Emily and Chess, childhood friends with a strained relationship, travel to Villa Aestas in Italy to reset their lives and careers. In 1974, this same house was known as Villa Rosato, where a famous rock star was murdered during a summer of drug-fueled creative excess involving musician Noel Gordon and aspiring writer Mari Godwick. As Emily digs into the property’s history, she discovers that the events leading to the classic horror novel written there decades ago mirror her own growing resentment toward Chess. The narrative switches between the present day and the 1970s, revealing how artistic competition and betrayal led to a historical killing that threatens to repeat itself.
Fans of gothic suspense and true crime fictionalization read this for its focus on the dark side of female friendships and the exploitation inherent in the creative industries. Readers find a cynical look at how women's life stories are often stolen or reshaped by more dominant figures for commercial success. It provides an analysis of intellectual property theft and the specific psychological pressures that drive collaborators toward violence. The story leaves the reader with a stark perspective on the cost of achieving fame within a competitive social circle.
- Published
- 2023
- Language
- EN
