The Girl From Sicily by Siobhan Daiko

  

The Girl From Sicily  
By Siobhan Daiko 

 

SUMMARY:

Sicily, 1943: Lucia and her twin brother Dinu have always been inseparable, but their bond is threatened when Gero, the son of close family friends in America, arrives in their village. Although she finds herself developing feelings for him, Lucia worries about Gero’s dangerous connections and their influence on her brother.

As the chaos of World War II closes in, Lucia must navigate love and loyalty to make a difficult choice. Will she risk that the consequences of her decision could bring untold horrors and affect her family for decades to come?

2005: When Jess inherits a baglio, an ancient feudal farmhouse in Sicily, from the grandmother she never knew, she’s determined to uncover the truth about her family’s hidden past. Following the death of her parents and on the brink of divorce, Jess travels to the island alone. There, with the help of a charming Sicilian, she embarks on a quest to unearth a web of long-buried secrets.

But answers come at a price, and Jess must decide if she’s ready to confront a truth that could change everything…

Inspired by true events, this breathtaking novel reveals the hidden secrets of one Sicilian family across generations. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah, and Kate Quinn, this is an unforgettable tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice.

 

MY REVIEW:

With a duel timeline of the 1940s and the 2000s, the story unfolds across Sicily, an island rich in history and mystery known for its breathtaking beauty, the bustling streets of New York, and the quaint charm of Bristol. It intricately weaves the lives of three generations of Sicilian women, each navigating the labyrinth of family dynamics, the bittersweet melodies of love, and the profound depths of loss.

The story starts with a letter from a London law firm with a revelation. Jessica learns that her grandmother, Lucia is dead and that she is the beneficiary of an inheritance, a peasant farmhouse (baglio contadino) in Villaurora, central Sicily.

‘All that she knew was that Nonna Lucia used to live in Sicily and that she’d moved to New York after the war.’

With no surviving parents to explain, we are as curious as Jessica to know more. The journey for her, as well as the reader, begins and we can assume that this will be a journey of discovery, identity and family history. There is something empowering about taking control of your own destiny. As Jessica packs her bags, the reader is drawn into embarking on this adventure with her and travel to an island of volcanic landscapes, vibrant baglios, fragrant lemon groves, sun-drenched hills, and sprawling vineyards under a brilliant blue sky.

The story progresses in several different directions. A dual timeline between Jessica’s exploration and the disturbing story of Lucia (her grandmother) so we move, effortlessly between 2005 and 1943. Not only does the dual timeline device exist to create a connection and to demonstrate the impact one generation can have on the next, but it also makes a captivating read. Like a train, the story gathers pace as the narrative unfolds. Slowly, Jessica learns more about her grandmother’s family life and the hook for the reader is to emotionally invest in the ‘reveal.’ I do not want to include any spoilers here.

At first, it all seems too good to be true. Jessica has also inherited cash for any renovations to the farmhouse. She falls in love with the baglio and can imagine it as a perfect holiday home. We have a wonderful description of Jessica’s first impression.

‘Surrounded by olive trees that hid it from the road, the farmhouse perched at the top of a short dirt track below the pointed fever-chart crags above the village, appearing to have been dropped from space onto the hillside. The small low white building with a terracotta-tiled roof featured a big rustic wooden door in the centre. Peasant farmers had once lived there. Eight doors opened onto the paved courtyard.’

There is a romantic interest in the story in the form of Piero Sacca, the estate manager, a tall, bronzed man with muscular arms and crinkles at the corners of his hazel eyes! Naturally! This is Italy, but it is an engaging love story and feels natural. Yes, I could see these people together if they were real.

For me, the narrative is enriched by a thrilling undercurrent of Sicilian mafia lore. “Cosa Nostra” simply means “our thing,” but it is the name the Sicilian Mafia gave themselves. The enduring allure and glamorisation of the Sicilian mafia or Cosa Nostra has been portrayed many times by Hollywood, but there is no focus on redeemed and redeemable villains in this book. Lucia’s twin brother Dinu, a mobster, a racketeer with criminal goals plays centre stage in the story. His rise to power provides intrigue, suspense and pulls the reader deeper into the unfolding drama. This is not just about organised crime but about ‘omerta,’ the code of silence and the code of honour. When broken, it has devastating consequences for Lucia and her family. The author herself was inspired to write the story after a conversation about the rumoured assistance given to the allies by the Sicilian mafia during World War 11. Reading Lucia’s story is harrowing, yet believable.

‘Lucia loved her brother Dinu to the depths of her soul, but she also worried about him. He was intelligent yet ambitious, resilient yet hot-headed and there was a darker side to him that would lead him into terrible trouble one day.’

There is a sense of foreboding, and this exploration of the 1940s storyline is particularly compelling, shaped by the author’s meticulous research into the fervent Sicilian separatist politics during and in the wake of World War II, alongside the island’s complex and often tumultuous relationship with mainland Italy. This historical dimension not only deepens the narrative but also offers a captivating glimpse into the forgotten corners of Sicilian history, making it a fascinating read for anyone eager to understand this beautiful yet tumultuous island. We have a glimpse into the life of a young girl who was born in the USA, but circumstances forced the family to return to Sicily. In 1939, after Mussolini signed the Pact of Steel with Hitler against France and Britain, it became impossible to travel back to the States. Her mother and father would have been considered ‘enemy aliens.’ Lucia returns to a bleak life of strife, poverty, rationing and war time bombing.

‘Lucia wiped her brow. She had been taking part in the annual pressing of the pumadori. Yesterday the tomatoes had been cleaned, washed and left to dry overnight. This morning, she and her younger sister laid them out on bamboo frames in the sun before they added sea salt. Hot sticky work. Women’s work.’

She has an offer of marriage from Giulianu Cordona, the marshal of the local police or carabinieri but her heart lies elsewhere. Gero Bonnano from the Bronx, an American Italian soldier is parachuted onto the island with a mission to deliver a message to Don Nofriu Vaccaru, the local ‘godfather.’ It seems perfectly plausible that the US got intelligence using the connections between the local mafia and US colleagues. There are high-stakes events in Lucia’s story which build the narrative tension.

 

Why I recommend this book.

I love the way that flora and fauna are used in tandem with the dual timeline to show one character's perspective to another from the past to the present and from the end of one chapter to the start of the next.

Chapter 10: Jessica 2005

‘At the cottage’s portico, Jessica gave a gasp. A trail of ants was leading up the front step and under the door. She must have left some food out in the kitchen. Quickly unlocking the door, she took a deep breath and rushed inside. Sure enough, there was an open jar of jam on the counter, completely covered in ants. Ants must be a feature of Sicily. Something she’d have to get used to if she decided to accept Lucia’s bequest and live in Villaurora.’

Chapter 11: Lucia July 1943

‘Lucia was staring at the ants marching along the sidewalk like a miniature army as they made their way towards a dead cockroach. There were always ants in Villaurora, like there were always flies.’

There is a strong sense of place in the characters, plot, theme, atmosphere, voice, and language which provides an immersive experience for the reader. Every Sicilian word is translated- soru is sister, frati is brother, kuxinu is cousin, fuorilegge is outlaw.

I commend the author on her impeccable research for the book. Such a diligent approach enables the author to refine her ideas, provide accurate information, and create a well-informed, credible, and engaging book that contributes value to the genre of historical fiction. I would also comment on the authenticity of the story, in part because the author lives in Italy but even down to the food preparation, ingredients and descriptions. I live in Italy, myself, so I do look for cultural authenticity. For example, pasta alla norma, mentioned several times in the book is typical of Sicilian cuisine.

This book beautifully weaves together everything a reader could desire- a passionate romance that stirs the heart, a fascinating journey through history, and spine-tingling crime that ignites the imagination. Set amid the stunning vistas of the Sicilian landscape, each page immerses you in vivid descriptions of sun-kissed hillsides and the fragrant aromas of traditional Sicilian cuisine wafting through the air.

Stories have a remarkable ability to touch our hearts and evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy and wonder to anger and a sense of injustice. They allow us to escape into different worlds and experience life through various perspectives. This book beautifully exemplifies that power; it is a powerful narrative of resilience, tragedy, love, courage, and strength, unfolding amidst truly unimaginable circumstances. It invites us to feel deeply and reflects the human spirit’s incredible capacity to endure and persevere.

 ‘If we want things to stay as they are, everything must change.’ The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Siobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a Siberian cat. Siobhan was born of English parents in Hong Kong, attended boarding school in Australia, and then moved to the UK — where she taught modern foreign languages in a Welsh high school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and living the dolce vita sweet life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart.

 

 

BOOK BLURB:

Boldwood Books (19 Mar. 2025)

Author Links:

Website: www.siobhandaiko.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siobhandaiko/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siobhandaiko/