Set in 1960s Italy, the plot of The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James revolves around twenty-year-old aspiring actress and single mother Silvia Whitford who travels to Rome as part of the cast of a movie that is suddenly canceled leaving her without work and in need of a place to stay. Sylvia hasn’t had much success in her career having played only small parts in movies and was hoping to relocate to Italy with her terminally ill mother, who is Italian but moved to the United States after WWII, and her two-year-old daughter Lulu who traveled with Silvia. But the cancellation of the project puts a wrench in her plans. With no other options in sight, Silvia contacts her mother’s estranged sister, Gabriella Conti. Gabriella is a recluse who lives alone in a medieval castle, Castello del Lago, which is in a state of disrepair and is believed to be haunted by one of their ancestors. Gabriella and Silvia’s mother have not spoken for years and are unwilling to meet one another, remaining vague when asked about the reason behind their feud. When a movie crew approaches Gabriella to rent the castle to shoot for a new horror movie, The Revenge of the Lake Witch, Silvia manages to convince Gabriella to agree. Silvia also bags a lead role in the movie and the cast and crew temporarily move in. But Gabriella becomes increasingly agitated even insisting that the crew vacate the premises. Silvia tries to placate her aunt but tensions are high and when Gabriella suddenly disappears, Silvia suspects foul play and believes that someone from the production unit might be responsible for the same. Complicating matters further are the eerie occurrences in the Castello, the evidence of a gruesome crime and the fact that nobody, including the carabinieri, seems to be taking her concern for her missing aunt seriously. As the narrative progresses, we follow Sylvia as she juggles her work and family responsibilities, her budding relationship with a new flame and her search for the truth behind what happened to her aunt.

Combining elements of historical fiction, romance, family drama, suspense and mystery, The Woman in the Castello is an intriguing read. I really loved the setting, the descriptions of the castle and the Gothic vibes (not too scary but added to the atmosphere). Silvia is portrayed as impulsive and a tad immature but I thought the author does a good job of developing the character as the plot progresses. Gabriella is an intriguing character with an interesting backstory and I wish that had been explored further. The romance track was a tad rushed but I was glad that the romance angle did not overshadow the mystery. I enjoyed how the author describes the dynamics between the cast and crew of the movie and thought the characters were well drawn (even the unlikeable ones). The twists, red herrings and the build-up to the final reveal were well-executed.

I paired my reading with the audio narration by Patricia Santomasso, who has done a wonderful job of voicing the characters and setting the mood for this story.

Suspenseful and atmospheric, with a fluid narrative and an interesting cast of characters The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James is an entertaining read.

Many thanks to Kensington Books, NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for the eARC and the ALC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )

I enjoyed reading this part mystery, part family saga, part historical fiction tale set in Italy in the 1960s. Silvia Whitford is an actress who has traveled to Rome with her mom and young daughter, Lulu, to be in a movie. However, the movie is canceled. Another movie comes up, and Silvia gets the part. The movie is being shot in the castle owned by her aunt, Gabriella, who is a stranger to Silvia. Silvia's mom, Elena, has not spoken to her sister in over 20 years.
While at the castle, Gabriella disappears. Silvia suspects she is dead, and tries to solve the mystery. Everyone is a suspect, even Paul, the assistant director, although Silvia is in love with him.
This was entertaining, but some of the reveals were a little obvious. I had guessed much of the conclusion. ( )

Let us first address The Woman in the Castello‘s somewhat unrealistic comparisons with Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins. Does Kelsey James’ novel achieve the same cinematic grandeur, nuanced characterisation and literary gravitas as that modern masterpiece? No, it does not. But nonetheless, it is a highly entertaining and compelling read.

Historical fiction’s depiction can often feel as though viewed through a thin veil or sepia-tinged. What I found striking about James’ The Woman in the Castello was how vivid and alive her post-war Italian settings and characters felt to this modern reader.

Leading lady Silvia almost bursts from the pages with unkempt emotion… The sheer intensity of her feelings, from self-doubt through to frustration with her mother and adoration for her daughter, makes her story compelling. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2023/07/woman-in-the-castello-kelsey-james-... ( )

The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James
Historical mystery with romance. Mid 1960’s.
Silvia Whitford travels to Rome with her sick mother and her daughter for an acting job she hopes will launch her career. Low on money, Silvia goes to a small town in Italy to find an aunt she has never met, knowing she may need to beg for a place to live for her small family.
Gabriella Conti lives in a crumbling castello that has a volcanic lake. Although she doesn’t want it, a movie studio agreement is reached to be filmed in the castello, with Silvia in the main role. The horror movie fits well in the old castle with an on-site ghost and a group of strangers living together.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Patricia Santomasso. The performance is dramatic and tense, the perfect format for the horror movie mystery story. There are specific voices for Silvia, Gabriella, the daughter, and a couple of the male actors in the cast. Silvia is the primary character and you can clearly hear her trepidation and throughout as stumbling blocks are thrown at her.
I listened to this at my regular preferred speed of 1.5 at what I feel is the closest conversational tone in my regional area.

Suspenseful and intriguing as family dynamics emerge and twists evolve.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher RB Media. ( )

The Woman in the Castello is a book about a movie that begs to be made into one. It’s set in a spooky Italian castle where the movie's cast and crew are trying to make a horror flick. Strange and unsettling events keep threatening to stop the show and a key figure has mysteriously disappeared. Are the legends about the ghost that haunts the castle true and what is the dark secret from the past that someone would kill to hide?

This book was a treat to read and I enjoyed everything about it from its fun ‘60s vibe to the surprise twist at the end. Also, the writing was so descriptive I had no trouble imagining it as a classic Italian horror film. My thanks to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for an arc to review. ( )