Review of 'The Cypress Maze' by Fiona Valpy

Review of The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy

Release date: July 18, 2023

Publisher: Amazon Publishing UK

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REVIEW

I have loved all of Fiona Valpy’s books I have read. So, when I saw The Cypress Maze, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. This haunting tale is somewhat different in its approach but no less intriguing. Two women are at the heart of this novel providing their stories. Dual timelines of 1943 and 2015 are explored.

One of the timelines carries Beatrice’s story of Tuscany 1943, the horrors she witnessed and experienced in a war-torn Italy. She initially escapes to Italy for a year to teach English but the pressures of war force her in another direction and she must find refuge. She is given shelter at Villa delle Colombe by Francesca and Edoardo. Behind their walled garden, her life blossoms, and we see vividly what an amazing location it is through Fiona’s detailed descriptions. Also, in this hidden setting is a complex maze that becomes a place of refuge, protection and love but also where a crime occurs. It is a story of great loss but also restoration. By reviewing memories of the past, one woman is freed and one finds new courage to continue on.

In 2015 we meet Tess. A woman who has lost her husband. She is on a journey through grief when she arrives at the villa to take solace in the gardens. It is here where she begins to heal. But the tranquil setting is interrupted when the estates owner, Marco, arrives and wants to wipe out its past by removing the garden and redeveloping it. This gives its current custodian, Beatrice, great concern as it is where she has spent most of her life and cannot imagine living anywhere else. In her attempt to save the villa, she shares with Tess its tumultuous past during the second world war but how it offered shelter and kept hope alive for those who found refuge behind its walls. She asks Tess to write it all down of what happened long ago and unveils a secret that she wants shared with Marco in hopes it will change his mind. He comes across as a grumpy and unfeeling man who cares not for the welfare of others. But his anger really is a shield he hides behind and there are more layers to him than first believed.

Gardens always possess a magical serene aura and can provide emotional, spiritual and mental healing. And they can also be a great social setting for finding love! In this story’s case, the gardens of Villa delle Colombe have been all these things. This setting in many ways is also a character and includes a fascinating maze harbouring secrets that once revealed could offer both negative and positive results.

I truly loved The Cypress Maze and although the dire details of events and pain experienced by the inhabitants of the Villa fills many of its pages, the ray of hope that shines throughout this story buoys it up to a special level. In the past timeline, the gardens (and relationships nurtured there), provide the characters with what they need by giving them something (and someone) to hold on to— through the horrific war times. In the modern timeline, the setting still serves in the same way when that haven is threatened.

And the enigma of the maze? It is an intriguing part of the plot. The Cypress maze has an incredible story to tell, once it is released to share its secrets. Its purpose in the garden is quite appropriate. I will leave the mystery for the reader to unveil, though, and just quote Plato on his definition of a maze: “It is a confusing path, hard to follow without a thread, but, provided [you are] not devoured at the midpoint, it leads surely, despite twists and turns, back to the beginning.” The Cypress Maze definitely takes us back to the start to deliver the emotional core of this novel. And it holds a powerful revelation of the effects of war on the human mind.

The Cypress Maze with its complexities certainly captured my imagination and I was moved by Beatrice’s strength and Tess’s determination. These courageous women help each other in 2015 and the book ends on a fulfilled note. Fiona has delivered another heart felt triumph. I sincerely recommend this novel and give it 5 Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for my review copy.