The Medici Murders by David Hewson
Venice is a city full of secrets. For hundreds of years it has been the scene of scandal, intrigue and murderous rivalries. And it remains so today.
1548, Lorenzino de Medici, himself a murderer and a man few will miss, is assassinated by two hired killers.
Today, Marmaduke Godolphin, British TV historian and a man even fewer will miss, is stabbed by a stiletto blade on the exact same spot, his body dropping into the canal.
Can the story of the first murder explain the attack on Godolphin? The Carabinieri certainly think so. They recruit retired archivist Arnold Clover to unpick the mystery and to help solve the case. But the conspiracy against Godolphin runs deeper than anyone imagined.
About the author
David Hewson is a former journalist with The Times, Sunday Times and Independent. He is the author of more than twenty-five novels, including his Rome-based Nic Costa series which has been published in fifteen languages, and his Amsterdam-based series featuring detective Pieter Vos. He has also written three acclaimed adaptations of the Danish TV series, The Killing. He lives near Canterbury in Kent. @david_hewson | davidhewson.com
Review
I am a huge fan of David’s work, especially the Nic Costa series, which is one of my all-time favourites. Therefore, I was extremely excited to learn that he was writing a new series based in Italy and I was not disappointed. It was everything I wanted from it - great characters, historical details, knowledge of art, and of course the descriptions of Italy and Venice in this case. Plus, the mystery was good too! Can you tell that I liked it??
Arnold Clover is a retired archivist who has moved to Venice to lead a quiet life. But when he ends up working with the well-known British TV historian, Marmaduke Goldolohin his life becomes more exciting. Firstly, he has been asked by Goldophin to use his archival skills to help solve a centuries-old murder that involved the Medici family. But when Goldophin is found dead in the exact same place as Lorenzino De Medici has history repeated itself? Arnold is roped in to help the police with their investigation who want it solved within the day. Death is bad for tourism! Has Arnold seen who could be the killer?
I loved Arnold. I like that he is an older gentleman who has lived a normal life. Well-educated, recently widowed and has only just relocated to Venice a few weeks after his wife's death. To live in Venice had been their dream and one Arnold now has to partake alone. But he access to a lot of archives and has made a routine for himself through the help of his friend Luca. It is Luca who agrees to work with Godolphin and ropes Arnold in as well. But Godolphin and his ‘Gilded Circle’ of colleagues are not new to Arnold as he was at Cambridge at the same time as they were. It makes for a great roster of characters that have complicated relationships and conflicting desires!
The story was based on some historical rumours about the death of Lorenzino and it was something I knew nothing about. I love when a book teaches you something and that is always the case with a book written by David. As a history nerd, I love that. But what I love is when art is brought into the picture. It's partly why I loved the Nic Costa series and its inclusion here as well has given me extra stops on my next trip to Venice.
Loved this one! Let me know if you pick it up.
