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Hello, Chris!
Yes, I have.... and I enjoyed it!
I wasn't sure quite where the plot was going....
I was rather expecting some "magical" non -realistic explanation of how it all came about.......but was pleasantly surprised to find that all the facts dovetailed very nicely and "reasonably"!
I even had a look to see what else the author has written....
But I was a little put -off by the titles and the synopses all sounding as though the themes of the books might follow too similar a trend?
Have you read anything else by her?
If so, what did you think?

I'm pleased. I'd love to edit it, though - there are lots of unimportant but irritating mistakes. For instance, the train goes down the Loire valley to the south of France? In the newspaper office, the girl gets Jessica's parents' surname wrong.
I could go on, but I just love it despite its faults.

I've read quite a lot of other books by her. There's a list here
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/elizabeth-edmondson/

The "Very English Mystery" ones are quite good, but not really worth searching out. "The frozen lake" was intriguing as it is the same setting as "Winter holiday", though a different time. The story is a bit unpleasant, though.

The closest to "A villa in Italy" is "The Art of Love" aka "The Villa on the Riviera", but the plot reveal is obvious from about half way through.

Good evening, Elle!
Cold here!
Collecting my car tomorrow.
I was too busy to collect it today.
Good you spotted Amazon Prime!
You have to be wary when ordering anything.
Easy to fall into the hands of Prime!

Hi, Rusty!
I tend to be naturally suspicious......and am always very careful not to be "tripped up", or "conned" into anything!
I most definitely did not agree at any stage to Amazon Prime.
Fortunately, Customer Services were able to check back and verify that I have always received any orders by Standard Delivery, and so are going to refund the unsolicited payments that they took.
Yes, I've had a busy day , too.
I never even got around to starting the crossword!



A long list of books, Chris!
I enjoyed "A Villa In Italy " for its novelty - a very convoluted , well told tale!
I may leave it at that.... reading books of a similar theme may dull its effect.
I have just finished reading "The Girl At The Lion D'Or" by Sebastian Faulks.
Have you read that?

Would you recommend it, elle? I was somehwat put off Sebastian Faulks by "Birdsong".

Hello, Elle!
I try to be vigilant when using Amazon.
It is not hard to be caught out!
I bet your busy day did not involve you getting blisters!
Mine did. Was chopping firewood for my son.
I did my crossword puzzle this morning.
One to parse yet.

Hi, Rusty!
I am sure your son will be very grateful for his firewood!
No, I was not really involved in any physical labour....more just a tedious sorting out of paper work and minor problems.
It is nearly all resolved now... a job that unfortunately needed to be done.
My most strenuous task of the day was taking my dog out this afternoon!
I have the crossword puzzle sitting here before me...I just never started it!
I doubt that I can help you, as the boot is usually on the other foot, and it is you who helps me.......but you can tell me which clue you are having trouble parsing, if you like?
You never know, inspiration may strike me!
A different point of view might be helpful?
What was your car having done at the garage?
We may have to take ours in to Volvo.... it is not automatically ridding itself of the frost on the windscreen, as it usually does...…




Hello, Chris?
So did you not like "Birdsong"?
I enjoyed the book...not so much the film, as I thought that missed out a lot of the thoughts and nuances.....
I like Sebastian Faulks...he is one of my favourite authors.
I think I have read most of his books.
But no , possibly (probably?) I wouldn't recommend him to you, Chris.
I remember how you hated the indecision at the end of "Engleby" as to what actually happened......
There are sometimes "possibilities" in Faulks' novels .
I do not mind being left "up in the air" with an "either.... or" ending...but I don't think you like that type of book?

You're right, elle.
Books that I have hated having read in the last few years include "A god in ruins" and "The buried giant". You spend all that time reading them, and then you discover that "it all didn't happen".

Hello, Elle!
There are still more logs to chop!
But not for a few days, maybe next week.
I persevered with my clue and finally saw it!
It is 26a.
I saw the answer instantly, but the parse took ages!
I am fairly sure a similar clue came up recently, giving the same "Miss".
I had a noise occasionally under my car.
It was some kind of link, apparently.
It has been fixed and road-tested and I'll collect it in the morning.
It's amazing what cars can do nowadays.
I was in one today and it alerts the driver if the tyres are not inflated to the correct pressure.
New to me!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, go easy on the log-chopping!
Spread it out over the week.
I have my crossword printout before me...and have looked at 26a.
"Love missing husband, not that she regrets" (4)
It is funny how people differ in what clues they find simple.....
It is Miss Otis who regrets....so
Otis = she regrets (def)
O - love
this - not that ; minus "h" for "husband" gives "tis"
I like it!
Our car alerts the driver if the tyres are not inflated to the right pressure!
It is a very chatty car.......it tells us all sorts of things!
We cannot fathom out the inbuilt Sat Nav though...it is so complicated and seems obsessed with sending us to Finland...?
I usually plug in our old TomTom!