A Party in San Niccolo

It is quite some time since I read this absorbing literary novel - yet whenever I think of Italy this cleverly crafted tour de force comes to mind . The English author has somehow gotten under the skin of the ancient place and has managed to put into words the very special feeling one gets when visiting the place . Since producing this novel , her amazing talent for putting into words the essence of any place she sets her stories has led to a string of international best sellers . Gradually her genre has become one of placing women like herself in scary and life altering situations - thrillers . But this first novel stands alone in its evocative depiction of ex- pats floating like an alien species on the surface of local , Italian life . While somewhat uncomfortably realistic - unlike so many of the string of My House in Umbria type yarns - more than any contemporary writer I have come across , Kent’s version of life in Italy lingers in the mind in a mysterious fashion . So much so that I plan to go back to the beginning of this brilliant word smith’s oeuvre and read SAN NICCOLO once more . It is , like REBECCA , or even TESS OF THE DURBERVILLES , worth the effort . I recommend this first novel to any aspiring writer - look and learn from a mistress of the craft . It doesn’t get much better than this - especially now when all travel is via the armchair .

Christobel Kent is an English author. I accidently purchased one of her mysteries while in Europe and since then have purchased and read all three of her books..the other two are: "The Summer House" and "Late Season". She has a 2006 book which is yet to be available. Her books have a lot of description of charactors and details of location. I highly recommend reading her books.