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    The Ancestor: A Novel
    The Ancestor: A Novel
    The Ancestor: A Novel
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Ancestor: A Novel

    Written by Danielle Trussoni

    Narrated by Heather Masters

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    From the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of the Angelology series comes a bewitching gothic novel of suspense that plunges readers into a world of dark family secrets, the mysteries of human genetics, and the burden of family inheritance. 

    It feels like a fairy tale when Alberta ”Bert” Monte receives a letter addressed to “Countess Alberta Montebianco” at her Hudson Valley, New York, home that claims she’s inherited a noble title, money, and a castle in Italy. While Bert is more than a little skeptical, the mystery of her aristocratic family’s past, and the chance to escape her stressful life for a luxury holiday in Italy, is too good to pass up.

    At first, her inheritance seems like a dream come true: a champagne-drenched trip on a private jet to Turin, Italy; lawyers with lists of artwork and jewels bequeathed to Bert; a helicopter ride to an ancestral castle nestled in the Italian Alps below Mont Blanc; a portrait gallery of ancestors Bert never knew existed; and a cellar of expensive vintage wine for Bert to drink. 

    But her ancestry has a dark side, and Bert soon learns that her family history is particularly complicated. As Bert begins to unravel the Montebianco secrets, she begins to realize her true inheritance lies not in a legacy of ancestral treasures, but in her very genes.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateApr 7, 2020
    ISBN9780062989864
    Author

    Danielle Trussoni

    Danielle Trussoni is the New York Times, USA Today, and Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of the supernatural thrillers Angelology and Angelopolis. She currently writers the Horror column for the New York Times Book Review and has recently served as a jurist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Trussoni holds an MFA in Fiction from the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she won the Michener-Copernicus Society of America award. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages. She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her family and her pug Fly.

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    Reviews for The Ancestor

    3.5/5

    125 ratings19 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Like her Angelology series, this one is going to get a fairly mixed review from me. It's an interesting enough idea, but there are really a few too many elements of it that stretch credulity to the breaking point, even for a fantastical gothic story. Some bits of the plot just fail to cohere, some of the explanations just don't make sense, &c. So it was a bit of a bummer overall, but with some entertaining bits thrown into the mix.
    • 3/5
      A solid 3 ??? I wasn’t really sure how to rate this one. It started out really good. There were some storylines that just didn’t seem complete. A few of the deaths didn’t seem fully resolved. They were going to tell the authorities about the deaths after the snow let up but I don’t remember them ever actually reporting them. Nobody came looking for any of the ones who traveled to Mount Blanc and never returned. There was no questioning by authorities about their disappearances. There were many disappearances and no in-depth investigations that I’m aware of.

      The main character doesn’t speak up about things any sane person would. When she notices one character is about to poison another, she makes no effort to stop it. She was essentially an innocent bystander who witnessed one character serving poison to another, but didn’t try to step in. Also, another character does something pretty traumatic to her, but immediately after she’s okay enough to tell that character “Yeah, shut him up”. Like, yeah, you just did XYZ to me, go ahead and do it to him, too. Why not? For a victim, that seemed way off.

      At about the 60% mark you begin to learn about her ancestry more and things start to get weird. I like weird; don’t get me wrong. BUT how has there never been any scientific evidence found of her ancestors before? ..especially with the sightings.. Their predecessors... no evidence of them ever found before either? I mean, we have dinosaur fossils for god’s sake, but not any from them? With the surrounding area being populated in previous years and the amount of disappearances that have happened in that area, I find it hard to believe that no evidence has ever been reported.

      Monsters, ghosts, and magic are things I can get on board with. These are things that I typically choose to read about, so that’s not my issue. I can’t accept that if you are beginning at point A and end up at point C, you’re able to bypass point B altogether. It has to come together cohesively and this book missed that mark, in my opinion.

      In short, it’s a good story with much potential. The holes in the story left a lot to be desired. If you’re into gothic horror, I’d still recommend it. Just know, you’ll probably have unanswered questions and it probably leans more gothic mystery than horror. Still an entertaining and interesting read.
    • 1/5
      I refuse to read a single book of Trussoni’s until she completes the Angelology series.
    • 3/5
      Just ok. Was a little drawn out, but I don’t regret listening. But if I had passed on it, that would’ve been ok too.
    • 3/5
      It had a strong first half, but went in a weird direction
    • 5/5
      I received this book for free free as part of an Instagram tour (TLC Book Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.Wow. This was one of the most fascinating novels I have read in a long time. First off, I love that the book description does not give away too much. You get to discover the truth about Bert’s family on your own. It’s really hard to describe this book because it is so unique and I don’t want to spoil anything. There’s some gothic suspense, but also some family tragedy. Then underneath that there is the element of genetics. It just makes an intriguing combination. The book is also so beautifully written and encapsulates the creepy gothic vibe perfectly. The author is an amazing storyteller. Lastly, the book has some wonderful descriptions of books and reading. One of the characters states, “These books are like living creatures to me. Caring for them takes a great deal of time. I repair damaged spines…No one ever thinks that books need tenderness, but they do, quite a lot, in fact” (pg. 117). At another point the main character states, “Stories became a place of respite, a refuge from the thoughts that swirled through my mind like acid in a stomach. I clung to these books with the same obsessive need that I had felt for the genepy, reading them with an addictive greed…Had it not been for my time in bed, I might never have come to love books as I had, or developed the desire to write about my own tragic life” (pg 226).Overall, this is a book you have to read for yourself. I know there will be some people who read it and won’t like it and that’s totally okay. But others will just devour it. It’s a very different book so the only way to know is to read it for yourself.
    • 5/5
      This novel is a classic gothic novel. It’s fantastic. To criticize it because she hasn’t finished her other series is lazy and unconscionable!
    • 3/5
      I think the description and cover of the book is not the best marketing for this book. It’s essentially a story of a woman who discover an unnatural element in her lineage.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book. It is a unique story with some unexpected twists and turns.
    • 2/5
      The Icemen Goeth, Not Fast Enough

      Going about her life in a small upstate New York town, Alberta “Bert” Monte receives a letter that informs her she has inherited an estate in northern Italy in the shadow of Mount Blanc. When she’s finally persuaded to investigate her good fortune, she discovers not only an isolated, distressed, eerie fortress castle, but also answers to some perplexing questions, among them, why she and her estranged husband, Luca, cannot have children and her anomalous feet, so large and flat she usually keeps them shod. What starts as a gothic novel soon turns into encounters with the long sought after Yeti and her family’s relationship with these mysterious icy humanoids.

      Admirers of Danielle Trussoni’s Angelology series, along with fans of gothic literature and horror in general, may find her The Ancestor disappointing. The reason, sad to say, is that while an interesting idea, the pace and set pieces lack any real excitement. After readers discover the secret kept by the Montebianco family for centuries, the novel really begins to creep to a very pale conclusion (though not so conclusive that a sequel might not be possible). Even discovering the true nature of the fabled Abominable Snowman, according to the novel, and learning their history can’t perk up the novel.

      Unless you really can’t wait a second more for the next iteration in Trussoni’s Angelology series and must read something by her now, you may want to pass on this one.
    • 4/5
      I was surprised by the storyline of this novel. A man awakens in the wilderness of Alaska, disoriented, and unsure of who and where he is. Slowly his memory returns to him. He is Wyatt Barlow, and he has been frozen in the ground since 1898. Now 2020, he longs for his wife and son.He meets Travis Barlow, his great-great grandson, and works his way into the family’s life. Under the influence of heroin, Wyatt remembers his past and plots out his future. Of course, Travis doesn’t believe the ancestor story.Very well written, but I didn’t like some of the aspects of the novel, which is why it is 4, not 5 stars, for me. #TheAncestor #LeeMatthewGoldberg
    • 4/5
      How would you feel if you some up one morning knowing who you are, but by afternoon you are no longer that person. That's the scenario Bertie is confronted with when a letter arrives telling her she is the last person left of an ancient bloodline. A Countess, and a wealthy one to boot, with a castle in the Swiss Alps. Soon she is whisked away in a private jet, taken to the castle to meet an aunt by marriage, whom is not in the best of health and quite elderly. What she finds their is beyond belief, riches yet, but dark family secrets that many have endevored to keep hidden.I love books like this, secrets but also a descriptive tour of the castle. Old houses, secrets, gothic toned and the importance of heredity, DNA. Myths and legends surround this family and the castle. What Bertie finds and what she loses is the story. What she takes away will define her future life.A very different, imaginative story that just fit the mood I found myself in. Indulgent, incredulous, a story to sink into, take you to another place.
    • 5/5
      I received this book for free free as part of an Instagram tour (TLC Book Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.Wow. This was one of the most fascinating novels I have read in a long time. First off, I love that the book description does not give away too much. You get to discover the truth about Bert’s family on your own. It’s really hard to describe this book because it is so unique and I don’t want to spoil anything. There’s some gothic suspense, but also some family tragedy. Then underneath that there is the element of genetics. It just makes an intriguing combination. The book is also so beautifully written and encapsulates the creepy gothic vibe perfectly. The author is an amazing storyteller. Lastly, the book has some wonderful descriptions of books and reading. One of the characters states, “These books are like living creatures to me. Caring for them takes a great deal of time. I repair damaged spines…No one ever thinks that books need tenderness, but they do, quite a lot, in fact” (pg. 117). At another point the main character states, “Stories became a place of respite, a refuge from the thoughts that swirled through my mind like acid in a stomach. I clung to these books with the same obsessive need that I had felt for the genepy, reading them with an addictive greed…Had it not been for my time in bed, I might never have come to love books as I had, or developed the desire to write about my own tragic life” (pg 226).Overall, this is a book you have to read for yourself. I know there will be some people who read it and won’t like it and that’s totally okay. But others will just devour it. It’s a very different book so the only way to know is to read it for yourself.
    • 5/5
      Alberta Monte is at a crossroads in her life.  She has found that her marriage has fallen apart after several miscarriages and a recent stillbirth. Worse, there is no explanation for her inability to reproduce successfully.  So, when Alberta receives a letter addressed to the Countess Alberta Montebianco from her family's ancestral land of Nevenero, Italy saying she is the heir to a title, castle and money, she dives in.  Before leaving for Italy, Alberta finds out more about why her grandfather left Nevenero and finds a story full of danger, tragedy and folklore.  Alberta is whisked away on a private jet to her castle and finds that she has a living aunt and great-grandmother.  However, along with the dazzling castle, comes a host of dangerous secrets, secrets that Alberta will have to accept and protect.  The Ancestor is a deeply atmospheric Gothic thriller that uniquely combines elements of horror and folklore for a completely unexpected look into family history and duty.  The writing slowly and deftly builds tension with unlikely stories, isolation, dangerous conditions and an unraveling of family secrets.  Alberta's character is one of immense transformation.  Though her transformation does not take a typical route, it is all necessary in Alberta's journey.  I enjoyed that the underlying theme was in science, with genetics and finding your true self while discovering your ancestors. I was astounded by the landscape of Mont Blanc and the communities of the Aosta Valley.  I could picture the imposing castle casting a shadow on the small towns below, unchanging through the centuries.  I can easily imagine how the folklore of the Icemen developed.  At some points, I thought I had the mysteries solved, but there were surprises until the very end.  The Ancestor is a transporting, surprising story that will take you on a journey like no other.  This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      This is exactly the type of story that I want to be reading when I’m stuck inside with the pandemic in full force.Bert Monte lives in New York at the start of the novel. Very early in the story, she receives a fancy piece of mail informing her that she is the last living relative of the Montebianco family and that she has inherited the family’s castle, estate, fortunes, etc. In order to receive her new inheritance, she must appear in person at the estate and speak with the family’s legal team. When Bert arrives at the dark and beautiful property high in the remote Alps, she finds that she is essentially trapped there. She also discovers that the Montebianco family has some seriously big secrets.At first, The Ancestor reads like a mystery-thriller, but it has a wonderfully dark, atmospheric, gothic vibe. Not like a historical mystery, mind you, although the age of the castle and the surrounding areas sometimes make it feel like there is definitely some history in there somewhere. There is a place in the story when things take a little bit of a turn in tone, and then it feels more like a creepy horror story.I absolutely loved it. I could not stop turning the pages.I love the level of suspense that is present for the entire length of the novel. Every chapter practically begged me to read another, and another, and so on. I actually ended up reading the book in two long chunks, which was exactly what I wanted. The chapters are short, though, so if you need to read little snippets here and there, that would be fine too. Only I thought that being able to inhale the story pretty much all at once made it more suspenseful and made me curiouser and curiouser about what was coming in the next few pages and chapters.I liked Bert so much. How odd would it be to have your entire life uprooted because you find out you’re part of a family that dates back to Medieval times? How odd would it be to realize that your relatives (and perhaps even YOU) aren’t what you originally thought? Let me tell you, I felt for Bert. But I also couldn’t look away from her story.I think sometimes when we hear the word “gothic” we immediately think of stories like Jane Eyre or Dracula. And okay. But that’s not what this is. It’s creepily fantastic and a little bit strange and I loved it to pieces.I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
    • 4/5
      I have mixed emotions about this book. In general, it was entertaining, and got better as the book went along. But there were parts along the way that sort of made me go, "huh?" and they are what keeps me from giving this book 5 stars. However, the overall uniqueness of the plot pulls it above the mere 3 star range for me.

      I would categorize this book as part gothic horror, part science fiction, and, oddly enough, part maternal odyssey. If this mix appeals to you, you should definitely give "The Ancestor" a go!

      As we already know from the cover, Bert Monte is your average Italian-American New Yorker who finds out she is the last remaining heir to an Italian earldom in the high Alps. When we meet Bert in New York, she is - I'm sorry - rather annoying. She doesn't seem to know what she wants. She kicks her husband out of the house, but can't seem to say "boo" without him. She seems scared and weak and unsure about, well, everything. There was all this hinting around about all the pain and trauma they'd been through, including multiple miscarriages and Bert's desire to become a mother, but she seemed kind of...whiny, really. I didn't really care for her as a character, at this point. Thankfully, she gets stronger as the story goes on. I don't think I would've been able to read the whole book if she stayed this way throughout the whole thing!

      From this point, the book turns into kind of a gothic mystery/horror story, full of too-charming attorneys, mausoleums with dates that don't match up, dreary castles with mazes of halls and uncooperative servants, and mysterious figures in towers. Spoiler: There are murders - you get to judge whether they are justified or not. There are also some deaths of people who were, once upon a time, very important to Bert/Alberta. They were foreshadowed so you have a sense of dread waiting for them, but they still come as a bit of a surprise. Or at least they did, for me.

      The book also becomes kind of science-fiction-ish, with an emphasis on DNA and genealogy, and with the exception of a few pictures in books and one notable character, "monsters" are hinted at but not really seen until about 75% into the book. And those monsters raise a question: are they really monsters, or just different from us? I found myself wondering about how individuals with special needs were treated in the past...they may have looked different, but are/were they, really? So to the extent that this book made me THINK - I appreciated that about it.

      That 75% point is where the book takes a hard right turn, though, back to the motherhood issue that was hinted at in the beginning. The hard slog reading about whiny Bert in New York is completely different from the Alberta we are reading about now - especially after (another spoiler here:) her stay in the mountains with a people who are hinted at earlier as being her ancestors - thus, the book's title.

      The book had an ending with several surprises that I did not see coming, but it left me with some questions, as well. Another spoiler: why do all the children Aki and his people steal, end up dying? Surely, after 60 or 70 years, at least ONE of them would've made it to adulthood? But then, I am applying logic to a fantasy situation.... And another question: why did all the earldom's babies pre: Leopold end in so many miscarriages? That part was confusing to me - this seemed to be a problem that plagued the dynasty since the beginning? Or did it?

      Overall, it was an entertaining story, with distinct characters, and visible character growth (at least, on behalf of the main character). These are the things I look for in a good book, so I have to say that "The Ancestor" is good. But it's just a hair shy of being "great," primarily due to some confusing details and a problematic theme with different = monstrous. It would probably make a great horror movie, though!

      I won a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways, so I thank them, William Morris and Edelweiss for providing me with that free copy in exchange for this, my honest review.
    • 4/5
      Alberta Monte is just trying to live her life in New York; just sort of getting by in a complicated relationship with her estranged husband. Then one day she receives a letter notifying her that she is the last heir of a long established noble family from Italy. To claim all that comes with she needs to go to Turin then on to the ancestral castle located deep in the Alps. She both excitedly and reluctantly agrees and sets off to learn the secrets of her family.She is dropped off, expecting to only stay a week but she soon learns that her ancestry is not one she can easily abandon. What she finds at the castle is a sick and aging relative and a history she does not understand. As she learns about the family she was born into and their relationships with the people born to the region she finds that there is far more to her inheritance than money, a castle and the title.Ms. Trussoni has created a creepy, gothic tale that takes place in modern times but has the old world feels these type of tales require. You don’t really know to expect or what is going on until the end and even then you are left wondering. Which is as it should be with these types of tales. It kept me turning the pages as spent a lazy Saturday just enjoying the book.
    • 5/5
      Bert receives a strange letter. This letter is informing her she is a countess and has a huge inheritance coming her way. She is hesitant, as most people would be, but it is intriguing. So intriguing that she gets onto a private jet with a lawyer she just met. This opens up a life she never dreamed of…then it all starts to unravel.Wow…what a creepy, unusual read. This story takes you to a secluded area in Turin, Italy. And the secrets just keep unfolding. From Bert’s ancestors to the large, menacing castle, this novel is a wild ride indeed!Now this story did take a weird turn toward the end of the book. But, that just melded the story together.I loved this author’s first book Angelology. This story did not have quite the historical background as her first novel did. But, it is right up there as far as a fantastic read goes.I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
    • 4/5
      An interesting spin on the Gothic horror novel. We get the isolated, decrepit castle and mysterious family lineage, but then it takes a new twist and runs with it in a way I completely was caught by surprise. We also get a satisfying ending. There were a couple of plot points I personally had issues with but know that's on me and it was not enough to keep me from recommending this.