Review of No Steps on the Snow by Daniela Alibrandi

Review of No Steps on the Snow by Daniela Alibrandi

Daniela Alibrandi is an accomplished writer with established credentials. In “No Steps
on the Snow” she knows of what she writes - Rome, Italian men, marriage, infidelity,
and Italian student riots.
The book is a psychological thriller written from the POV of Francesco, an Italian doctor,
with a life that is the envy of any man who wants a loving wife, loving children and a
loving mistress. But as many other men in mid-life he wants something more so he goes
to the Internet in search of an old flame from his days as a student.
Why with a perfect life like his would he seek out Milena? Passion. His marriage lacks it
and he’s the primary reason. Milena has been the passion in his life. He was thwarted in
his desire as a student because Milena was in love with a student revolutionary. Her
lover was murdered the same night she was attacked by Nuccio, Franceso’s best friend,
in a plot Francesco put together with Nuccio.
Francesco shows himself to be a loving husband and father manipulating his wife and
children so that his life can be lived precisely the way he wants it. He wants Milena and
he gets her to agree to meet for coffee. They begin a torrid affair that leads Francesco
to consider giving everything up for life with the only woman he’s really loved. As a
reader I found myself questioning if Francesco could love anyone with an ego as
dominant as his.
He orchestrates a Christmas family vacation as part of his marriage breakup so that
they can be together to say farewell. Milena and Francesco come together but in the
end their mutual passion leads to an unexpected end.
Ms. Alibrandi has written a multi-dimensional book narrated by an Italian male who is a
master in the art of deception. The challenge he faces is how to avoid deceiving himself.
Bravo Ms. Alibrandi.

5 Stars - Bill Snyder