Louise Douglas - The House by the Sea

In Louise Douglas's novel The House by the Sea, Edie is forced to return to Sicily after her former mother-in-law, Anna DeLuca, dies and leaves her estate to Edie and her ex-husband, Joe. Edie blames Anna for a past tragedy that destroyed her family and is reluctant to return to the abandoned Villa della Madonna del Mare. While Edie initially wants to sell the property and leave, the atmospheric villa gradually reveals mysterious family secrets. The ex-couple finds old photos and other oddities that suggest a history of betrayal and tragedy. They sense that someone, or something, is trying to scare them away. In this chilling tale of loss and legacy, Edie and Joe must uncover the truth hidden within the house's past to move forward.