The Cypress Maze: a tale of secrets and learning to live again

The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy is a tale of secrets and learning to live again. In 2015, Tess is still reeling from the loss of her husband that she is sent to the Villa delle Colombe where her grandmother’s childhood friend, Beatrice is one of the caretakers. She is looking for a place of peace and solace in order to come to grips with her loss. That peace is shattered when the absent owner, Marco, arrives and they discover his plan to develop the land. Beatrice is particularly grieved at this prospect. She tells Tess a story of her time at the villa during World War II and a secret hidden within the villa’s elaborate cypress maze. In order to protect the innocent, Beatrice holds a haunting secret. Could telling her story now set her free? Can Tess convince Marco of the villa’s greater value than just land? 

Fiona Valpy is an author who has been able to blend past and present to tell a story and a lesson of hope and resilience. The Cypress Maze is such a story. However, I found it hard to get into this story. There was a lot of internal monologue, especially with Tess’ point of view. While her internal monologue makes sense in the beginning, it drags on for a little too long. Too much telling and not enough showing. Beatrice’s point of view was heartbreaking. The author’s description of the region, the villa and its grounds were gorgeous and vivid. Overall, I did enjoy the story although some parts dragged a bit. I love reading about the power of resilience and the strength to fight back. I love this story for its theme of grief, hope and resilience. If you enjoy dual timeline stories, I recommend The Cypress Maze.   

The Cypress Maze is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook