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Hi there and welcome back to the Glam Italia Bookclub! With the days still short, and for most of us quite cold, February is the perfect month to curl up with a good book. I just finished a fantastic audio book for those of you who like thrillers, and am about to start the 2nd in this series – you’ll see them below.

In case you’re wondering, I am mostly not talking about new books. There are so many amazing books already out there that get forgotten or shelved because new ones are coming. I belong to Bookbub, and along with getting me ebooks for super cheap, they also email me regularly with recommendations for authors I might also like. I have found so many incredible authors and series this way, so if you read ebooks or on Kindle, I recommend signing up for Bookbub. It’s free, and they send you a daily email with books in your categories that have a Bookbub deal that day. In general books are free/99cents/$1.99 while on a Bookbub deal. This is a great way to check out new authors, or to stock up when authors you like have a new deal. But let’s have a look at what I’ve read so far this month:

1. Secrets of the Italian Island

I either found this book through a Bookbub recommendation, or maybe through a Bookbub deal. Either way I had never heard of this author before. This was book 1 in a series of 3 books set in World War II Italy and modern day Italy. I don’t normally read WWII fiction but with the modern day component decided to check it out.

Set on the fictional Isola di Parissi off the coast of Naples, this book tells the story of modern day grief stricken Mia who travels to Italy upon her grandmother’s death. She slowly unravels the mysteries of her grandmother’s early life, discovering she lived in an ancient castle on an isolated island, left in ruins by the Nazis. This book is based on the true story of Chateau de Costaérès, a pink granite castle on a private island off the coast of France.

I hadn’t expected to enjoy this book but I loved it! It mixes up some intrigue, a little romance, and some gorgeous Italian views. This one is a quick and easy read that will have you itching to visit the Calabrian islands and Naples.

Check out Secrets of the Italian Island by Barbara Josselson here on Amazon.

RELATED POST: 14 Fabulous Books Set In Italy

2. Locked In

This is the final book in the fantastic Department Q series, and I sincerely recommend starting with book one. There are only 10 books in this mystery/thriller/suspense series, so you’ll get to this one soon enough. And it’s brilliant.

Set in Denmark this series is about the fictitious Department Q, a group of misfit cops working on cold cases from the basement offices at police headquarters in Copenhagen. Department Q has a higher solve rate than any other department in the Danish police force, despite the frequently crazy antics of its four members. The lead characters in this series are quirky and compelling and you can’t wait to see what they get up to next. It’s easy to see why this mega best-selling series has become an international sensation, and why the Department Q books are all New York Times Best Sellers.

If you’ve not read any of them yet start with book one in series: The Keeper of Lost Causes

Check out Locked In by Jussi Adler Olsen here on Amazon

3. Aged For Murder

If you enjoy cozy mysteries that take you on a romp around Tuscany, chances are you’ll enjoy the 7 book Tuscan Vineyard cozy mystery series, of which this is book one.

When Olivia Glass, 34, concocts an ad for a cheap wine that propels her advertising company to the top, she is ashamed by her own work—yet offered the promotion she’s dreamed of. Olivia, at a crossroads, realizes this is not the life she signed up for. Worse, when Olivia discovers her long-time boyfriend, about to propose, has been cheating on her, she realizes it’s time for a major life change.

Olivia has always dreamed of moving to Tuscany, living a simple life, and starting her own vineyard. 

When her long-time friend messages her about a Tuscan cottage available, Olivia can’t help wonder: is it fate?

Hilarious, packed with travel, food, wine, twists and turns, romance and her newfound animal friend—and centering around a baffling small-town murder that Olivia must solve—AGED FOR MURDER is an un-putdownable cozy that will keep you laughing late into the night.

Check out Aged For Murder on Amazon here.

RELATED POST: 10 Fabulous Books Set In Venice

4. Stranded

This absolutely gripping psychological thriller has more than 26,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. It’s one of those books you stay up all night reading, your heart in your mouth. It is un-put-downable.

This one is not set in Italy but instead on a remote Scottish island where a group of 8 contestants arrive for the challenge of a lifetime: they are to stay on the island for a year with no contact from the outside world, while being monitored by remote cameras for a reality TV show. Twelve months later when they’re due to be picked up, no boat arrives and not all of the 8 are still alive.

With Lord of the Flies style deceit and treachery keeping you on the edge of your seat, the plot twists and turns, is full of suspense and still manages to shock you at the end. This one really is fantastic!

See Stranded here on Amazon.

AUDIOBOOKS

Alone

I’ve read several of Lisa Gardner’s books and loved them. I started the D.D. Warren & Bobby Dodge books in the middle of the series, so decided to go back to the beginning and discover the first few books in series on audiobook. Alone is book 1 in the eleven book series, introducing us to both D.D. Warren (Boston P.D Detective) and Bobby Dodge (Massachusetts State Trooper and at this time, still a SWAT team sniper.)

All the books I’ve read in this series are terrific. Fast paced, compelling characters and very bad bad guys. Alone starts with Bobby Dodge called out on a SWAT call with an armed man holding his wife and child hostage. He has to take the shot, kills the suspect who turns out to be the son of a powerful judge, then finds himself being sued for murder. This book is full of twists and turns, and every time you think you know what’s up, it whips you around another corner. The end is brilliant and completely unsuspected.

This audiobook was so good I ordered the next in series and had it waiting to click play on as soon as I finished this one.

Check out Alone here on Amazon. If you don’t have an Audible subscription you can get a free trial here. You can also check out their annual memberships here.

Currently Reading:

Currently on my Kindle I’m halfway through Rebecca Taylor’s A Perfect Life. I discovered Taylor through Bookbub and have enjoyed several of her books, including one I just finished, The Secret Next Door.

So that’s it for this month. Don’t forget to join my monthly newsletter is you’re not already a member. The newsletter is all about travel in Italy, cool new places you probably haven’t heard about yet, and fantastic new things to see and do. I also keep you updated on international travel news. Find out why tens of thousands of members from all over the globe can’t wait to open each month’s email!