Read around Italy - Abruzzo

Come with me on a reading journey around Italy's stunning twenty regions.

As a book blogger/book reviewer for books set in Italy, from mysteries to histories, from crime to cookbooks, from thrillers to travel guides, cosy up in an armchair and let me take you on a journey around all of Italy’s beautiful regions.

Our first stop is Abruzzo, a region in central Italy where the mountains meet the sea. This is the region where I live, so I know it extremely well. I have selected books written by expat authors who live there as well as native Abruzzesi.

Abruzzo is an excellent setting for any story, offering diverse backdrops from rugged mountains (Gran Sasso and Majella) to sandy Adriatic beaches. From the Apennine peaks (home to wolves and bears) to coastal towns and valleys, it provides varied scenery for adventure, romance, or suspense. It has a strong sense of place. The land itself feels like a character, with stories of resilience against natural events like earthquakes, creating deep emotional ties for characters. Its strong local traditions, unique cuisine, and a sense of unspoiled authenticity make it perfect for stories of nature, family, history, and mystery.

The Vendetta Tree (The Commissario Beppe Stancato Series no 5)

A ‘Montalbano’ murder mystery story which mixes suspense and humour, where the presence of mafia is never far away

by Richard Walmsley

The discovery of a man’s body hanging from an ancient olive tree outside the little town of Picciano, in Abruzzo, is dismissed by the local police as a simple case of suicide, not worth investigating. An anonymous caller from Picciano to the Questura (police) in Pescara hints at a far more sinister explanation. Commissario Beppe Stancato and two of his colleagues take one look at this solitary olive tree outside the town and conclude that a murder has been committed. A post-mortem confirms a mafia-style killing.
It does not take long for the reticence of the town-dwellers to crack, revealing an illegal takeover by the Calabrian mafia, which controls the production and bottling of the town’s precious olive oil.

Beppe and his team are up against ‘The Smiling Man’ - a ruthless member of a clan which hails from Beppe’s home town in Calabria. His own parents and his sister’s family living in Catanzaro are at risk of reprisals from the mob. A host of diverse characters become involved in the investigation. But the final breakthrough comes from an unexpected and very disturbing source.

In The Shadow of The Apennines

An American divorcée. An Italian shepherdess.
Separated by a century, united by common dreams

by Kimberly Sullivan

The sleepy little Abruzzo mountain town of Marsicano seems about as far as Samantha can flee from her failed marriage and disastrous university career. Eager for a fresh start, Samantha begins to set down roots in her Italian mountain hideaway.

At first, the mountain retreat appears idyllic, but an outsider’s clumsy attempts at breaking into the closed mountain community are quickly thwarted when the residents discover Samantha’s snarky blog ridiculing the town and its inhabitants.

Increasingly isolated in her mountain cottage, Samantha discovers the letters and diaries of Elena, a past tenant and a survivor of the 1915 Pescina earthquake. Despite the century that separates the two women, Samantha feels increasingly drawn into Elena’s life, and discovers startling parallels with her own.

The Brittle Age ( L’età fragile)

Inspired by true events, The Brittle Age is a tale of individual resilience and a commentary on the indelible impact of historical events on personal lives and the broader community

by Donatella di Pietrantonio

In the 1990s, deep in the Maiella mountains of Central Italy, a brutal crime shattered the peace of the local community. Two young women were murdered, and a third left for dead. Lucia was twenty years old back then, and the only survivor, a childhood friend. Now Lucia is a physiotherapist, separated from her husband, and her daughter Amanda, is studying in Milan. When the pandemic forces Amanda to return to the family’s home near Pescara, forever changed by her experiences, Lucia’s memories are reawakened, and with them the impact of past trauma. Set against the backdrop of the rugged Apennine mountains, the narrative intricately weaves Lucia and Amanda’s personal struggles with the mystery of the tragedy that marked their familial land decades earlier.

Sweet Song, Bitter Loss

A fast-paced novel full of dark secrets and terrific suspense

by Paul Hencher

When eleven-year-old Giovanni Mirelti goes missing from his family home in the village of Montenero, Major D’Angelo of the Italian carabinieri takes charge of the search.

Meanwhile, in the city of Pescara, Colonel Battista is faced with what appears to be a drug-related murder, as well as a possible imminent shipment by a people-trafficking gang, information he has gleaned from a prostitute informant.

A clue to Giovanni’s disappearance prompts Sergeant Teresa Rossi to visit a British holiday-home owner in North-East England, but the situation becomes increasingly dangerous for everyone involved, leading to a dramatic and shocking climax.

Sunset Over Abruzzo

A Tale of Love and Discovery in the Heart of Italy

by Zara English

In the breathtaking mountains of Abruzzo, Maria, a middle-aged woman seeking a fresh start, leaves behind her bustling life in Manhattan for the charm of the quaint village of Roccapiano. As she navigates the intricacies of small-town life, Maria finds herself enchanted by the stunning landscapes and the warmth of its tight-knit community.

But it’s not just the picturesque views that capture her heart; it’s Luca, the dashing and charismatic mayor, whose magnetic presence ignites a spark she thought was long extinguished. As their lives intertwine amidst the vibrant colours of sunset, Maria discovers the beauty of love, friendship, and the courage to embrace new beginnings.

Join Maria on her heartfelt journey as she confronts her past, learns the value of community, and dares to open her heart to the possibilities of love. Will she find her place in this enchanting village, or will the shadows of her old life hold her back?

Don’t miss out on this captivating tale of rediscovery, romance, and the magic of second chances.

The Italian Trabocco

The brand-new uplifting tale that shows you can be who you want to be and find true love

(The Abruzzo Series Book 5)

by Barrie Lillie

One love dies, while another is born

Things couldn’t be more perfect. Toby and Zara are celebrating their engagement at Le Stelle, the hotel in Sant’Andrea. One evening, everything changes, and Toby finds himself without a job or a place to stay.

After relying on the kindness of strangers, Toby reinvents himself and finds that happiness comes from unexpected places. He discovers that with hard work, he can achieve his goal, but there’s one thing he’s unable to secure –Paloma’s love and the acceptance of her family.

Zara reappears, and with her return comes trouble. Will her demands derail Toby’s plans and take away the future he’s planning? Will he burn his bridges with the Boschetto family and end up back where he started? Can he trust himself not to make a monumental mistake?

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Notable authors from Abruzzo include the acclaimed Italian poet and writer Gabriele D’Annunzio (Pescara) and the influential novelist Ignazio Silone, known for works reflecting peasant life, but the region’s literary legacy also features ancient figures like the Roman poet Ovid (Sulmona) and modern voices like nature writer Lorenzo Arnone Sipari and cookbook author Anna Teresa Callen.

In her intro, Anna Teresa Callen says, “Years ago, at the beginning of my culinary career, I wanted to write a cookbook on Abruzzo, my native region of Italy, a land of colourful festivals, brooding traditions, gargantuan banquets, and ancient superstitions, where the accidental spilling of oil is a sure sign of tragedy. I also wanted to share the experience of growing up in a family of good cooks where food was an expression of love and caring.... Many dishes from Abruzzo, such as maccheroni alla chitarra (”guitar” macaroni), brodetto di pesce (fish stew), and porchetta (roast pig), have, of course, travelled. But most of them are still the treasured secrets of families.”

I hope you enjoy my choice of books! See you in the next region soon