The Woman in the Villa

by Helen Cooper

Don't miss Helen Cooper's next twisty, thrilling read - available to pre-order now!

A holiday to Italy with my husband and his family should be a dream trip. Spending two weeks in the scorching sun, relaxing by the pool, sipping on local wine...

Two weeks of trying to hide what I've done.

When I meet Carmen, the woman staying in the villa next to us, I'm immediately drawn to her, thankful to have some normalcy against the intensity of my in laws. I didn't expect to tell her my biggest secret, one that could tear my whole life apart.

But when I return the next day to beg Carmen not to tell a soul, the house is completely empty, and she is nowhere to be found.

Who was the woman in the villa? Why was she there? Who have I told my darkest secret to...

Praise for Helen
'Dark and twisty with a shocking conclusion' Nicole Trope

'Another masterfully constructed novel from the queen of psychological thrillers' Sarah Bonner

'Gripping and unputdownable. There are secrets, mystery, betrayal and twists. The characters were mysterious... The plot was clever and I didn't see the twists coming. The twists were jaw dropping' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Twists and turns a plenty... A gripping read for your sunlounger this summer' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I was gripped by this beautifully, written, intricately plotted, tangle of secrets and lies' Louise Jensen

'An extraordinary read, filled with unforeseen twists that kept me flipping through the pages rapidly. I absolutely adored it' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Full of family secrets and betrayal. I was invested from the start and thought the relationships were all written and developed brilliantly. I really enjoyed this and was left thinking about it for days afterwards' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A brilliant read that had me gripped all the way through' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Thriller

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2026

About the author

Helen Cooper is a writer of psychological thrillers living in Leicester, UK. She has a MA in Creative Writing and a background in teaching English and Academic Writing. As well as novels, she has short fiction published in Mslexia, Woman, Writers’ Forum, and others; she was shortlisted in the Bath Short Story Prize in 2014, and came third in the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize in 2018.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

So we have an over-privileged dysfunctional and entitled family (the Belmonts), Lola, married into the family yet feels like an outsider, having an affair with her husband’s brother Michael, and about to confess to her husband, Tom. But first she has to live through the two weeks of a family holiday in an isolated Italian villa, celebrating her in-laws’ George and Rosaline’s golden wedding anniversary. We also have assorted other siblings of Tom and Michael and their spouses.

The story unfolds in the first person, through the eyes of Lola. An irritating character if ever there was one. She is forever going weak kneed, fainting, or over reacting somehow, through the guilt of keeping her affair secret and terrified she’ll be found out before she is ready to confess, which is her intention after the holiday. This however turns out to be the least of her troubles when a woman calling herself Carmen, who occupies the neighbouring villa, goes missing then turns up dead. Lola, having met her, and having spent a night drinking herself into oblivion with her is the first to be under suspicion.

I’m afraid I could not find a single character who I found likeable in this whole sorry saga. Lola was the most ‘likeable’ and she is a liar and a cheat! Maybe this is why I felt so impatient with the whole story. The plot twists were sort of predictable, and not really surprising and I couldn’t bring myself to care about any of them.

To be more positive, the book is very well written and the unfolding of the plot is skilful. I think maybe my dislike of the protagonist Lola, coloured my view of the whole, so I’d say to readers don’t let this review put you off!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle. This is my honest review after a full read of the book.

[bookedupnurse · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘I can do this. Two weeks of smiling, surviving. Two weeks of pushing my secrets deep down inside’.

Lola Belmont should be beyond excited. She has just arrived in Italy with her husband and his entire family for a dream trip. Two weeks of scorching sun, local wine, spectacular food and the most incredible villa. But it is also two weeks hiding what she has done …

When Lola disappears from the first night of celebrations, looking for a break from the chaos and intensity of the Belmont family, she meets Carmen. She is staying in the villa next door; the one that is supposed to be empty. However, Lola is immediately drawn to her and her normalcy so much so that she drinks far too much wine and shares her deepest secret. A secret that could tear her whole world apart. When she returns the next morning to beg Carmen to promise not to tell a soul, the villa is completely empty and she is no where to be found.

As she begins to look into Carmen in more depth, Lola realises that she isn’t who she says she is. Who was the woman in the villa? Who did she really talk to? And where is she now? How can the perfect escape go so horribly wrong!?

Overall, this was bingeworthy; perfect pacing, lots of unease, short chapters and the contrasting claustrophobic atmosphere despite the idyllic setting. Each discovery is another layer to the already complex family scenario which is the perfect amount of drama, shifting loyalties and betrayal. The questionable characters were so well portrayed and each had the capability to harm an ‘outsider’ for their own gain, to protect the family as well as their business and finances. I suspected them all at one point or another!

A perfect summer read for on your sun lounger ☀️

With thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Helen Cooper for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Hannah Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen Cooper does it again with The Woman in the Villa — a tense, atmospheric thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page. As a fan of Cooper’s previous books, I was excited to dive into this one, and it absolutely delivered the addictive suspense and layered secrets I’ve come to expect from her writing.
The Italian villa setting was beautifully done and added so much to the story’s uneasy atmosphere. What should have been a dreamy family holiday quickly turns claustrophobic and unsettling, especially with the tension surrounding the protagonist’s in-laws and the secret she’s desperately trying to keep buried. The contrast between the gorgeous setting and the growing sense of dread worked incredibly well.
I especially enjoyed the mystery surrounding Carmen. The premise alone — confessing your darkest secret to a stranger who then vanishes without a trace — instantly pulled me in, and I loved how the story slowly unraveled from there. Cooper does a great job building suspense chapter by chapter, constantly making you question who can be trusted.
The pacing was strong throughout, though there were a few moments in the middle that felt slightly slower than the rest, which is why this lands at 4 stars instead of 5 for me. Still, the twists were satisfying, and I found myself racing through the final chapters to see how everything would come together.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers filled with secrets, psychological tension, family drama, and a richly atmospheric setting, this is definitely one to add to your TBR. Another solid and gripping read from Helen Cooper!

[Mary Carbajosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman In The Villa is a twisty, psychological thriller set in idyllic surroundings in Italy, the location is atmospheric and it had me hooked from the very start.

The story focuses on Lola and Tom Belmont who arrive in Umbria, at a beautiful vineyard to celebrate Tom’s parent’s golden wedding anniversary, but Lola’s not looking forward to spending two weeks with her in-laws, trying to hide what she’s done. On their first night Lola meets a woman called Carmen who’s staying in the next villa and after too many wines she reveals her biggest secret. The following day Lola discovers that the villa is empty and there’s no trace of Carmen ever having been there.
Who was the woman in the villa? Why was she there? Who has Lola told her darkest secret to?

From the outset there’s an unsettling, eerie vibe that pulls you in and keeps you guessing and with family secrets, a host of suspects to choose from, deception and mounting tension I really did keep turning the pages, desperate to discover who the culprit was. As for the twists, I found them a little predictable but that didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of the book. I loved that the characters were hiding so many secrets from each other that I trusted no one.

This book is a very enjoyable read, it’s well written and I would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys domestic tension, questionable morals and flawed characters. 3.5 🌟 rounded up.

Many thanks to @netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton publishers for the ARC.

[Julie Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the ultimate escapism. Absolutely perfect as a beach read or a lazy weekend evening entertainment. I devoured it in one sitting.

Helen Cooper has done an amazing job finding an eerie setup within the otherwise scenic and idyllic Italian vineyard scenery. As someone who's lived in Italy and traveled all over the beautiful country, I didn't think it was possible. But it worked!

I'd say if you binge-watched The Perfect Couple on Netflix or read the book by Elin Hilderbrand, you will love this. Some of the more shady characters and dysfunctional rich family vibes definitely echo, while the main plot is twisty and super engaging.

The Woman in the Villa is all about the woman in the nearby villa and the sudden chain of events that unravel after her mysterious disappearance. But the book also paints a powerful picture of the darkness that looms behind some of the most common traits of the modern lifestyle and the dire consequences that can follow these traits.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC. This story will certainly linger in my mind for a long time. And I can't wait to read more from this fabulous author.

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[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman in the Villa is a wonderfully twisty, sun‑soaked thriller that takes the familiar promise of an Italian holiday and slowly turns it into something far more unsettling. What should be two blissful weeks of heat, wine, and family becomes a pressure cooker for secrets, guilt, and the kind of fear that settles in your bones.

The narrator’s voice is instantly compelling—sharp, vulnerable, and carrying the weight of something she’s desperate to hide. Her connection with Carmen, the woman in the neighbouring villa, feels like a lifeline at first: a moment of normality amid the intensity of her in‑laws. But the decision to confess her darkest secret to a stranger sets the whole story alight. And when Carmen vanishes without a trace, the tension spikes beautifully.

Helen Cooper plays with paranoia in such a clever way. Every empty room, every unanswered question, every shift in the family’s behaviour feels loaded. You’re never quite sure who to trust, or whether the narrator has trusted the wrong person entirely. The Italian setting adds a gorgeous contrast—sunshine, sea, and simmering dread.

Taut, atmospheric, and full of delicious unease, The Woman in the Villa is a gripping holiday thriller that reminds you how dangerous it can be to let the wrong person in.

With thanks to Helen Cooper, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman in the Villa delivers a sun‑drenched setting wrapped in a steadily tightening sense of dread. What should be a blissful Italian getaway becomes anything but for Lola, who is already struggling with a marriage she no longer wants and in‑laws who drain every ounce of her patience. Her chance meeting with Carmen, the mysterious woman next door, feels like a lifeline, until their late night confession session turns into a disappearance that leaves Lola questioning what she said, who heard it, and whether she’s trusted the wrong person entirely. The tension builds quickly, making this a fast, addictive read.

As the story unfolds, shifting loyalties, buried secrets, and a cast of deeply flawed characters keep the atmosphere prickling with unease. Even the smallest interactions feel loaded, and the emotional undercurrents hit surprisingly hard, especially as the truth begins to surface. With its blend of family drama, psychological suspense, and a narrator who may or may not be seeing things clearly, this novel keeps you turning pages long past bedtime. It’s a brisk, gripping thriller that many readers will tear through in a single sitting.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Lucie Tunwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never tell your secrets to a stranger on holiday 😳

A family holiday in Italy should be the perfect escape. But when a woman confides her darkest secret to a stranger in the villa next door, she returns the next day to find the woman has vanished without a trace. Why was she there and where has she gone?

This was a well-paced thriller packed with family drama, buried secrets, and plenty of twists. The story unfolds gradually, revealing layer after layer and constantly making you question who can be trusted. I was suspicious of pretty much everyone at one point or another!

I enjoyed the complex family dynamics. You get to know all characters, flaws and all, and by the end I felt like I knew each family member and their quirks, even if I didn't necessarily like them. This is very much a story about secrets, questionable morals, and the idea that sooner or later the truth comes out.

It kept me turning the pages and was exactly the kind of thriller I would enjoy taking on holiday. In fact, this is the perfect airport-bookshop purchase — best read poolside somewhere warm with a cocktail in hand 🍹☀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC. Out 25 June 2026.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars actual rating

[The Chapter Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Woman in the Villa by Helen Cooper had an intriguing premise and a beautifully layered mystery, but unfortunately, it wasn't the right fit for me.

Lola should be enjoying a dream vacation in Italy with her husband's family. Instead, she's carrying a secret that could destroy her entire life. After one too many drinks, she confides in Carmen, the mysterious woman staying in the villa's guest house. But when Lola returns the next day to beg her to keep quiet, Carmen has vanished without a trace.

Helen Cooper unfolds the story with skill, slowly revealing new pieces of the puzzle and maintaining a steady sense of suspense throughout. However, the central storyline revolving around infidelity made it difficult for me to fully invest in the characters or their choices, which kept me from becoming emotionally engaged with the story.

While this one was a miss for me personally, readers who enjoy slow-burn domestic suspense, family secrets, and morally complex characters may have a very different experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a ARC copy of The Woman In The Villa by Helen Cooper from NetGalley, and I’m rating this one 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This was such a bingeable and addictive thriller set in a stunning Italian villa destination. The story follows Lola, who is unhappy in her marriage and carrying around a heavy sense of dread and guilt while trying to survive a vacation with her husband and his entire family.

When Lola meets Carmen, the mysterious woman staying in the villa next door, she instantly feels comfortable with her. After a night of wine and vulnerable confessions, Lola reveals her darkest secret… and from that moment on, everything begins to spiral out of control. Lola doesn’t know who she can trust, and neither do you as the reader.

I really enjoyed the contrast between the beautiful vacation setting and the growing sense of unease throughout the story. The Italian villa atmosphere made everything feel cinematic, while the tension kept building each chapter. This was the kind of thriller that’s easy to lose yourself in on a summer beach day.

[Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC:

Cheating? Ummm…

This book was okay; don’t think there’s more to say. Will I recommend this book to my friends who are looking for a thriller? No. Will I remember anything from this story after I read it? No. Was it the worst book I’ve ever read? Also no. I got through it despite the cheating/affair plotline.

I want to say that all the books I’ve given 5 stars (or even 4 stars) to, gave off the feeling as though the author took their time with the book and/or researched something then put all of their newfound knowledge into their stories. This author is going the Freida McFadden route and trying to write a surface level, easy to digest, popcorn ‘thriller’. No shame because people like Freida’s popcorn thrillers but Freida also writes books where the mystery/thriller is the main plotline; this book felt like the affair was the main plotline (I felt that the author was trying to justify the affair during the whole book).

I should mention the twists…there, I mentioned them.

[Lost Vegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella is on her way to a beautiful vineyard to celebrate her in law’s anniversary, however Stella is dreading all of it and you can see why too. Instead of being diminished and ignored she slips away for a walk.
Somewhat unwisely, she stumbles in to the next villa and finds herself talking to Carmen, a fun, gossipy, breath of fresh air that is nothing like her miserable family holiday.But hours later she wakes, Carmen is gone and she has told her secrets that will rip the family apart.

Cooper paces this book perfectly, I spent a whole night reading because I wanted to know how everyone was involved. Even the police officers in this book come off the page, no small feat.

I find it hard to imagine anyone who wouldn’t enjoy this slick thriller, but if you enjoy last minute twists and no stone left unturned you will adore it.

I’m absolutely adding Helen Cooper to my buy list.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review, which this is.

[Adele Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman In The Villa is the third book by Helen Cooper reviewed by Bayside Book Reviews and another entertaining read. The author writes well, the pacing is spot on, and the plotline logically unfolds. The story is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of having and hiding a secret life. Lola, the central character, confides her secrets to a stranger during a night of heavy drinking, and the fallout goes nuclear. Each reader can decide whether or not that fallout is deserved.

Lola seemingly has the ideal life with a devoted, wealthy, and successful husband, a beautiful home, and the freedom to live her life the way she wants. Her secret life is at the heart of this novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

[Stacy L Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance copy. Oooooh, this was a fun one! The Woman in the Villa starts off with Lola preparing for her vacation to an Italian villa. While this may a dream vacation for many, Lola is going with her husband, who she no longer wants to be with, and all of her in-laws. Lola's situation is keeping a big secret and just wants to get through this vacation. Her in-laws are an unlikable bunch and this prompts Lola to make herself scarce the first night and explore the villa grounds. After Lola meets a guest, in another villa. They spend the evening in Carmen's villa indulging in wine and sharing secrets. After Lola makes her way back to her room in her own villa, things spiral out of control. Lola doesn't know what secrets have been told and who she can trust. This was a fun and easy read.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book full of wild twists, then you need to pick up this book. There were times while reading this book that I thought I had some of it figured out. Everything surrounding Fern is so mysterious. Nobody knows anything substantial about her, but suddenly she is missing. The family members are quick to place blame on one another. While reading this book, I kept coming up with my own conclusions. Then I would read more and be absolutely shocked with the direction the story took. I could never have guessed the ending of this book. It left me speechless. About the last 20% of the book, the intensity is turned up. Secrets are spilled. The momentum towards the truth is building quickly. The family can no longer hide from the truth and some family bonds may soon come to a breaking point.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a family holiday to Italy - with all its charms and potential tensions - Lola is tightly wound as she attempts to keep a rather important secret from the others, including her fairly devoted husband and her high maintenance in-laws.

Unfortunately, in a moment of weakness, she ends up confiding in Carmen, a woman from a neighbouring villa. Or is she in fact staying there at all? Because when Lola goes back to find her, there is no sign of Carmen...

This is an entertaining story with plenty of twists. Worth checking out.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Taylor Boardman · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley review: ✨
I’m not usually a big thriller/mystery girlie. I just don’t typically gravitate toward the genre, but this book had me completely captivated from the very first chapter. I had such a hard time putting it down and was constantly anxious to see what would happen next.
I can usually clock the ending pretty early on, and while this wasn’t the most jaw-dropping twist I’ve ever read, it definitely kept me guessing and delivered plenty of twisty moments along the way. The pacing was great, the suspense kept me hooked, and I flew through it.
Fully recommend this one and it absolutely gets my summer stamp of approval. ☀️😎

[Linda Wilson]

I really enjoyed this book. Lola is staying at a luxury villa in Italy with her husband and his family, who run a successful wine business. There are clearly tensions in the family and Lola has a big secret. When she meets Carmen, a young woman staying at a neighbouring villa, they get very drunk together and Lola feels sure she gave away her secrets. The next day, when she returns to talk to Carmen, the villa is empty. Then the police come knocking..... This is a real page turner that will keep you guessing right to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

[Susan Ingraffea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from Holder & Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. This was a pretty solid thriller. I loved all the descriptions of Italy and the villas. I also think the author did a good job detailing the various family members. Everyone had their own personality, their own issues, their own specific relationships with their relatives. It was quite realistic; families can be messy and dramatic!

I did not guess the villain or the motive, which is always a plus for me.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an early copy of The Woman in the Villa. This was FANTASTIC!!! What a GREAT family drama, lots of emotions, I actually cried towards the end. So many different stories going on and when they came together, it was WOW!! I was always rooting for Lola. A really good story, I don’t want to give too much away, but the cast of characters were awesome. Just a really really, really, really good book.

[Lexy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4.5 stars from me.

My favourite Cooper book to date.

So much mystery with a healthy dollop of betrayal. The Belmont family have excelled themselves with this tangled web of lies.

If you like a good old fashioned who done it with plenty of twists and turns this book is for you. Really enjoyed it.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read, and pretty hard to put down.
The characters were well written - and all flawed, so that felt pretty realistic! There were some really fun twists, and the landscape of the area was nicely portrayed. As were the foibles of the rich family!
With lovely twists revealing where the guilt lay, this is definitely an author to watch out for.

[Shopia Burell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating paranormal romance filled with sizzling chemistry, emotional tension, and an intriguing ancient curse. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic kept me hooked, and the magical world was engaging from start to finish. A quick, entertaining read that left me wanting more from Selena Carver!