The Medici Curse

by Daco S. Auffenorde Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Overview

When aspiring artist Anna de' Medici Rossi inherits her family's opulent villa in Tuscany, she returns to a place steeped in tragedy and mystery. Living there as a child, Anna suffered from debilitating night terrors, frequently waking to find that she had wandered far from bed. During one such episode when Anna was twelve, her mother took a fatal tumble down the stairs. Vittoria's death was officially ruled an accident, but an heirloom ruby-and-diamond necklace was missing from her bruised neck. Whispered suspicions suggest that Anna pushed her mother and stole the precious jewels. Anna, remembering little from that night, is afraid they're right. But if that's true, then what became of the necklace, which has long been associated with legends of a family curse?



Now back in Tuscany after sixteen years, Anna is shunned by the local townspeople as a killer who escaped justice, while only a few distant relatives and an old childhood friend offer solace. As she explores the sprawling villa, Anna uncovers hidden rooms and memories shrouded in fog, reigniting the violent night terrors of her youth. Plagued by unsettling visions and eerie occurrences, she questions her sanity and embarks on a harrowing journey to unravel the truth of her past. As her search deepens, she confronts shocking revelations that expose her to dangers she never anticipated.

Editorial Reviews

Alex Finlay

"In a crowded field, Daco Auffenorde stands out with a novel that is original, heartfelt, and thrilling. Family lore, art, and an extraordinary setting, make The Medici Curse a breakout in waiting."

DP Lyle

"Engaging characters, a captivating setting, and a complex, sophisticated plot wrapped in deceptions and intrigue. Exactly what a thriller should be."

Samantha M. Bailey

"The Medici Curse is a fascinating, wholly original story that beautifully, terrifyingly juxtaposes the dark and light; love and revenge with a creepy, haunting mansion set against the gorgeous, magical backdrop of Tuscany. Like the house with secret doors and hidden caves where much of the story takes place, this nail-biting thriller leads the reader down a treacherous path with shocks and twists at every corner. Childhood trauma, a struggle for power, and a family curse coil together in a plot suffused with dread and heart-thumping suspense. This is an unforgettable read."

James W. Ziskin

"Set in a lavish villa amid the lush vineyards of Tuscany, Daco Auffenorde's The Medici Curse simmers and boils with shocking twists and disturbing psychological trauma. A tenebrous mystery with an oh so satisfying conclusion."

Booklist

"Auffenorde deftly builds the tension, offering plenty of eerie atmosphere with a hint of the supernatural. Add in family members harboring potentially nefarious secrets and a creepy housekeeper and gothic readers are sure to be pleased."

Allen Eskens

"The Medici Curse is a suspenseful, wisely crafted tale of a young woman and a cursed family heirloom that weaves together the complexity of family dynamics, friendships, and deception. This mystery unveils a twist that leaves you questioning how well you really know the people around you. A fresh and imaginative new voice in the mystery world."

Isabella Maldonado

"Auffenorde deftly weaves gothic elements into a thriller to create a propulsive story that kept me turning pages all the way to the end—which I didn't see coming! Highly recommended for anyone who loves unique, atmospheric mysteries with multiple twists and surprises."

Tonya Todd

"Daco Auffenorde knows how to keep the pace moving. Much like the house in this atmospheric thriller, she draws us deeper and deeper in search of answers to the Medici mystery."

Library Journal

"The story begins with a genuine bang—a truly horrifying childhood memory—and continues with all the ingredients for a true creep show: an unreliable, possibly delusional narrator who recalls the governess in The Turn of the Screw, a family secret, a mansion fraught with haunting shades of the past, plot feints galore, dubious characters, and a coveted, gorgeously bejeweled necklace."

Kirkus

"Atmospheric . . . Auffenorde’s crisp prose maintains the tension as she unfolds the story in short chapters. A lush, elegant thriller that successfully follows a familiar formula."

Red Carpet Crash

"A gothic, psychological thriller, with twists and turns you don’t see coming. A perfect summer and 4th of July read."

Kirkus Reviews

2025-05-16
Will returning to the site of a childhood tragedy heal a fragile young artist, or trigger still more trauma?

A short prologue set in 2007 murkily dramatizes the death of opera diva Vittoria de’ Medici Rossi. Returning from the opera house in Rome after having a squabble with her husband, Carlo, Vittoria encounters Anna, her young daughter, who seems to be having night terrors, and then takes a fatal plunge…or is pushed? Decades later, Anna returns home to Tuscany after living in New York, where she earned an MFA degree. Her dream of beginning a career as an artist is undermined by the widespread suspicion that she killed her mother, a problem exacerbated by her return to the scene of the crime. The atmospheric tale includes many of the familiar tropes of both gothic and romantic suspense. There’s an ancient castle, a priceless cursed necklace, a series of evocative nightmares, a dungeon alive with eerie noises, a dead bird, and Edoardo, a creepy caretaker who lives in a cottage on the property but always seems to be nearby when danger threatens. Perhaps fueled by guilt or restlessness, Anna begins ransacking the estate in search of that necklace. A handful of Italian cousins, Giana and Paolo and Antonio Massimino, emerge as playmates. Can they be trusted? The question resonates as the quartet visits the family wine cellar, goes sailing, and shares confidences in local cafes. Throughout, Auffenorde’s crisp prose maintains the tension as she unfolds the story in short chapters from Anna’s perspective.

A lush, elegant thriller that successfully follows a familiar formula.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940194659326
Publisher:	HighBridge Company
Publication date:	07/01/2025
Edition description:	Unabridged

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