The Savage Garden (novel)

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The Savage Garden
AuthorMark Mills
CountryEngland England
LanguageEnglish
GenreMystery
Romance
PublisherHarper Perennial
Publication date
2007-02-05
Media typePaperback
Pages400
ISBN0-00-716193-X
OCLC76074332

The Savage Garden is the second novel written by British author Mark Mills.[1] 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.

Plot[edit]

Characters[edit]

  • 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "THE SAVAGE GARDEN". Kirkus Reviews. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2024.

External links[edit]