both timelines, and the way they mirror each other added to the tension. It’s not loud suspense, it’s the kind that sits in your stomach while you read. You don’t even realize how much it's building until something clicks, and then you can’t stop flipping pages just to see if what you suspected is actually right — or way off.

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to #NetGalley and #PenzlerPublishers for the book #TheMediciCurse by #DacoSAuffenorde. This mysterious book about the medici necklace and curse was super good. Anna has returned home after 16 years of being away since her mother’s death. A death everyone thinks that she did by pushing her mother down the steps and taking the curses necklace. But as Anna digs for the truth and an unexpected twist, can she survive the curse?

[Working Man Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the closest I'll get to visiting the hills or Italy 🇮🇹 Don't you love a book that can take you somewhere?

The Medici Curse is a beautiful book and would be great for book clubs anywhere. Its ripe with emotion, and family drama. At times romantic in tone, in other eerie.

A Book that has you questioning is it better to know the secrets of your past?... or leave the secrets where they lie?

I would be remiss if I didn't say that this book probably wasn't meant for me plot wise. But never the less I finished it and actually enjoyed it so that means to me that the person who fits the vibes of this novel would love it. Thank you to the the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna returns to her childhood home, haunted by tragedy, whispers of murder, and a cursed necklace. Her search for the truth is slow-burning, psychological, and full of creeping dread.

I loved how this book oozes gothic atmosphere—set on a lush Tuscan estate with olive groves, a vineyard, and eerie underground caves. The old villa practically becomes a character itself, hiding secrets and dread behind its stunning facade. I kept questioning whether the supernatural elements were real or just in Anna’s unraveling mind—and honestly, that blurred line made it even better. I loved the moody, haunted vibes!!

What I Loved:
✨Unreliable memories & eerie visions
✨Family drama + a tragic legacy
✨Hidden rooms and tunnels, dark history
✨Gorgeous Italian setting with a sinister edge

Perfect for fans of dark, character-driven mysteries with supernatural vibes and gothic suspense. The Medici Curse releases this summer, so add it to your summer thriller list.