The Sicilian Inheritance

A transporting novel about a century-old unsolved murder, a disputed inheritance, and a family secret that some will kill to protect . . .

‘A gritty and whip-smart read. Strong friendships, powerful women, mighty lives. I utterly devoured it, was swept to Sicily, loved the denouement’ Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House

‘As much a feminist adventure as a redemptive family mystery . . . I was gripped and entertained from start to finish’ Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push

‘Strong women, rich history and page-turning suspense make for a rich and satisfying read’ Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author

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A century-old unsolved murder

A disputed inheritance

A family secret that some will kill to protect . . .

When Sara Marsala’s beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, she leaves Sara a valuable piece of land in Sicily, but there���s a catch: the locals refuse to acknowledge the rightful owner of the deed, and if Sara wants the land she must first uncover the truth about what happened to her great-great grandmother, Serafina Marsala. Because Rosie didn’t think Serafina died of illness as family lore states . . . Rosie believed Serafina was murdered, and she wants Sara to prove it.

Sara���s investigations take her up and down the picturesque Italian countryside and, along the way, she learns more about Serafina, a headstrong young woman thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life for all the woman of her small village. Yet a woman who challenges the status quo is never safe, and as Sara discovers more about Serafina, she comes up against the same menacing forces that took down her great-great grandmother.

And now they want to destroy Sara too.

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Praise for The Sicilian Inheritance:

‘Equal parts rich historical fiction, gripping murder mystery, and a moving exploration of identity, grief, and the long shadow of the past’ Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here




Genre: Mystery

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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