Italian Fever (c.1999) by Valerie Martin

Italian Fever begins when hack (but successful) thriller writer DV dies in Italy. DV was in the middle of writing his latest book, and he had rented a farmhouse in Tuscany to live in while he wrote. After his death, DV's assistant Lucy Stark travels to Italy to arrange for DV's burial and to clear up his effects. Arranging for DV's funeral and effects fall to Lucy, because none of DV's three former wives wants anything to do with him--other than collecting his money. The woman DV was living with in Italy had already left him, and she had no further interest in him.

Lucy comes down with a bad case of the flu, shortly after DV's funeral, and is cared for in the farmhouse DV was renting by an agent from DV's Italian publisher, Massimo. During the course of her illness, Lucy becomes enchanted with Massimo, and they begin a love affair.

Interwoven with the story of Lucy's love affair with Massimo are her encounters with the people DV knew--his girlfriend, his landlady, and a man from a noble family who owns the Villa to which the farmhouse is attached. Lucy is a student of art history, so her story also include her encounters with works of art that she sees while in Italy. And, there is a touch of magical realism in the book, so Lucy's encounters with ghostly spirits are also a part of her story.

Beautifully written, drenched with feeling, and thoughtful throughout--this is a novel well worth your time.