Looking for a spooky read? Try my Rome’s Last Noble Palace

I don’t generally write Halloween-appropriate fiction. My novels are mostly contemporary or historical women’s fiction.

But when I wrote my dual timeline novel set it Rome, I chose to have a ghostly presence unite my two protagonists living in a Roman palazzo over a century apart. And I’ve heard from many readers – and read in many editorial reviews – that this paranormal presence added an (enjoyably) eerie layer to the story.

So, if you’re looking to curl up with ghostly reading during the spooky season, you may enjoy my Rome’s Last Noble Palace.

It’s the recipient of eight literary awards, and if you can’t get away to Rome right now, you may enjoy this vicarious escape to the Eternal City of our time and the one that was the bustling “new” capital of Italy in 1896.

Take a look at the blurb and the book trailer below.

Two women. Two different centuries. One attic room

American Isabelle Field has been shipped off to Rome to live with her aunt, Princess Elizabeth Brancaccio. Isabelle’s aunt and mother share a common goal – replicating Elizabeth’s success by marrying Isabelle off to a European nobleman.

But Rome in 1896 is on the cusp of a new century and Isabelle longs for more than a titled husband. She secretly designs costumes for Rome’s burgeoning theatre environment and dreams of opening a fashion atelier. Can she gather the courage to forge a life for herself, even if it means going against expectations?

Over a century later, doctoral candidate Sophie Nouri can’t believe her good fortune when she is selected to intern in Rome’s Near Eastern Art Museum. Even better, the position includes an attic apartment in the spectacular museum property, the Palazzo Brancaccio.

Overseeing a major exhibition is stressful, but tension alone can’t explain the disturbing nighttime presence in the deserted hallways of the grand palace – especially one no one else can sense. Almost as if a spectral being is trying to communicate with Sophie directly. Or warn her.

Editorial reviews

“Sullivan is an experienced historical novelist, and in this novel she displays a great love of Italy, which she clearly knows well: her sense of place is meticulous throughout. … The blending of the two well-paced stories is gracefully managed, as is the idea that social change is inevitable—even in 1896.”-Kirkus Reviews

“Libraries and readers interested in novels replete with vivid insights on art, women’s lives, and historical currents of change that move through Roman affairs will find delightfully realistic and compelling Rome’s Last Noble Palace‘s study of two seemingly disparate, yet connected women whose lives dovetail in unexpected ways.” -Midwest Book Review

“Come for the haunting story and stay for a whirlwind tour of Rome from both a modern and historical perspective in this dual-timeline novel. Like a canvas painted on two sides, the accounts of each of these independent women help complete the colorful impressions of their alternatingly tortured lives. A ghostly element underpins the story, adding suspense and release at just the right moments. Dramatically elegant and just a little bit eerie, this is a delicate treat infused with glittering Roman sunshine.”-Indies Today, Recommended Five-Star Review

“A thrilling tale set in two different centuries. The dialogue is witty and sharp, and the characters are incredibly likeable and well-developed, especially the two main female characters. The story will send shivers down your spine as the truth is uncovered, and you’ll be hooked from start to finish. A thoroughly enjoyable story by a highly recommended author.-Readers’ Favorite, Five-Star Review