The Savage Garden (novel)
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| Author | Mark Mills |
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| Language | English |
| Genre | Mystery Romance |
| Publisher | Harper Perennial |
Publication date | 2007-02-05 |
| Publication place | England  |
| Media type | Paperback |
| Pages | 400 |
| ISBN | 0-00-716193-X |
| OCLC | 76074332 |
The Savage Garden is the second novel written by British author Mark Mills. Set in 1958, the story tells of Cambridge student Adam Strickland and his trip to Tuscany, Italy; which started off as a chance to study the old, Italian renaissance architecture of a garden owned by the aristocratic Docci family and results in Adam solving two murders: one from the 16th century and one just after World War II. His discoveries shake the entire lineage of the Docci clan including his love interest Antonella's life.
Characters
- Adam Strickland – the story's protagonist, an English student studying at The University of Cambridge who goes to Tuscany to study the Docci family's Villa.
- Signora Francesca Doccci
- Maria Docci
- Maurizio Docci
- Harry Strickland – Harry is Adam's older, fun-loving brother. Harry is a sculptor who often gets into little problems and disagreements with people; resulting in Adam having to help him out of them on some occasions.
- Signora Fanelli – owner of The Pensione Amorini, the bar/restaurant above which Adam stayed. She is in a relationship with Fausto.
- Fausto
- Professor Crispin Leonard – one of Adam's lecturers and (unbeknown to him) father of Emilio Docci.
- Maria – the housekeeper to the Docci Villa and a confidant to Signora Docci. Maria became a key player in keeping Signora Docci's plan from both Maurizio and Adam.
- Emilio Docci – Signora Docci's son and secretly fathered by Professor Leonard. He was killed by his half brother Maurizio.
- Chiara Docci – Maurizio's academic wife.
- Antonella - She is the granddaughter of Signora Docci and daughter of Caterina. She is a fashion designer and has played a mysterious character on a little flirtatious note with Adam. Later on, the love affair between Adam and her becomes strong, and they eventually end up together on a happy note. Mark Mills did a great job to raise suspicions around her character in a subtle way which somehow makes the protagonist, and the reader as well, believe that she deceived Adam.
See also
- Mark Mills (writer)
- The House at Riverton, a similar novel
External links
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