The Night Villa

by Carol Goodman

An evocative tale of intrigue, romance, and treachery, Carol Goodman’s spellbinding new novel, The Night Villa , follows the fascinating lives of two remarkable women centuries apart.

The eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 buried a city and its people, their treasures and secrets. Centuries later, echoes of this disaster resonate with profound consequences in the life of classics professor Sophie Chase.

In the aftermath of a tragic shooting on the University of Texas campus, Sophie seeks sanctuary on the isle of Capri, immersing herself in her latest scholarly project alongside her colleagues, her star pupil, and their benefactor, the compelling yet enigmatic business mogul John Lyros.

Beneath layers of volcanic ash lies the Villa della Notte–the Night Villa–home to first-century nobles, as well as to the captivating slave girl at the heart of an ancient controversy. And secreted in a subterranean labyrinth rests a cache of antique documents believed lost to the a prize too tantalizing for Sophie to resist. But suspicion, fear, and danger roam the long-untrodden tunnels and chambers beneath the once sumptuous estate–especially after Sophie sees the face of her former lover in the darkness, leaving her to wonder if she is chasing shadows or succumbing to the siren song of the Night Villa. Whatever shocking events transpired in the face of Vesuvius’s fury have led to deeper, darker machinations that inexorably draw Sophie into their vortex, rich in stunning revelations and laden with unseen menace.

Praise for The Night Villa

“Visit The Night Villa : Carol Goodman’ s luminous prose and superb storytelling will keep you entertained into the late hours.” —Nancy Pickard

“The pleasure of a Carol Goodman novel is in her enviable command of the classical canon–and the deft way she [writes] a book that’s light enough for a weekend on the beach but literary enough for a weekend in the Hamptons.” — Chicago Tribune

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Italy, Historical, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

413 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2008

About the author

Carol Goodman is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages, The Seduction of Water, which won the Hammett Prize, The Widow's House, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award and The Night Visitors, which won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also the co-author, with her husband Lee Slonimsky, of the Watchtower fantasy trilogy. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latte, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz and lives with her family in the Hudson Valley.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. This is kind of a terrible book. And by kind of, I mean it really was.

I started reading it for the premise...ancient archaeology, travel, mysterious rites, etc. I listen to a lot of "airport reads" on audiobook as an entertaining distraction while I work freelance. I enjoy a good page turner…This book, however, was really poorly done.

From other historical fiction/mystery/thriller type books I've read along similar lines, I know that it is possible to write such a book without completely disrespecting the actual events and stories behind whatever historical thing the author had taken as their backdrop. All fiction takes some license of course, but the most successful books in this genre are the ones that are able to successfully weave together fact and fiction in an intriguing and seamless way. I don't think this book was successful at that at all. Perhaps it would be if you had no familiarity with the ancient world and archaeology (for instance, if you are like the author...), but if you do, prepare to feel like fingers are scratching on a chalkboard every couple paragraphs when characters and events unfold so outside the lines of reality that you will not want to read anymore and save yourself the pain. I mean, I’m all for some suspension of disbelief for the sake of a good yarn, but the implausibility of this book jolts you out of your vicarious reverie all too often to have earned it.

There are a few key reasons why the plausibility of this book was ruined for me:
1. For starters, if you are a scholar and go on a dig or project overseas, the whole team does not just sit around all day eating and swimming, just waiting for one or two people to translate the findings. Point me in the direction of that funding and the humanities would be a very different place to work in! I mean, think of all the fascinating, challenging things they could be doing instead that would move the plot along!
2. The type of writing contained in these fictional scrolls they are studying is not even remotely the kind of thing one would ever find. If it was just this, I would gladly suspend my disbelief, but it was far from an isolated thing. I understand the appeal of such a fiction and perhaps simplifying things as an entrance point for the unacquainted reader, but this is just plain old dumb. The type of alluring mysteries to be found in a more realistic find would be so much more appealing and well, mysterious.
3. The characters start out interesting enough but quickly become vapid and stereotypical. The main female professor just seems like a slightly older version of her star student and, apparently, is a classics scholar without a fluency in Italian...whaaa? Why, given the clear opportunity for a strong and smart female character, would you then make her so bad at her job and so clueless of her own field? Why is she constantly shocked at the supposedly offensive erotic art? I think this may have been the most infuriating aspect of this book for me since it feels dishonest, disrespectful, lazy, and downright false to judge the ancient world by modern standards. Better research on the subject could have made this a lot better and actually heightened the thrill.
4. The plot rests along these all too coincidental and completely unbelievable pivot points that only served to alienate me instead of drawing me in.


I love this genre and I appreciate that such a book does not need to be overly complex or artistic to be worth reading. It can and should be a whole lot better than this one though.

[Heidi (can’t retire soon enough) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always had a fondness for books that take two distinct story lines from two different times, and eventually intersect in a way you don't expect.

This book, my first Carol Goodman novel, was a very satisfying read with its rich descriptions of Italy, now and then, and the weaving of a modern archeology site drama with pre-volcanic Roman villas, "mysterious rites" and intrigue made for a great story. I loved learning more about the Roman time period (right before Vesuvius blows) while being carried away by the suspense of a modern day story thread.

(My one complaint was the spoiler on the book jacket, but I can hardly hold that against the story.)

(Reviewed 8-1-09)

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going back and forth on a two- or three-star rating for this book. There were things I liked about it. For instance, I thought the author did a very good job portraying the lingering trauma from the shooting at the college, and how Sophie's wounds and the loss of part of her lung affect her. I also liked the premise of the story and the way the present situation mirrors the past they're delving into. However, that "delving into the past" issue was also part of what I didn't like about the book. The diaries of Phineas never rang true to me. I often struggle with plots based around diaries, just because I find it hard to suspend belief that anyone would write in such exhaustive detail, but in this book it seemed especially implausible. I realize that the characters in the story are meant to be translating these 1st century scrolls, but even in translation they seemed much too folksy, too modern in tone to be real. And it was a little too convenient that one scroll left off with a clue leading them to where the next would be, and that all these things were where they were supposed to be, just waiting to be discovered.

Another thing I struggled with were the romance aspects of the story. I understand keeping your readers guessing as to who and what they're supposed to be rooting for, but I thought this story crossed a line. Why have Sophie have sex with Ely (on a rock ledge no less--ouch) and suggest that he completes her: My lungs fill with his breath, reaching into the empty place in my chest that my damaged lung hasn't filled yet if that isn't the case? I don't like being misled as a reader.

But probably my biggest issue with the book was the Tetraktys cult itself. The author keeps telling us how dangerous the cult is and that it's being investigated by the FBI, but she never once tells us why the cult is dangerous. At one point, Sophie reads an FBI report about the cult that details their sinister ways such as stockpiling water and nonperishable food. (Yeah, I'm pretty sure the government thinks we should all do that.) If you're going to include an FBI investigation in your story--and expect me to believe that the government finds the cult so dangerous they'd track them to Italy--you're going to have to give me something more than disaster preparedness and living in a compound. You're also going to have to give me some explanation as to where the cult is getting its money. (How does Ely have a yacht?) All this is sort of elided over in the book, and that doesn't work for me. And it especially didn't work for me that the author invoked Waco and the Branch Davidians. Some things shouldn't be fictionalized, and I would say the government-facilitated death by incineration of seventy-six people is one of those things.

All in all, I think I've talked myself into a two-star rating. The book had some nice moments, but it just didn't work for me.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book in a day and a half. It's obvious to say, after my last sentence, that I had some trouble putting it down once I started it. I've had this on my shelf for many months now even though I've read four of Goodman's other novels and enjoyed them. I'm glad I finally got around to picking it up.

I gave it a 3 star rating not because I didn't find it to be a very enjoyable book, but I did find this novel to be a little more predictable than the others I've read. I also felt I had to suspend belief in A LOT of the situations in the book. For instance, as others have commented, the writings from the ancient scrolls seemed to be in a very modern voice and I think that took away from the story slightly. My only excuse for this is that they are mostly being translated by two young, modern day women and perhaps they would have put them more in their own words while translating. Again, willing to suspend belief, but I wish I didn't have to.

I also didn't feel quite as emotionally connected to these characters as I have in her past novels. Again, it was also a bit predictable, though it did manage to surprise me here and there. There are minor complaints in a fun, quick read that is definitely full of intrigue and beautiful settings that were easy to imagine given Goodman's skillful descriptions.

I'll agree with another reviewer: If you're a fan of the other Carol Goodman books, you will definitely find something to enjoy in this book as well.

[Helga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to write like Carol Goodman.

I don't know how she does it: her writing evokes a response from the reader, making it very easy to visualize the scenery and action. So far, I've read Seduction of Water, Ghost Orchid, Night Villa and currently reading Arcadia Falls. The stories are fascinating and can hold your interest; they are hard to put down but we all have lives to live.

With Night Villa being set in Italy, Goodman describes the locale in such detail that I feel like I've visited the dig site at Herculaneum and walked the streets. Her POV character is recovering from a gunshot wound that took away part of her lung. At times I felt as if I was having labored breathing just when Sophie does--that's writing. I want to be in my characters' shoes and make them feel as if they're on the spot.

Goodman usually tells two stories at the same time, linking past and present. She adds all the ingredients to a good story: suspense, surprise, a tinge of romance but nothing gooey. I'd love to meet her and find out how she evolved to the writer she is now. I'm going to give her a blanket approval rating: try any of her books and you won't be disappointed.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first quarter or so of this book was well written and intriguing, the next third was atmospheric and dark, and then it turned into the mystery it promised to be and I didn't like it as much. (I forget sometimes - the reason I don't read mysteries, especially the formulaic ones, is because I don't like them.)

The history part was fantastic - lost writings! sacred rites! creepy cults! It was the modern day mystery bit that didn't interest me much. A fun read, and I'm glad it made my friend think of me, but I'd rather grab a history book on Pompeii and Herculaneum instead.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was writing recently about Pythagoras and, in course of what I could grandly call my researches, I came across reference to this novel, which features a modern Pythagorean cult. Since I enjoyed the same author's The Lake of Dead Languages a few years ago, I needed little further inducement to snap this one up.

Sophie Chase is a prof of something antique at the University of Texas. Some while back she lost her boyfriend Ely to the Tetraktys, a neo-Pythagorean cult; matters weren't helped by his discovery that she'd been sleeping with her boss, Elgin Lawrence. After the rejected boyfriend of her (and Elgin's) star student, Agnes Hancock, shoots dead a couple of UT personnel before killing himself, Elgin persuades Sophie and Agnes to join him on a dig in a villa at Herculaneum, one of the towns destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius that also destroyed Pompeii in 79CE. The lure for Sophie is that a scroll has been discovered there that, thanks to a wondrous new hi-tech scanning method, has been deciphered to show that, just before the eruption, a guest at the villa was one Phineas Aulus, a scholar and thief and one of her research subjects; even more important, the main focus of her research, a slave woman called Iusta, is mentioned in Phineas's scroll. But the Tetraktys too are after whatever the dig might uncover, because they believe a lost work by Pythagoras might also be there . . .

(The tetraktys is the little equilateral triangle you can make from the numbers 4-3-2-1, important to the Pythagoreans because of the triangularity and because the numbers add up to sacred 10. Just so's you know.)

I found Goodman's tale very readable, even though it irritated me much of the time I was reading it. For no good reason, the modern sections of the book are recounted in the present tense -- no problem there except that Goodman, in common with far too many other authors, doesn't know how to cope with the past tenses when writing in the present one. (Yes, I know: I often complain about this. I'm thinking of giving tutorials . . .) But I can live with that, and obviously did, because, during the limited spare time I've had over the past week or so (a book of my own to finish, the publisher rightly on my neck because I was late), I was pretty glued to Goodman's novel.

But then there were all the implausibilities, and they were somehow more difficult to cope with. (a) A beef I've often had before with novels: there are sections of the book where newly discovered texts by Phineas start with the equivalent of "I cannot write for long, but I must just dash down my thoughts . . ." and then go on for several thousand words. (b) Far too often, characters made decisions that seemed just downright barmy, especially in the latter part of the book when Goodman was trying to tie all the strands of her plot together. ("We have discovered a new scroll. Let's keep it secret from our colleagues because, er.") (c) There's a section where Phineas, staggering around through underground tunnels in Stygian darkness, is able not just to locate doorways but identify the symbols on them. (d) The end seems very hurried -- at least, the end of the present-day story. We then get a transcription of an ancient scroll that seems far too glib a resolution of the ancient story-strand.

I feel as if I'm being unduly negative. There are plenty of good things here, and I did like the character of Sophie Chase, even if the others seemed a bit tissue-thin. As noted, the book's very readable. I guess it's something I'd recommend to someone going on holiday who wanted a beach read that was a cut above the average. Chances are I'll pick up another Goodman novel in due course: I do like her ideas.

[Elizabeth Sulzby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical novel is based on a young woman scholar who travels to Herculaneum to work in a team led by a former lover and competitive colleague. This is a thriller and page turner but Goodman described the sources she had used in order to write this book. This led me to J.J. Deiss's excellent book on Herculaneum and what the excavations have taught us. The novel had the main characters looking for evidence of a law suit that was actually (historically) brought against the widow of her former owner. The freed woman had purchased her own freedom and was supported in getting free by her lover and former owner. She then had a girl child and built her own business, still living with the family. The girl was raised as a daughter by the man and his barren wife. After the man's death, his widow brought claim on the girl as a slave, saying that she was born while her mother was still a slave. There are actual records in the excavation of this lawsuit. In Robert Harris's novel Pompeii he used a freed man as a way of talking about Roman customs on slavery and the ability of freed slaves to move up social strata. Very interesting stuff.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Sophie Chase is a classics professor at the University of Texas in Austin who attends an interview as support for a student named Agnes to participate in an archaeological research project on the Isle of Capri in Italy. The interview ends with a tragic shooting in which two people are killed and Sophie is critically injured. After the shooting, Sophie agrees to participate in The Papyrus Project that is funded by a billionaire who has built a villa to mirror the ancient “Night Villa” that was destroyed with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The story progresses with the discovery and deciphering of ancient scrolls tied to a Pythagorean cult which is still active in a present day cult. The book is filled with intrigue, mystery, and a bit of romance. The descriptions of the villa, the town, and the ocean all transport the reader to the Isle of Capri as do the vivid details of life during the time of the eruption. The story has a twist at the end which has left me reaching for more of Carol Goodman’s novels.

[Diane Mora · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just barely okay; I didn't hate it enough to give it just one star, but two feels a bit generous -- 1.5 would be about right. I managed to get through the book, but found nothing here to love (or even like); perhaps the most accurate statement I can make about it is that I found it annoying.

The characters are one-dimensional, dialog forced, exposition awkward (and endless), descriptors cliche, villains transparent, and major plot points completely unsurprising. I could never figure out why this highly educated woman was so pathetically helpless, why so many men were chasing after her, or why she failed to be even the least bit skeptical about the people around her. The edition I read had a "Reader's Guide" at the end, and I'm astonished that anyone thought this book important or deep enough to require such a thing.

And, seriously, I know others disagree, but I am sick to death of novels written in the present tense. In my opinion, it sometimes works for short stories, but 400 pages? No. To me it feels pretentious, distracting, and completely false.

[Karen Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. It has all the elements that should have been interesting to me- history, travel, professional women, higher education. Just couldn't get into it but forced myself to finish. I didn't like the tense that it was written in...maybe that was part of it. I think I was hoping for a stronger main character as well.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars. Despite being a little predictable and despite doing a lot of *palmface* for the totally clueless MC (I literally yelled out "Come on, Sophie!" on more than one occasion), this book was really enjoyable. Will definitely read more Carol Goodman.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I love Goodman's storytelling; the way she weaves modern day tale with mythology while keeping things suspenseful and intriguing is why she's one of my favorite authors. The plot for this book started off slowly, but redeemed itself with the ending.

[Lucian Camilleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chills!
A tale of one seeking freedom and the other seeking truth. Beauty, in words is indescribable.

[Juno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, not very exiting or fun to read but still special and interesting

[Ami Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good! This was an older title I thought I'd read before. Really enjoyed it.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the time, whilst reading this, if felt like watching reality TV: you know it’s not of the highest quality but it’s very addictive and entertaining. You must suspend a huge amount of disbelief with the story, but the blurb and mix of classics, setting and modern and ancient story all combined appealed to me as a pre-holiday read.

At first, I found this book a page turner; despite reading a few other books at the same time this was the book I kept returning too. The author is skilful in mirroring the stories of the past and the present and as you read on you notices not just a mirror between the ancient past and the present you also notice increasingly frequent similar stories between the modern characters. This help s to build up some of the suspense.

However, by about three quarters of the novel I found the whole story to outlandish to be enjoyable and I was bored of the cult element and its inclusion. I was able top work out the main villain but not until quite near the end, so I guess the author did quite a good job on the mystery element. I also like how the author ended the story and thought she did a good job brining all the loose storylines together. I think the book may have benefitted from some editing.

I found this book quite similar in nature to Labyrinth and Inca’s Death Cave and would recommend it to readers who enjoyed those books and vice versa. I’m not totally put of Carol Goodman as The Lake of Dead Languages does sound very intriguing...

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would fly by as have other books I've read by Goodman. Maybe it was because I read it during my wedding weekend and often at night after I'd had champagne or wine, but I just couldn't get into it. I kept having to go back and re-read parts of it. I didn't really feel invested in the discoveries at Herculaneum. Why did I care about a 17-year-old slave who probably died in 79 AD? Why did I care about Ely or Elgin? Or Simon, for that matter. The characters were pretty weak and many story points seemed unnecessary (like the baby plotline added nothing to the narrator's back story or the nuns comments about Agnes, which was probably meant to be a clue to her upbringing but seemed a weird element to highlight).

A big thing with me was the translations.... They certainly read like they were written in current-day vernacular. Even if translated by someone in the present-day, I would have expected a little more old-style language.

The ending was good, it was just a long time coming and I was more relieved to come to the final pages because it was over.

Note: I originally gave this 3 stars but in thinking it over, I gave it 2. I have higher expectations of Goodman, although I do have to say that I enjoyed a book of hers that wasn't set in upstate New York or revolved around a lake and swimming.

[MountainAshleah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read The Lake of Dead Languages years ago, and I liked it, so I was happy to find this book on sale at the library. Goodman, Italy, that yummy cover, first person narrative (my favorite) . . . how could I go wrong? Well, I could and I did. This book just didn't hook me. Maybe the problem is I have too many wonderful memories of Capri and Pompeii and spending time in that lavish landscape to fully enjoy the book, which struck me as very contrived, overly ambitious, and at times downright silly. About 3/4 of the way through, I could not stop obsessing about a new title for the book, Nancy Drew and the Case of the Curious Scrolls . . . with Sophie as Nancy, Agnes as the sidekick Helen, lots of perilous predicaments for our girl to sleuth her way into and out of . . . and hey, there's even Ned the boyfriend, well, the ex-boyfriend, or is he the other ex-boyfriend . . . anyway. The circumstances grew more and more coincidental, the dialogue was like snippets from a textbook, the cliffhangers were so "Ta Da!" . . . sigh. Even with the knock-out cover, I'm donating this one back to the library sale rack.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise- a team of classic scholars uncovering the meaning of the mystery rites, but overall it was too predictable in the way a b-grade horror movie has its five principle characters who all get killed off one by one. There weren't any surprises and not much depth.

It was dark and intriguing and I think she did a good job of detailing Southern Italy, though I've never been there, and bringing it alive in my imagination.

The characters were bland. Especially Sophie. There was too much of an effort on the author's part to get the audience to like her. Too much backstory. The story begins with a mature picture of Sophie as a woman in her late 30s or early 40s but as it unravels and you realize she's only 28 or 29 and for me that made it harder for me to take her seriously as the character the author was attempting to portray as a realistic classic's professor.

The biggest thing that turned me off about this novel was that three men are lusting after the protagonist.

I would not recommend it.

[Trine · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading – and thoroughly enjoying The Ghost Orchid – I decided to read another of this author’s books, and The Night Villa did not disappoint in any way.

As was the case in the former book it is actually two stories in one, one of which is taking place in the city of Herculaneum that was destroyed along with the much more famous Roman city of Pompeii in the year 79.

As usual, the author includes numerous thought-provoking – at times deeply disturbing – topics, making this a read likely to appeal to readers interested in ancient mysteries, archaeology, history and ancient Roman history in particular, religion in general as well as the way modern science has been able to restore otherwise ‘lost’ texts such as the ones actually found at Herculaneum.

All in all, a great read with more than one literary twist at the end.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having had "The Lake of Dead Languages"recommended to me, but unable to locate a copy before leaving for vacation, I started on "The Night Villa". Ms. Goodman,whose extensive classics background gives depth and meaning to her story, interweaves an ancient story with a modern-day tale. With the use of multi-spectral imaging on papyri,we enter the story of Iusta, a slave at the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, whose freedom was assured by her mother, but who became re-enslaved after her mother's death. This is a true account according to the author. The intermingling of Iusta's story, and that of the rivalry of two groups trying to obtain lost scrolls which could impact today's world, is set against a background of cult worship in ancient Roman times. If nothing else, this novel will transport you to 79 A.D.----the setting itself is both beguiling and provocative. Have fun!

[Tony Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, passable but unremarkable addition to the cluttered 'academics chase ancient artefacts' school of mystey thrillers.

Goodman does solid research and spins a decent if unlikely yarn amid the ruins of Herculanium, buried by Vesuvius in 79AD. She's guilty of presenting slightly one-dimensional characters and lectures a little too much on classical mythology, as if to hide the fact that the book isn't quite as clever as it thinks it is.

What is it about authors who telegraph their twists these days? Its as if everyone is terrified of subtlety, and does the apparently intellectual heroine really have to appear so stupid and gullible throughout?

Nonetheless, a decent read for anyone taking a summer holiday on the Bay of Naples, and lets face it, Dan Brown has set the bar so low in this genre that any book on the same theme looks like a masterpiece in comparison.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing "The Drowning Tree" I was really looking forward to reading another Carol Goodman novel. I enjoyed The Night Villa" just as much as I enjoyed "The Drowning Tree". Both books were rich wiith references to art, mythology and literature. There were other similarities; both were set in academia and borh had a female lead who had lost a great love in an unexpected way. At first it felt like it might have been too much of the same thing to read one after the other. But, about 100 pages into it, "The Night Villa" took a turn and I suddenly felt like I was reading a lab lit book, similar to the Preston and Child novels that I have been reading and enjoying so much lately and less of a standard mystery. Either way, both were enjoyable and loaded with information about art and history. I will add more Carol Goodman to my to-read list!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book probably a month ago and have been debating all this time what to write. There were parts of it I liked very much, and then again, parts that bordered on disappointment, not because the book was bad, but because it didn't carry me along enthralled the entire way. But to say disappointment is too deep a word, because even when I was not swept away, it still was a good read. Intregue, atmosphere, history, classics, CApri, Pompeii and Herculaneum -- Add a touch of mystery, romance and interesting (if sometimes very dark) characters, and you're there. I loved the idea of discovering lost writings and tracing ancient mysteries along with modern day. And I loved the sapphire blue waters of the Mediterranean. Wish I could be there.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read several of Goodman's other books and though they all sort of blur together... mostly because they all involve a strong classical influence and a typically scholarly setting - and while the main character here is a classics professor, this one has a change of scenery. Most of it takes place in Italy. Unfortunately, the plot isn't too surprising and some elements just didn't quite settle right to me. The "ancient" scrolls seem less than genuine since they had such a modern feel. But, the book's main drawback is the uneven method that weaves in the historical facts into the narrative and dialogue. There just isn't little finesse at times and the book just felt oddly awkward at times.

[Barbarac · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept thinking this book would get better. But from the beginning I couldn't connect with any of the major characters. Most of them are so shifty, are they good, are they bad? They change from page to page, chapter to chapter. So at the end I didn't care for any of the good ones or the bad ones. Including Dr Chase, who for such a bright scholar, seems like a dimwit when it comes to knowing those around her. I would suggest she never makes any friends again. The thing that I really liked about this book were the descriptions of the little towns around Naples, and some of the historical references. I read it pretty fast because I thought the mystery would get better, but it really was anticlimactic.

[Michal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of a woman that distances herself from a man she loved deeply because of his slow descent into obsession and a cult. As she heads to Mount Vesuvius on an archaeology dig she discovers strange signs that her old love may once more be haunting her. As she gets deeper into her dig she delves into the mythology of the place and discovers some things from the ancient past have deep connections to her life.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

By this point, it's no surprise to me that a Carol Goodman novel is a winner. Rather than trotting out the same comments again, I'll just point you towards my review of The Drowning Tree and say that it sums up how I feel about most everything she writes.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, engrossing, fictional historical mystery, set in present day and in historical Herculaneum, Italy at the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
I am totally facinated by Italy and historical Italy, and am dreaming of visiting Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Capri myself now.