Reviewed by Ian Lipke
When a book is released bearing the name Kayte Nunn I anticipated an interesting read. I had absorbed several of this writer’s works and was prepared to be thoroughly entertained. What a disaster unfolds within the first fifty to sixty pages of this book.
If a book, written for entertainment purposes, does not entertain but begins with the best part of a hundred pages with its characters doing little more than talk, it deserves to be condemned. The Palazzo is one such book. Its characters spend time lazing in the sun, drinking wine, making uninformed comments about members of staff, and bagging their acquaintances. They take rigid exercise either swimming in the ocean or taking long walks. There is very little to interest the reader in their activities.
The main character is Vivi, a successful businesswoman who has founded a large commercial enterprise but, unfortunately, has recently lost her husband. Her fortieth birthday is fast approaching, and her plans were to rent out the Palazzo Stellina and celebrate with her closest friends. Her sister Alice is an artist and single mum to twins. Alice’s son Peter worked with his aunt at Vivid and is in a homosexual relationship with Nick. Caroline, an old friend from university, lives in Italy. Then there is the assistant Jade, plus a Michelin chef, Marco, with his elderly grandmother Stella.
It is obvious from this list that many readers will become confused. While it is clear that the author was attempting to report on the psychology of these characters, their lives, hopes and dreams, she confuses the picture by attempting to watch the underlying tensions at the birthday meal.
The multiplicity of characters, combined with their individual complex personalities, creates an overload of information. The result is confusing. Leading the servants, is an Italian chef who is one of the best drawn, most rational characters in this book.
The setting of this story is located in a beautiful but rustic palazzo at the foot of the Italian Alps. The description of this location gives the reader something to identify with. Despite its beauty, the Palazzo indicates that murder is likely but, unfortunately, we don’t find out who or why until the end of the book. There is tension, but it is very slow to appear. The last fifty pages or so witness secrets and lies spilling from the lips of the characters with the untoward consumption of alcohol. It is only at this late stage that the reader regains interest.
We who follow Kayte Nunn pray that this is a one off.
The Palazzo
(2025)
by Kayte Nunn
Harper Collins
ISBN:978-1-4607-6704-7
$34.99;320pp