Review Detail

Italy has a big place in my heart. Both sides of my family came from Italy. I grew up with the warm smells of Italian cooking from my Grandpa Consoli. His secret was adding wine to everything.

THE DEMON CATCHERS OF MILAN reminds me of my grandpa with it's luscious descriptions of the Italian food. But this story is much more than just the food. The premise of Italian demon catchers is also equally appealing to me as I love a good paranormal/ghost tale.

The story starts off with Mia's demon possession. What I loved is it's not way over the top in the descriptions of the legion(yes, there's more than one) but rather has a detachment that's horrific. Not even the Catholic priest can drive out this demon. No, rather it's some forgotten Italian relatives who show up and do the work. Mia survives the exorcism. Her relatives want to take Mia back to Italy to protect her. Come to find out her own grandfather didn't survive a similar attack.

This is where the writing gets poetic with it's luscious descriptions of not only the food but the Italian life. Right then I wanted to book a flight to Italy! I loved the little details like the family making the traditional panettone bread that's a special Milanese sweet bread. I also was fascinated in how the demon catchers work with their bells. One scene stood out to me. This is when Mia goes and witnesses a woman who is possessed by someone who was gassed during World War 2 in one of concentration camps. There is a note at the back of the book talking about the horrors that the Italians went through during World War 2. I know in my own family, some of the Consoli males were executed for standing against Mussolini.

I love how Mia arcs at the end of this novel too. At first she comes across as timid(but seriously, who wouldn't if they were send to a foreign country with the different language and customs?) Her shy experience with one hawt Italian guy ends up tragically. But that doesn't hold her back. She even comes to feel comfort in the spirits in the walls of her apartment.

I'm excited this isn't the last of Mia as this is a trilogy! A must read for historical fans who love a good paranormal tale.