Review of the book The Savage Garden by Mark Mills
I have to say that I am sad to have seen the book end, always a sign of a great book for me. When I selected this book at the library I did what I always do before deciding to try an author I haven’t previously read. I check out the blurbs on the back of the book jacket and read the synopsis on the inside of the book flap. What instantly sold me was 1. the story line. 2. the fact that The Los Angeles Times said Mark Mills had “an incredible voice.” As a writer and avid reader voice means a lot to me. If you aren’t aware of what voice actually means, it’s the personality that comes through the writing, the way the author turns a phrase to create a mood or a scene, to present a character. Each author has a unique voice, and let me tell you, The Los Angeles Times was right, Mark Mills’ is incredible.
The book begins with a prologue of Adam reflecting back, wondering if he’d known then what he knows now would have done anything differently. That is, if he’d known there would be murder involved. Chapter one finds Adam–a young, idealistic, highly intelligent college student–being sent to Italy for a week by his professor. Adam’s task is to gather information for his thesis, which is to be written about a massive garden with a rich history. This garden is located at the home of the Docci family, Villa Docci.
But what should have been a fun filled week at a beautiful Italian villa and a chance for Adam to sooth his broken heart, doing what he loves best, learning, turns out to be much more. Adam quickly finds out that Villa Docci has a haunted past and the garden itself holds many secrets, secrets Adam is determined to uncover. The matriarch, Signore Docci, herself has secrets, and to her consternation, Adam uncovers these too. However, all is not doom and gloom in this wonderful book. Adam’s brother Harry arrives, broke and full of mischief as he always is, and Adam makes several life long friends, along with fame for himself with his discoveries, while also settling some very old debts for the Docci family. The landscape of the language is peppered with the beauty of Italy, and Adam finds love in the most unlikely places.
