Brian Hackett

When Lieutenant Dylan Parish moves his family to Naples, Italy, he’s fulfilling a lifelong dream of living in Europe—a dream of escape that began as a child hiding in his grandparents’ barn and reading stories of places far away. Unfortunately, his wife, Louise, and eight-year-old son, Carter, do not fare well in Naples. Louise soon befriends a suspicious fellow American and unknowingly gets mixed up in a local crime ring. When her friend disappears, Louise finds herself under investigation by authorities and she ultimately leaves Dylan to return to the States with Carter. Dylan, now left alone, begins exploring the sites of Italy with his beautiful Italian assistant. The two share lunches on the Amalfi coast and on the island of Capri and spend days strolling through piazzas in Rome until they have both fallen in love. Meanwhile back in the States, Louise is disappearing for days at a time and Carter is struggling. He needs his father—a father who is living his dream life in Italy—until the real world, both in Naples and back in the States, force a reckoning.

"Leaving Naples is a beautifully written novel. The different narrative lines—thefts, bad marriage, father-son relationship, love affair and career challenges—are skillfully intertwined and the settings are always vivid and meaningful. A lovely, poignant novel.”

Mark Spencer, Best-selling Author