In the 1920's Italian playwright Galeazzo D'Ascanio wrote a play called Il Prezzo for his mistress, the beautiful English actress Celia Sands. Il Prezzo was expected to be D'Ascanio's dramatic masterpiece but it was never performed because Celia disappeared the night before it was scheduled to open.
Decades later Galeazzo's grandson, Alessandro 'Alex' D'Ascanio, has decided to finally stage Il Prezzo. Working through the family Trust he's restoring Il Piacere, his grandfather's estate on Lake Garda, and intends to have the play performed at the outdoor theater on the grounds. He believes he has found exactly the right lead---a struggling young English actress named Celia Sands.
The role could be her big break, but Celia is reluctant to accept a job that's offered to her only because of her name. Her mentor Rupert has been hired to direct Il Prezzo and he persuades her that the opportunity is too good to pass up. The two of them go to Italy and take up residence at Il Piacere along with the rest of the cast. Rehearsals go well and everyone involved soon has high hopes for the opening. However, events soon seem to be mirroring the first attempt to stage Il Prezzo and Celia begins to fear that someone or something doesn't want to the play to open.
I think that I expected this to have a stronger romantic element than it did. Celia and Alex do have an attraction, but it's not center stage in the story. Once I adjusted to that I was able to enjoy the book for what it is---an involving Gothic puzzle. The pace is fairly slow, but the story never seemed to drag and it held my attention all the way to the end.
Grade: B+
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