The Venus of Salo

Captain Martin Bora #8

by Ben Pastor

October 1944, in the Republic of Salò, a German puppet state in the north of Italy and the last fascist stronghold in the country. Transferred to the town of Salò on Lake Garda, Wehrmacht colonel Martin Bora must investigate the theft of a precious painting of Venus by Titian. While Bora’s inquiry proceeds among many difficulties, discovering three dead bodies throws an even more sinister light on the scene. The victims are female, very beautiful, apparently dead by their own hand but in fact, elegantly murdered. Is it the work of a serial killer, or are the homicides somehow related to the stolen Venus? Why were intriguing clues left behind for Bora to find? And why is there an official attempt to make the investigator himself appear as the culprit? Caught in an unforeseeable web of events, hounded by the Gestapo (for years at his heels on the charge of anti-Nazi activities), hopelessly in love with an enigmatic, real-flesh “Venus,” Bora must resort to all his courage and ability – not only to solve the mystery and expose the perpetrator, but also, in a breathtaking crescendo, to try to save himself from the firing squad, and secure an unlikely way out...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Ben (Maria Verbena Volpi) Pastor was born in Rome, but her career as a college teacher and writer requires that she divide her time between the United States and Italy, where she is now doing research. Author of the internationally acclaimed Martin Bora war mysteries, she begins with Aelius Spartianus a new series of thrilling tales. In addition to the United States, her novels are published in Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, and the Czech Republic. She writes in English.

Reviews

[Chequers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stavolta il nostro amato Bora non e' al fronte, ma muove i primi passi nell'Abwehr in un caso di spionaggio industriale:anche se il libro e' l'ottavo della serie, in realta' sarebbe, in ordine temporale, il secondo, subito prima di Lumen e subito dopo de La canzone del cavaliere.
Leggerli in questo ordine e' piu' sensato, ed e' quello che ho deciso di fare.
Comunque, nonostante il tema sia di spionaggio industriale e non di guerra, e' comunque sempre scritto molto bene : abbiamo qui un tenente Bora ancora non disilluso dal sogno pangermanico, ancora un po' acerbo e non totalmente "furbo"; il libro inoltre mostra anche un breve scorcio della famiglia Von Bora e di come la pensa rispetto al nazionalsocialismo.
Che altro dire, io sono una fan di Bora quindi lo consiglio a tutti.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding,exquisite,lyrical and brutal.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW2 novel set in NORTH ITALY



In October 1944 Colonel Martin Bora of the Wehrmacht is posted to North Italy, to the Republic of Salò. He has been severely wounded fighting partisans, and is reluctantly given his new posting. He should be safer there.The Republic is the last fascist stronghold in the country as the Allies move up from the South.

A major painting, owned by a local dignitary, is stolen with remarkable ease from his house. It is a very valuable portrait of Venus by Titian. Bora is given the job of tracking it it down and restoring it to its owner. But the mystery of the painting’s whereabouts is not all that concerns him. Three dead bodies also appear. Bora is embroiled in discovering what has happened to them. He also finds himself embroiled in German / Italian military politics and hounded by the Gestapo. He falls hopelessly in love with a real live ‘Venus’ (the daughter of the owner of the painting). Matters are more than complicated.

He must navigate his way through the maze, and come out on the other side – with the perpetrator of the theft identified, and his life still intact.

The Venus of Salò is a very well written book. It captures both the complexities of the region and the times in which it is set. The characters of both the German and Italian officers ring true. It is a truly fascinating period of history about which, I confess, I knew next to nothing. The story is fiction, but the background is all based on fact. The Venus of Salò is the eighth book in the Martin Bora series. The series has rightly earned Ben Pastor the title of ‘the queen of the historical thriller’.

The Venus of Salò is a quite complex and not altogether easy read, but it is worth the effort.

[Bruna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dopo aver ascoltato i primi quattro romanzi della serie sono saltata a questo perché ho deciso di leggere il resto delle avventure di Martin Bora in ordine cronologico e questo è ambientato nell’aprile del 1939, qualche mese prima dell’inizio della Seconda Guerra Mondiale. L’ambientazione storica è impeccabile e sempre piacevole, dando al lettore l’occasione di imparare qualcosa anche sul Giappone e la storia giapponese. L’intrigo è più una spy story che un giallo in senso stretto, ma mantiene sufficienti elementi di deduzione da non dispiacere a chi, come me, non ama affatto i romanzi di spionaggio. Martin Bora sta diventando un po’ troppo perfetto non solo per i miei gusti (c’è qualcosa che quest’uomo non sappia fare?) ma anche perché viene spontaneo chiedersi come mai una persona così brillante istruita e integra possa compiere errori di valutazione tanto enormi, e non solo in senso politico.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In questo libro c'è più del semplice giallo, qualcosa di più profondo su uno sfondo storico molto particolare nel quale si innestano la voglia della guerra sentita quasi come inevitabile, scrupoli di coscienza sempre più incalzanti, principi da cavalieri senza macchia che si scontrano con la brutale realtà.
Ho molto apprezzato le descrizioni relative del cielo, alle nuvole, al tempo atmosferico forse anche per questo il libro non è solo identificabile come un giallo da leggere tutto di un fiato, si prende il suo tempo.
Mi chiedo se la figura del tenente Bora sarebbe stata simile se il libro fosse stato scritto da un uomo.

[Paolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

- [x] pastor - il signore delle cento ossa - 7 - non tradisce le attese ben pastor e getta le basi del bel personaggio di martin bora. La guerra è solo un’idea distante pochi mesi, un sogno per qualcuno, un incubo per qualcun altro, una opportunità per altri. Così si sviluppa una storia di spionaggio con il contorno di un giallo la cui soluzione risolverà solo parte del mistero. Lo schema è sempre lo stesso, anche qui emerge il dettaglio storico che fa la differenza, l’occupazione giapponese della Manciuria con i suoi orrori segreti e la triste promessa di quanto accadrà. Basilare.

[Main95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro molto intrigante, letto dopo vari altri dell'autore, interessante scoprire dopo vario tempo la prima indagine di Martin von Bora sotto i servizi segreti tedeschi nel 1939, prima dello scoppio della guerra. Molto bello leggere le riflessioni che Bora scrive nel suo diario.

[Naly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Movente complicatissimo. Non mi è piaciuto. Scritto in parte in prima persona come diario e in parte narrato. Si fa fatica a non perdere il filo.

[Patrick J Granigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

Followed war from German point of view. Not fanatic but a soldier doing his duty as human being not as a nazi

[Fabrizio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lipsia 1939. Il futuro capitano Martin Bora smania di andare in guerra per onorare il nome della propria famiglia da sempre fucina di militari. Alle prese con un caso di spionaggio che coinvolge una delegazione giapponese in visita in Germania, non è ancora il militare roso dai dubbi sul suo paese e dalle lacerazioni psicologiche che i drammi personali gli riserveranno durante il conflitto alle porte. Un opera della Pastor come sempre godibilissima e consigliabile.

[J Fearnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - 5*
It is months since Italy’s King Victor Emmanuel III surrendered to the allies in 1943 and removed Mussolini from power, placing him under house arrest. The allies had hoped that this would be the end of any Italian campaign as they were fighting on so many fronts. However, Hitler ordered an invasion of northern Italy by German troops to keep access to oil reserves. Mussolini was freed from prison and reinstated by Hitler in the North. The area became known as the Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana) or, informally, the Republic of Salò (Repubblica di Salò) as Salò is where the headquarters of Mussolini’s Republican Fascist Party resided. Regardless of this it was, in fact, under German military control.

Lake Garda, Italy 1944 is the setting for The Venus of Salò by Ben Pastor. The main character Wehrmacht Colonel Martin Bora is summarily taken and dumped outside the Italian HQ in Salò by the Gestapo.

After an issue with the Gestapo in Russia, Bora had been very outspoken on what he thought of them, he was expecting a reprisal and thought that this was it. But no! He is in Salò to retrieve a stolen painting, The Venus of Salò, which has been stolen right from under the Italians noses! The painting was ‘on loan’ to them and now it’s gone!

As he familiarises himself with the set up in Salò, about the painting and investigates what happened on the night it was stolen Bora is drawn into an apparent suicide being investigated by the local police.

The suicide, Bora is sure that it’s murder, continues to be investigated. Then one of the people, a Jewish antiques expert, who has been on hand for Bora to call upon dies, another suicide!

When this apparent suicide happens Bora unofficially keeps up with the investigation, does some of his own and passes on what he believes is pertinent information to the Italian officer in charge.

Not much seems to be happening regarding the Venus. When the dealer died he left his copy of the Venus with a neighbour for Bora, who had become obsessed with it. Still, Bora has a network of contacts which he is using effectively to uncover who stole the original.

Throughout the book Bora is wary of the Gestapo and of what will happen to him.

Alongside this there are bands of resistance fighters in the hills surrounding Lake Garda and Bora gets involved with the search for one of the leaders.

I liked Martin Bora and found him a sympathetic character even though he was a German and someone who was ‘the enemy’ or at least a member of the armed forces of the Axis Powers that were the enemy of the Allies, including the U.K. , during WWII. I liked looking at a part of History from a different viewpoint and found the story fascinating. The setting felt familiar as I’d holidayed there, Lake Garda and Verona, a few years ago so increased my enjoyment of the story.

There are several threads running through this story which is well plotted and held my attention throughout. There is a great deal of tension as each thread is brought to a conclusion. Bora’s ability to solve the mystery of the Venus and help with the murders is both accomplished and brave. All seems to be going well for Bora as he leaves Salò to take up a new post when we are gripped by the final scene, he is taken by the Gestapo!

The Venus of Salò what a well constructed, fascinating, tense and engaging story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would recommend to all especially those who enjoy historical fiction.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover the locations in the novel here

A very intriguing premise and storyline! The location is the Republic of Salo – a German puppet state in the north of Italy. Well, that got me interested straight away. This novel is one of a series and although you do gain from reading the previous ones, this is a good novel on its own.

I found it fascinating that the story is set in the fascist stronghold in the country. Wehrmacht colonel Martin Bora is on the hunt of a precious painting of Venus. Trouble is that three dead bodies complicate somewhat. Things become sinister very soon. There is an odd beauty in the death scene however – for the women’s bodies have been displayed artistically.

Bora is a good man who wants to find the truth. He goes though a lot to try and wrestle with his research as well as his conscience. He starts to feel backed into a corner and becomes nervous when he appears to feel targeted. As if he is being set up.

This is an intriguing read. So many red herrings and difficult paths. I loved the mystery and the way Bora went about his investigation. There’s a lovely thread about his love life too and so it all feels very fleshed out and realistic.

It was the art links and art history that really made this novel though. We have all read about the way the Nazis banned or burned art unfortunately. This way, we learn of the history, various art pieces and the Nazi attack on the cultural heritage of Italy and elsewhere.

You have to remember reading this, is the fact that Bora has been followed by the Gestapo accused of doing things that were considered anti-Nazi activities. A man in his position has a lot to lose – and he fears for his life.

A unique and compelling read.

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good long running series on the theme of what does a man of honor do in a dishonorable situation. Martin Bora, the stoic German officer with an independent streak and the heart of a romantic, is sent in autumn 1944 to Mussolini’s Republic of Salo to fight the partisans and recover a stolen Venus by Titian. As always, he is beguiled by a woman - the parallels between her and the painted goddess are explicit - even as the Gestapo closes in for his anti Nazi activities and aid to the Jews. There are also several murders and a lot of bureaucratic squabbling as the war falls apart for the Axis. Quite good but 3.5 stars because the writing (especially the romantic and philosophy of life bits) can get too ornate. I’m also not sure the Gestapo was quite as legalistic as depicted after the June 1944 assassination plot by the army.

[Maria Teresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Avevo tentato di leggere questo libro lo scorso novembre, ma poi ho interrotto perché non mi aveva preso, ne avrò letto un centinaio di pagine in modo disinteressato, perdendomi dei pezzi perché non riuscivo a seguire il filo del racconto.
Adesso ci ho riprovato, ricominciandolo da capo, ma la sensazione è sempre quella:
"Troppe informazioni"

Non avevo mai letto niente di Ben Pastor, nonostante abbia avuto più volte l'occasione di partecipare a incontri con lei come relatrice (ha una casa di villeggiatura vicino a dove abito). A uno di questi incontri ho preso questo libro ed ero molto curiosa, avevo aspettative altissime. Pensavo di avere tra le mani un libro giallo-thriller, di quelli che non riesci a smettere di leggere... invece ci ho trovato tantissima storia della Germania, tantissima cultura giapponese, una marea di personaggi che tendevo a confondere tra di loro, dettagli biografici del protagonista, disquisizioni filosofiche. Sicuramente il livello culturale e la preparazione storica dell'autrice sono da elogiare, ma in tutto questo la vicenda di spionaggio si perde. Si perdono gli indizi, si perdono le motivazioni, si perde la comprensione del quadro generale.

Mi spiace davvero dover fare una recensione negativa, ma questo libro non mi ha lasciato nulla, al momento nemmeno la voglia di provare qualche altro titolo della stessa autrice...

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

As most know, I'm not the biggest reader of historical fiction, but I like to expand my reading every so often and this book really stood out to me.

Set in the 1940's, an era that I'm gradually adding to my knowledge base, I loved that this story seemed to combine the historical genre with an interesting mystery/crime.

I also was drawn to the fact that this was set in Italy - it seems that since my daughter went out there to live, I've accidentally happened across so many books with this wonderful setting!

I've previously read some information about the nazi confiscations of art and how this was then distributed with many pieces still missing- so having this as the base storyline made for a really interesting read.
With historical facts that seemed to be well researched and ring true.

Laid on top of this was an intriguing and sinister murder mystery that created many issues for our main character, Bora.
I found Bora and interesting character to explore as we not only followed the investigation of this case, it also learned a bit about his personal life and indiscretions.

This was another great read and I'm so pleased I chose it for my "something different" read.
It took me a little bit to get going ....but I soon became immersed in the storyline and raced to the end.

[Simone Del Mondo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solitamente, quando leggo un giallo, ho una lettura piuttosto frenetica, differente dal mio solito approccio ai libri. Questa volta le cose sono andate in maniera diversa: ho dedotto che, per la mia percezione, non si tratta soltanto di un giallo. Mi piace il modo di scrivere che mi ha fatto scoprire chicche come questa: “Il crepuscolo avrebbe ben presto rimboccato gli angoli del cielo”. Ho fatto un po' di fatica a seguire tutti i personaggi, e talvolta mi è capitato di sbuffare, ma alla fine devo ammettere che ho voglia di leggere un altro libro della serie su Martin Bora.

[G T Dunlop & Alison Dunlop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a fine wine, a fine piece of literature.

Can be read as a crime novel, reich- noir, but that ignores the fine definition of place and time. There is tension in the course of war, local partisan actions and human affairs.