Book review : A Deadly Affair by Carla Simpson

A Deadly Affair
Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe book 1
by Carla Simpson
GENRE : #historical-cozy-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3,8 stars rounded up to 4.

Victorian mystery with a hint of romance and humor.
I liked it, but I wasn't crazy about it. Since it doesn't particularly stand out from numerous other "historical mystery-romance" series, whether set in the Victorian era, the Regency period, or the 1920s, I can't rate it higher than a 3.8, rounded up to 4.

________ PLOT IN SHORT________ London, 1889. Mikaela Forsythe's sister is missing, and her sister's maid has been found murdered. While the police prove inefficient (if not disinterested) in looking for clues, Mikaela promises herself to find her sister alive and bring the culprits to justice.

Directed by her aunt to hire private detective (and former police inspector) Angus Brodie, Mikaela refuses to be sidelined during the investigation. Intelligent, stubborn, cunning, and skilled in self-defense, she will give Brodie a hard time trying to keep her safe.

During the investigations in the darkest places, frequented by shady individuals, clues will emerge that lead to something much bigger: a possible conspiracy? And against whom? It will be up to this unlikely couple, and their faithful friends, to find out and act accordingly.

___________________ * * *_____________________

MY OPINION

--> I'm giving 4 full stars mainly for the characters (both main and secondary), the subtle romantic vein, and the pleasantly humorous style of the story.
However, the mystery itself is worth only 2.5 stars: it's neither compelling nor original, and the resolution is unsatisfying.

Maybe if I had read it a few years ago, before reading so many other similar series, I would have appreciated it more; I might have even found it great.

Having read it after already enjoying so many similar books, I couldn't feel as involved as I would have liked.
However, for those who love light mysteries, it is, as a whole, a pleasant read, useful for escaping daily worries and reviving your good mood, thanks to the witty dialogues and some kisses that will delight the most romantic readers.

______ MAIN CHARACTERS_____ They are adorable, even if they follow the usual clichés:

SHE is an extraordinary woman whose intelligence, curiosity, and desire for action are supported by wealth. This has allowed her to have an education, to travel far and wide, and to live adventures without caring about conventions – something that an intelligent and enterprising, but poor, woman could not have done. (Hmm... maybe I'm a little tired of "super-mega-brilliant-and-rich" heroines. It would be interesting and nice to read more often about quick-witted working-class women who can't resist the urge to investigate!).
Oh, I almost forgot: like all "brave and canny" female protagonists, she is obviously also stubborn. If the male character tells her "not to do" something, it's guaranteed that she will do it – something a bit unbearable for me, but obviously hilarious and effective in the dynamics of the stories.

HE, as always in this kind of reading, is the professional. In this book, he works independently as a detective, but he has the experience he acquired as a police inspector. As always, he has good instincts, he is capable and charming, he is introverted with a tormented past and, naturally, at the beginning, he doesn't give much credit to the "pushy woman."
But then, fascinated by her smartness and resourcefulness, he has to change his mind.
Irony, respect for women, right ideals, honesty, and courage complete the figure of the hero of the story, and I cannot deny that he fascinates me too.

So, in conclusion, the protagonists are amusing and even though their actions and reactions are predictable, their lively and ironic dialogues not only made me smile a lot while reading but also encouraged me to turn the pages to see how their bickering and mutual attraction progressed.

The "good" SIDE CHARACTERS are quite original, also nice, ironic and ready to do their best to help our two favorites.
The author manages to express the nature and mentality of each of them in a lively and fun way.

----> THE ONLY FLAW AMONG THE CHARACTERS: the villains, who usually have an equally important role in mysteries, here are portrayed in a few scenes, have few lines in the whole book and are completely ignored by the author.
I think this has taken away a lot of suspense and pathos from the story.
I hope that in the next books both the mystery and the villains will be more impressive.

___ A BLOOMING ROMANCE ___ Throughout the story, I had the impression that the author focused more on the relationship between the two characters and their interaction with their friends who work with them (including the cute dog) than on creating an intricate and compelling mystery.

Throughout the narrative, the bickering feels like a veiled courtship.
Despite coming from different backgrounds, the two characters are similar in some respects (cleverness, stubbornness, sense of justice, pride and desire to assert their autonomy)and clearly feel an attraction to each other.

To confirm this, book #1 in the series gives us a beautiful first kiss, something that usually happens in the subsequent volumes of a mystery-romance series.
"Clean" kiss, but unexpected and pleasant to read, which, together with another final surprise, invites readers to follow the development of the relationship in the next books.

_____ THE MYSTERY_____ As I said previously, this is, in my opinion, the weakest part of the book.
I didn't find it well-thought-out; I didn't encounter any major twists, and even the explanation of the mystery left much to be desired.
----> Perhaps this gap could have been filled with an interesting historical element (as in the fantastic "Lady Emily" series by Tasha Alexander), but unfortunately, apart from knowing that we are in the Victorian era and that Jack the Ripper was active, there are no historical connections. The fact that the monarchs are mentioned and their offspring make a brief appearance is not enough to make the whole thing historically relevant.

Anyway, a nice, light read to spend your leisure time.
----> Clean language, no sex scenes and no gruesome descriptions make the book suitable for all ages.

Thanks for reading my opinion, and please be lenient with my English; it's not my first language.

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Giveaway : May 2025 Free Printable Calendar

May 2025 free printable calendar

Hello dear friends !

It's been a while since I last posted a monthly calendar. I admit I've been feeling particularly lazy to use Photoshop and create graphics.

I had a difficult time this winter, as I lost my job last January.
I couldn't even focus on my reading, let alone find any creative inspiration.

Things aren't much better currently, but Spring usually brings more opportunities and the color and perfume of flowers are certainly magical for improving one's mood.
So, here it is: the May 2025 monthly calendar, which you can download for FREE and then print (or use as a desktop wallpaper).

To download, simply click on the preview image and save it on your device.

@TizianaFragnerGraphic
May 2025 Calendar
Size 1634 x 1264

I was inspired by all the blooming trees in my garden and scattered along the road and in the fields I see when walking with my dog.

I hope you like it! Enjoy :-)

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Book review : The Blighted Cliffs by Edwin Thomas

The Blighted Cliffs
Reluctant Adventures of Lieutenant Martin Jerrold Book #1
by Edwin Thomas

GENRE: #Historical-adventure-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆

This is an adventurous mystery, set against the backdrop of 1806 Dover when the city was infested by smugglers and threatened by the French tyrant Napoleon.

I found it nice and engaging from the start, but it became more compelling chapter after chapter, involving the main character in one adventure (or rather misadventure ) after another.
The second part is wonderfully fast-paced and I couldn't help but turn the page to see what would happen next.

This is the first mystery I've read where the main character belongs to the naval world.
Although I loved the "Hornblower" tv series and the "Master and Commander" movie ( both based on well known book series ) I never read a book in that genre until now.
Of course this one is far less dramatic than the two I named above, but the same it has been a captivating story.
I suggest it to those looking for a light, adventurous read.
I think I'll certainly try other adventure and mystery novels in this genre from now on.

__ PLOT IN SHORT __ England, 1806.
Lieutenant Martin Jerrold is sent by his uncle, the Admiral, to the White Cliffs of Dover, with one final chance to redeem his reputation, after his poor performance (or rather: no performance at all) during the Battle of Trafalgar.

On his first night in Dover, while loitering near the harbor, he stumbles upon a body that has fallen from the cliffs.
The consequence is immediate: he's now the prime suspect in the murder.
Distrusted by his superiors, set upon by intriguingly well-informed smugglers, and attacked by the French at sea, Jerrold has two weeks to clear his name and save his skin... or perish in the attempt.

__________________

__ MAIN CHARACTER __ A really nice main character.
He is a young man (about 25 years old) portrayed in the general plot as a coward, but he is not the kind of slimy person whose cowardice makes others pay the consequences. Absolutely not.

Jerrold is the kind of boy who is not yet very keen on taking on any kind of responsibility and is naturally inclined to do as little work as possible.
A young man who is still immature, we would say nowadays.

Unfortunately, fate and his impulsive and somewhat rebellious nature constantly lead him into trouble.
I couldn't help but love him and root for him though,because of his inherent goodness and because his impulsiveness, while causing problems, also compels him to act in recklessly heroic ways, often surprising even himself.

_ SIDE CHARACTERS___ They are equally well-developed.
Whether virtuous or villainous, each character effectively expresses themselves through vivid actions and dialogues. I found them all remarkably believable.

_ HISTORICAL PART___
The story is not only centered around a murder's mystery, but it tells us the significant problem of smuggling along the English coast at the time, as well as the threat of a French invasion.

Although it may appear to be a light read dedicated to pure entertainment, this story is actually based on historical facts and lesser-known events. Those events are not widely discussed in history books, but they're supported by clues and evidence.
I cannot tell you more, because if I did, I would spoil the mystery's resolution.
You will find out everything in the ending and in the author's historical notes.

Reading this story also revealed that hot air balloons already existed in 1785, a fact I was unaware of, in fact I used to think that people's adventures with these means belonged to the end of the 19th century.
That's why I love historical fiction: one always has something new to learn !

_ At the end of the book there are INTERESTING AUTHOR NOTES about true history and I suggest you not to read before the end of the story if you want to avoid spoilers.

_ READABLE AS A STANDALONE _
-----> It's book#1 in a series of 3, but it offers a satisfying happy ending with no cliffhanger.

_ SUITABLE TO ALL AGES _
----> Clean language, no gruesome scene.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive any errors you may find in my review, since English is not my language.

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Book review : The Organ Job by James Y.Bartlett

The Organ Job
Johann Sebastian Bach Musical Mystery book #1
by James Y.Bartlett

GENRE: #Historical-cozy-mystery

My rating: ★★☆☆☆
Real rating : 2.5

How I wish I had enjoyed this cozy mystery!
It had the potential to be a fantastic light read and a fantastic series to get attached to.
I love classical music and I simply adore settings in 18th century central Europe.

So when I saw this book for free on a book funnel ( and still available for free on Kindle unlimited ) my excitement was sky high!
Unfortunately I really struggled to get to the end and resist the temptation to abandon it.

Before to explain all reasons why it disappointed me, I gonna tell you something about the story :

___PLOT IN SHORT___ Kingdom of Prussia, 1732.
The famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach, along with his wife Anna Magdalena and his cousin and personal secretary Elias Bach, is going from Leipzig to Cassel (now Kassel) to tune the organ of the most important church in the city.
During their stay they learn of the suspicious death of the organist's daughter and the main suspect is her husband, who is also the pastor of the important Martinskirche.
The man has a lot of power and knows how to deceive (and threaten) the people around him.
Only Sebastian, with his wit and the help of his family and a good colleague, can bring the truth to light.
__________________

While I appreciate the idea of a famous composer using his observational skills and insight to uncover the truth, reading the story turned out to be boring and lacking the suggestive charm that the historical set should give.

1) As my plot summary reveals, the culprit is known from the outset (a bit like in the TV series Columbus).
Therefore, to maintain reader engagement, the story requires compelling twists and turns in both the investigation and its narration. Unfortunately, this narrative lacks such twists, and the investigation itself is unconvincing. The narration is unremarkable.

2) The reason why I love reading historical fiction and cozy mysteries set in the past is because I love the feeling of being transported to bygone eras and surrounded by characters who once lived, breathing the suggestive atmosphere of beautiful cities at those times.

However, simply describing the clothing, cuisine, and prominent buildings of a time period is insufficient to create a truly immersive atmosphere.
I've read historical fiction where authors effectively use vivid descriptions of scenes, smells, sensations, and colors to create a palpable sense of the past.
Regrettably, this author failed to achieve that effect for me.

3) The story is told in first person by 3 main characters ( Bach, his wife and his cousin ) + 2 side characters ( Bach's friend and the organist's living daughter ).
I usually enjoy first-person narration, actually it's my favorite one, but here it proved too confusing.

4) The ending was also quite disappointing: (view spoiler)[ no prison or other real punishment for the villain who will escape in the night and no happy ending for the two lovers, who will continue their lives living in different cities. (hide spoiler)]

I only appreciated the cozy atmosphere and the fact that the main characters were based on real people, which motivated me to research their history independently.

The 18th-century setting in Kassel also prompted me to search online for the historical palaces and locations mentioned, leading me to virtually explore the city.
It could have been a compelling historical "whodunit" series if the author had developed the characters more fully, limited the narration to the first-person perspective of one or, at most, two characters and crafted an intricate and captivating mystery with twists that would entice readers to eagerly turn the page.

More descriptive details of the city, rather than focusing on culinary dishes and character outfits, would have made the setting more immersive.
Overall, it was a missed opportunity. For now, I don't plan to read book #2 (already published and available).

Thanks for reading my opinion and sorry for any errors in my text, English is not my native language.

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Book review : City of Vengeance by D.V. Bishop

City of Vengeance
Cesare Aldo book #1
by D.V. Bishop
GENRE: #Historical-mystery #Renassaince-Italy

My rating: ★★★☆☆
This is a mystery set in mid-16th century Florence, Italy.

I'm Italian (so please forgive my English) and I'm always drawn to historical fiction set in the most beautiful and important cities of my country, especially when real historical figures play a role, even a small one, in the story.

The mystery itself wasn't bad, not the best and most engaging I've read in years, but it had a lot of potential to be a great read, however, some things really bothered me and that's why I rated it 3 stars, when it could have been 4 stars.

__PLOT IN SHORT ___ Florence. Winter, 1536.
A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.

Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.
During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city.

A day before another murder had happened: a young boy, who was prostituting himself disguised as a woman.
Strocchi, a constable, Aldo's colleague, wants to shed light on the case, discovering that here too important people who have in their hands the city's trade, are involved with the dead man (or with the murder).

In all this is intertwined with Aldo's private life, in fact he hides a secret and a rival officer of the court is determined to expose some details about Aldo that could lead to his ruin.
Strocchi on the contrary is a sincere young constable still full of ideals and eager to do the right thing, one Aldo can trust.

Would Aldo and Strocchi be able to stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies or will they be defeated by politics and corrupt people greedy for gain and power?
________________

DID I LIKE IT ? My opinions on this book are controversial :

__ABOUT THE MYSTERY ___

YES ---> I liked that part of this BOOK was INSPIRED BY A REAL HISTORICAL EVENT : the murder of Alessandro de Medici which took place in 1537.
I always find historical fiction very interesting when true history is well mixed with fictional elements and I think the writer did it well.

Those who are not Italian will appreciate the author's historical notes, useful and stimulating for better documentation even just by reading Wikipedia.

NO ---> It is true that the book is written in English, so most readers probably don't know many things about the Medici, but I am Italian and since the son of a famous leader (whom a street in my city is also named after) is involved in the story, I already knew the culprit ( ____WARNING : SPOILER[ and also the fact that he is not captured ] SPOILER END _____ ) so I missed a part of the suspense.
Taking inspiration from real events is right, but putting a murder in a book, which you can even read about on the web, is not the best choice.

Furthermore, the first fictional murder seems to almost be forgotten at a certain point in the book and the connection between the two murders is very weak/non-existent.

__ ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTERS __

YES ---> I became fond of both main characters: Cesare Aldo (at least until 98% of the book when he disappointed me) and Carlo Strocchi.
It's easy to appreciate characters when they are good-hearted men in a world where money and power can corrupt even men of the church as it happened in those days.
It's even easier when one of them has had a troubled past.

The same goes for a secondary character that I think will be recurring in the following books: Saul Orvieto, a Jewish doctor with whom Aldo develops a sentimental bond.

I would have liked to have a little more of the characters' private lives in the book and if I were to read more books in the series, it would be more out of interest in the characters than the mysteries they investigate.

NO---> As you can see above I liked the character the series is named after, Cesare Aldo, almost until the end, when I never expected him to ruin the ending for the readers and behave like a real hypocrite.
How ?
I can only tell you with a SPOILER ( don't read it if you plan to read the book ) ____WARNING : SPOILER[ _ Aldo in the end reveals a truth that had remained hidden: the real culprit of the fictional murder, who was a good boy who in a fight had killed a man hated by everyone for his wickedness.
Not only does Aldo ruin the happiness of two lovers, but his gesture leads the boy to commit suicide.
Aldo's lover had asked him to keep quiet, he knew that the boy was a good person and Aldo could have given him the chance to redeem himself.
I was disappointed by this ending, but I thought that Aldo wanted justice at all costs, not excusing the murder even if the victim was despicable and even if the murder had not been premeditated, but had occurred by accident.
THE REAL PROBLEM FOR ME was when Aldo, on that same night, killed an equally despicable and evil man, so that he would not reveal his secret and thus save his career and life (Aldo is gay and in those days one would end up rotting in prison).
SO HE SET HIMSELF UP AS JUDGE OF ANOTHER, BUT THEN HYPOCRITICALLY COMMITTED THE SAME ACTION: A MURDER!
I wouldn't have minded killing the blackmailer bastard, if Aldo hadn't first condemned the boy to flee and take his own life.
But he ruined a boy's life for a wrong action and then immediately after committed the same action to save his good name and with it himself.
UNACCEPTABLE ! ] SPOILER END _____
This contributed to making me give up continuing the series.
I can't read books where I don't have respect for the main character.

___ ABOUT THE WRITING STYLE __

NO ---> I don't know if the author has been to Italy or has Italian friends, in any case he stuffed the first half of the book with the most vulgar word that we Italians have to express male genitals: "cazzo" and "palle" (sorry if I report it here).
" C..." It's a disgusting word and within the first 25% of the book, it appears frequently, approximately every two to three pages, even in vulgar contexts such as: sucking his "c....".
Then from 25% to 50% of the book it is still a recurring word even in sentences where it could have been avoided. This thing disgusted me a lot, even if in Italy that dirty word has now become a common exclamation.
The issue is not only the vulgarity of the word itself, but also the vulgarity of the sentences in which it was used.
The constant repetition of this word, appearing on almost every page, was disgusting and made me want to stop reading.
If the author didn't want to use the clinical word "penis", he could have employed other Italian words that indicate the male genital organ, such as "uccello" or "pisello," which are less overtly vulgar than the word chosen by him.

The author also had fun inserting here and there Italian words that are readily translatable into English (secretary, office, family , puttana (whore)...) and the purpose of this stylistic choice makes no sense.

--> The atmosphere was no longer Italian because of those words, the author should have instead concentrated a little on some suggestive description of Florence, but apart from mentioning the name of some palaces, there is no description that transports the reader to 16th century Florence.
I recently read a book set in Venice in which there were words in Venetian (which are explainable in Italian, but do not have a corresponding word) and in Italian of the time that would not be translatable and therefore it was right.
BUT IN THIS BOOK THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE and it seemed ridiculous to me.

Thanks for reading my opinion :-)

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Book review : Her Rebel Heart by Alison Stuart

Her Rebel Heart
by Alison Stuart

GENRE: #Historical-adventure-romance
STANDALONE

My rating: ★★★★☆
3.7 rounded up to 4

Easy read, light romance with a hint of adventure, no drama and happy ending guaranteed.

The setting is English Civil War but other than that there is no real historical information in the book, except perhaps the fact that the author was inspired by real women who endured a siege of their castle when their husbands were engaged in wars.

__ PLOT IN SHORT __ England at times of the Civil War.
Sir John Felton's two daughters are alone with the garrison in their manor Kinton Lacy Castle.
Deliverance is a classic tomboy who studies all the books in the library on war tactics to defend her home.
Penitence, a true beauty, is more feminine and is pining over her broken engagement to her neighbor and lover Jack Farrington, who now fights for the opposing faction, the Royalists.

Captain Luke Collyer and his men are sent from Gloucester to Kinton Lacy by the girls' stern father to help them resist the siege and save the castle and all the people living within the walls.
Luke has a certain reputation with women and the disheveled woman dressed in breeches, who does not want to give up the command, is certainly not his ideal type of woman ... and yet between one skirmish and another the two begin to collaborate and respect each other. The attraction and a strong feeling are a natural consequence ... but the situation is critical and dangerous, someone is betraying from within and perhaps giving in to feelings is not the wisest thing to do ...

_______________________


__CHARACTERS__ As soon as I read the names of the two sisters (Deliverance and Penitence ??? Seriously ? ... Awful !!!) and that Luke was considered a womanizer and she was rebellious and stubborn, I wanted to abandon the book... but since it was already the fourth that I started without then going on I decided to continue.
Horrendous names and two clichés that I hate... But fortunately the characters turned out to be more pleasant than what was my first impression and it was easy to grow fond of them.

I admit that all, but especially the two main characters could have been explored a little more, however when I finished my reading I realized that I missed them and that is exactly what makes me understand the grade I liked them and their story.

__LOVE STORY__ Hmm... Actually I would not recommend this book to those who read mainly romances because the whole story is a mix of various elements and the author does not focus mainly on kisses and meetings.
To be honest I liked this fiction precisely for that reason. Indeed I enjoyed the adventure and the twists (which however were resolved quite quickly ) and the love story developed slowly without being too sappy (which I hate and really didn't want).

---> It's a clean romance up to 80% of the book, then there's one sex scene (which seems a little out of line with the rest of the writing style of the book), but even if it's explicit it's not vulgar and it's described briefly, so nothing particularly steamy.

---> The language is clean and that's something I always appreciate.

---> It's a fast paced adventure, I never found a moment of lull and this helped raise my rating.

---> Not a particularly exciting novel that will remain engraved in your memory, but it's a pleasant read, recommended to those looking for an undemanding content and an entertaining read..

Thanks for reading my opinion and sorry for my English, it's not my native language.

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Giveaway : Carnival Mask Bookmarks

A freebie for you : colorful Bookmarks suitable to all those fascinated by masks

Those of you who still use paper books can print them out and use them as bookmarks. .

CLICK ON THE PREVIEW IMAGE and then DOWLOAD FOR FREE

@TizianaFragnerGraphic
Carnival Masks Bookmark #1
Size 300 x 700

@TizianaFragnerGraphic
Carnival Masks Bookmark #2
Size 300 x 700

I hope you will like it. :-)

Hello friends,
Happy Mardi Gras ! :-D

I've always felt captured by the colors, the sparkle and the mystery of Carnival masks.
That is why every yearin this period, being Italian, my readings are mainly set in Venice, the city of masks par excellence and where Carnival was and still is a very important and eagerly awaited event.

I can't explain why I prefer historical fiction rather then contemporary ones. So I love the settings in Venice of bygone eras, especially the 18th century, with ladies in evening gowns with full skirts, tight bodices and fabulous wigs, lace, ribbons and jewels. men with tricorn hats and large dark cloaks hiding behind masks...
So much liveliness against the backdrop of a mysterious Venice made of water, fog, bridges and gondolas.

I love spy and secrecy games and the Venice of ancient times, in its splendor and its corruption, is the perfect background for this kind of stories.


Would you like some good suggestion
about historical mysteries set in 18th century Venice ?

Here you are :

Scherzo:
Murder and Mystery in 18th Century Venice
by Jim Williams
GENRE: #Historical-mystery
My rating: ★★★★☆


__IN A NUTSHELL __ Ludovico the German, a young eunuch who works as a singer in the theater of the splendid and corrupt Venice, finds a corpse hanged from a bridge.
The man who is with him, a well-known French philosopher named Voltaire, insists to begin a dangerous investigation. A friend of Ludovico, Giacomo Casanova will help to find the truth while the mysterious Count of Cagliostro...well you have to read it by yourself !

... Or first you can read MY REVIEW HERE.

Ascension:
The Alvise Marangon Mysteries book #1
by Gregory Dowling
GENRE: #Historical-mystery
My rating: ★★★★★


__IN A NUTSHELL __ Venice under the Dogeship of Pietro Grimani ( 1741-1752 ). Alvise Marangon is a young cicerone, i.e. a tourist guide that worksin tandem with his friend gondolier Bepi. When one day a couple of customers are stalked by shady characters, Alvise tries to help and finds himself involved in a murder. Arrested by the Doge's men, he has only two choices: rot in prison or act as an ape for the Doge to foil a political plot.
Luckily some good friend as the gondolier Bepi, the librarian Fabrizio and his beautiful daughter Lucia will be a great help in a complicated and really engaging investigation.

I really loved the main character and you can read MY REVIEW HERE

The Four Horsemen:
A Venetian mystery with surprises at every turn
The Alvise Marangon Mysteries book #2
by Gregory Dowling
GENRE: #Historical-mystery
My rating: ★★★★★


__IN A NUTSHELL __ Venice, 1749. Alvise Marangon,a young man raised in England, but born in Venice officially works as a cicerone (tourist guide) for English nobles on tour, but secretly he is also a confidential agent who operates in espionage to protect Venice from intrigues and dark plots. This time too he will find himself involved in the political plots of some rebels and in the greedy greed of Venetian nobles of ill repute.

This one is even better and more compelling than book #1, I loved it very very much ( but please, don't skip the first book, you'll have a better enjoyment of the characters and their stories and a better vision of the whole setting and story ).
----> MY REVIEW HERE


Something for those who love romantic fiction

The Venetian Mask
by Rosalind Laker
GENRE: #Historical-suspence-romance

__ NOT YET READ _ IN MY WISHLIST__


__IN A NUTSHELL __ Enduring friendships and long-held vendettas come alive against the splendor and decadence of eighteenth-century Venice.
Venice, 1775. Elena and Marietta are two great friends who marry men from two feuding families.
As the French Revolution unsettles all of Europe, Elena’s husband frames Domenico and he becomes a political prisoner. Marietta and Elena plot to save him even if they have to put their life at risk. The two women will discover that the tradition of mask-wearing is not only allowing adultery and debauchery, but can have noble purposes too.


Thanks for stopping by and have a nice day !


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