Emily and Chess have been friends since they were in grade school, but have drifted apart over the years. Emily settled down into domestic life with her husband Matt and became a writer of cozy mysteries, and Chess went on to become a self-help guru and social media darling. Now Emily's marriage has ended and she is bored with writing her mystery series, longing for something new. When Chess suggests a summer getaway to an Italian villa, Emily agrees, looking forward to spending time with her best friend. But the villa holds shadows of the past - a summer in 1974 when it was rented by a rock star and his group of friends, culminating in a violent death. Emily becomes fascinated by this history and soon the past and present begin to intersect.

The storyline in this novel didn't quite develop in the way I expected. I think I expected much more of a gothic story and for the villa itself to have more impact. As it turns out, I feel that the location is more incidental to the story rather than being a key part of it. The novel unfolds in two timelines - the story of Mari and Lara in 1974 and present day with Chess and Emily, until we begin to see the parallels. The 1974 story is dark and intriguing, with a hypnotic and hedonistic character in Pierce, whereas Matt is merely entitled and whining. As well, the ties between Mari and Lara are deep, involving a mix of familial ties, friendship and competition, while Chess really feels like more of a frenemy to Emily and I began to wonder why she ever put up with her. As a result, the dynamics between Emily and Chess are far less understandable and more frustrating for the reader.

A solid thriller read, but not what I expected from the hype.