What do you think?
Rate this book
Sigismondo #1
Death of a Duchess
The member of a girl gang longs to belong to McKay, the brooding and fearless leader of a guy gang. By the author of Seventh Heaven and Turtle Moon. Reprint.
247 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Elizabeth Eyre
13 books11 followersAKA Susannah Stacey, Elizabeth Eyre is the pseudonym of the couple of writers Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey.
Jill Staynes writes her own novels as well as writing under the name of Elizabeth Eyre and Susannah Stacey with Margaret Storey. They were pupils at the same school where they invented bizarre characters and exchanged serial episodes about them. Their first book together. at the age of fifteen, was called 'Bungho, or why we went to Aleppo'. It was not offered for publication. They have both written stories for children, and together created the highly praised Superintendent Bone modern detective novels as well as this series of Italian Renaissance whodunnits.
Jill Staynes writes her own novels as well as writing under the name of Elizabeth Eyre and Susannah Stacey with Margaret Storey. They were pupils at the same school where they invented bizarre characters and exchanged serial episodes about them. Their first book together. at the age of fifteen, was called 'Bungho, or why we went to Aleppo'. It was not offered for publication. They have both written stories for children, and together created the highly praised Superintendent Bone modern detective novels as well as this series of Italian Renaissance whodunnits.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 13, 2016
This book, the first in a series of six books, is for Italophile fans of historical mysteries, in this case set during the Italian Renaissance in north-central Italy. I loved the intelligent writing that did not talk down to the reader. I found it highly entertaining!
The enigmatic detective at the center of these stories, Sigismondo, is a former soldier-for-hire who now hires himself out to the rich, in the case of this book to the Duke of a Duchy. The authors (two who use the pseudonym of Elizabeth Eyre) have made him as clever as Sherlock, as close to the chest with his deductions as Maigret, as humorous as The Name of the Rose's monk, and as sexy and hunky as a Marvel superhero.
With a wonderful use of varied narrative voice, the reader follows the story while getting a full view of events and people, especially of Sigismondo. There are also treats for the historians among the readers, with descriptions of the Duke's castle, the food of the era, a Renaissance wedding feast, and the varied clothing of era.
The authors do not shy away from the nasty bits either, with the extreme poverty shown too, right next to the over-the-top extreme wealth. Other truths about the era that we get to observe are the lowly status of women and servants with both suffering abuse, family businesses run ruthlessly, and the military dictatorships of Princes or Dukes. The Prince or Duke is the law and order in his territory. Forget democracy and republican values, this is the era of Machiavelli's princes, hopefully benevolent dictators, but usually just dictators.
Sigismondo has his “Watson” in the form of Benno, a deceptively clever servant, a lover of animals more than of people, who can blend into the walls to overhear all sorts of useful gossip that he reports back to Sigismondo. They meet in this first novel of the series, and pick up a mascot in the form of Biondello, a stray dog. Together they tackle the several mysteries that make up this intricately plotted, Machiavellian story.
There are some Britishisms in the text, and lots of dry British humor. Middle-English words are there in abundance, to name the articles of daily life of that era, and they may confuse some readers, but they will charm other readers like myself who rejoice in the wide variety of words in English. For example, did you know that the little window or peep-hole set into a door via which you spy on people and things is called a “judas”? Presumably so you can spot the traitor without having to open the whole door and put yourself in danger.
The writing varies from 3rd person objective to limited to omniscient, varying the point-of-view throughout, even to tell us parts of the story from Biondello the dog's perspective! This keeps readers on their toes, and adds much humor and many clues to the subtle storytelling, all there for the perceptive reader to catch. If you need everything spelled out in minute detail, this is not the book for you.
If you are familiar with F. Francis Crawford's historical adventure-romances, especially those set in his adopted Italy, you'll be reminded of them when reading Death of a Duchess. There is the same swashbuckling adventure alongside romance, with political intrigue galore. Unlike Crawford's work, there are sexual references in Death of a Duchess. This is a book for adult readers, and for fans of sophisticated writing.
I found it all very entertaining, and I will be trying to get my hands on the other books in the series. They are all out of print at the moment, so you have to look in libraries or second-hand bookstores, or to on-line dealers who are offering hardback copies for as little as 1 cent + shipping. Hopefully the series will be re-released as e-books soon, as pretty much everything else has been in the past year or so.
The books in the complete series are:
Death of the Duchess
Curtains for the Cardinal
Poison for the Prince
Bravo for the Bride
Axe for an Abbot
Dirge for a Doge
The enigmatic detective at the center of these stories, Sigismondo, is a former soldier-for-hire who now hires himself out to the rich, in the case of this book to the Duke of a Duchy. The authors (two who use the pseudonym of Elizabeth Eyre) have made him as clever as Sherlock, as close to the chest with his deductions as Maigret, as humorous as The Name of the Rose's monk, and as sexy and hunky as a Marvel superhero.
With a wonderful use of varied narrative voice, the reader follows the story while getting a full view of events and people, especially of Sigismondo. There are also treats for the historians among the readers, with descriptions of the Duke's castle, the food of the era, a Renaissance wedding feast, and the varied clothing of era.
The authors do not shy away from the nasty bits either, with the extreme poverty shown too, right next to the over-the-top extreme wealth. Other truths about the era that we get to observe are the lowly status of women and servants with both suffering abuse, family businesses run ruthlessly, and the military dictatorships of Princes or Dukes. The Prince or Duke is the law and order in his territory. Forget democracy and republican values, this is the era of Machiavelli's princes, hopefully benevolent dictators, but usually just dictators.
Sigismondo has his “Watson” in the form of Benno, a deceptively clever servant, a lover of animals more than of people, who can blend into the walls to overhear all sorts of useful gossip that he reports back to Sigismondo. They meet in this first novel of the series, and pick up a mascot in the form of Biondello, a stray dog. Together they tackle the several mysteries that make up this intricately plotted, Machiavellian story.
There are some Britishisms in the text, and lots of dry British humor. Middle-English words are there in abundance, to name the articles of daily life of that era, and they may confuse some readers, but they will charm other readers like myself who rejoice in the wide variety of words in English. For example, did you know that the little window or peep-hole set into a door via which you spy on people and things is called a “judas”? Presumably so you can spot the traitor without having to open the whole door and put yourself in danger.
The writing varies from 3rd person objective to limited to omniscient, varying the point-of-view throughout, even to tell us parts of the story from Biondello the dog's perspective! This keeps readers on their toes, and adds much humor and many clues to the subtle storytelling, all there for the perceptive reader to catch. If you need everything spelled out in minute detail, this is not the book for you.
If you are familiar with F. Francis Crawford's historical adventure-romances, especially those set in his adopted Italy, you'll be reminded of them when reading Death of a Duchess. There is the same swashbuckling adventure alongside romance, with political intrigue galore. Unlike Crawford's work, there are sexual references in Death of a Duchess. This is a book for adult readers, and for fans of sophisticated writing.
I found it all very entertaining, and I will be trying to get my hands on the other books in the series. They are all out of print at the moment, so you have to look in libraries or second-hand bookstores, or to on-line dealers who are offering hardback copies for as little as 1 cent + shipping. Hopefully the series will be re-released as e-books soon, as pretty much everything else has been in the past year or so.
The books in the complete series are:
Death of the Duchess
Curtains for the Cardinal
Poison for the Prince
Bravo for the Bride
Axe for an Abbot
Dirge for a Doge
June 1, 2017
I love Sigismodo. Fabulous books.
July 23, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sigismondo is a fun character though I did have a hard time picturing him go undercover as a widow! This is a fun mystery: In wouldn't call it a Cozy Mystery but it isn't one of those mysteries full of highly descriptive violence.
I also liked the head-hopping: perspective shifts between characters can be difficult to do without getting confusing and it's done well in this book.
Already started the next book...
I also liked the head-hopping: perspective shifts between characters can be difficult to do without getting confusing and it's done well in this book.
Already started the next book...
June 19, 2018
I correctly guessed the villain early on, but the book was still an enjoyable adventure.
January 18, 2011
I would normally give this three stars because there were some really confusing parts that I just couldn't understand because it's a period piece. Given that, I think that the author could have done a little bit better at describing the setting instead of assuming that the reader understands the intricacies of Renaissance Italy. Also, it was pretty obvious who did it about halfway through, and I always hate when animals die. However, I absolutely love the relationships between Sigismondo and Benno; as well as Benno and Biondello. Also, the descriptions of the actors (the cupid!), the dwarves (parading past the goldsmith!), the young children (the young page!), and Biondello (confusedly jumping out of Benno's jacket onto the ground!) were so adorable and hilarious! I went back and read a few parts that were particularly adorable and made me smile. Although Benno's condition did confuse me. Is he mentally disabled or not? Why was he no longer employed by the di Torres? Unanswered things that would have been nice to know. I intend on reading the second book regardless of the drawbacks.
November 11, 2020
Elizabeth Eyre fue el pseudónimo que utilizaron dos escritoras (Jill Staynes y Margaret Storey) para escribir juntas una serie de libros, de los cuales los más populares fueron los de una serie detectivesca ambientada en la época del Renacimiento y protagonizada por un personaje bastante misterioso que no tiene, al parecer, una identidad precisa (los que lo conocen lo identifican con distintos nombres). Ésta fue la primera novela de esa serie. Confieso que yo tengo especial predilección por este tipo de libros en los cuales se mezcla una historia criminal con una descripción de una época del pasado. Siempre y cuando, como en este caso, estén bien documentados. Se debe reconocer que cualquier lector acostumbrado a leer relatos policiacos desentraña el misterio aquí planteado al mismo tiempo que el “detective” y antes de que éste se los explique a los demás personajes. Pero eso no obsta para que sea una lectura entretenida.
July 20, 2019
The impressive investigator Sigismondo isn't the only creation to make this series outstanding. The team calling itself Elizabeth Eyre clearly had immense fun writing. Spurts of whimsical wording turn serious matters into humor. About an unlikable father: "Howling and weeping, he had to be led indoors by his sister and a knot of house servants. No sooner had the knot crammed itself in at the door than it burst out again and Jacopo appeared on the threshold, pointing."
In the way Eyre's narratives sneak up on you, I am frequently reminded of the brilliant Dorothy Dunnett. I highly recommend this beginning of the series.
Read 3 times
My favorite historical mystery of 2019
In the way Eyre's narratives sneak up on you, I am frequently reminded of the brilliant Dorothy Dunnett. I highly recommend this beginning of the series.
Read 3 times
My favorite historical mystery of 2019
October 13, 2008
This is my favorite mystery series of all time — and I’ve read a lot of mysteries! The characters of Sigismondo and Benno are like old friends, so I have to go back and reread the series every so often. Renaissance Italy comes alive with all of its pageantry, sights and smells, intrigue, and action. This series is simply incomparable!
Want to Read
October 24, 2009may have read this, but see if I've read the later ones in the series
October 13, 2010
Not a lot of character development, although what there was was enjoyable enough. The guilty party was pretty obvious from early on, but the journey to the unmasking was entertaining enough.
April 25, 2011
A great mystery series. I love the time period and location and Sigismondo is a very intriguing and well-written character.
October 6, 2012
Once a historical mystery junkie, always a historical mystery junkie...or is that "an" historical mystery?
October 8, 2012
I enjoyed this whole series. Love Sigismondo .
May 5, 2013
The first of the series. These are really enjoyable books - interesting historical setting, strong and amusing characters, a good romp.
October 6, 2018
Lively.
Want to Read
October 15, 2018Synopsis: a bride disappears and her handmaid is murdered hours before the marriage. Sigismondo and sidekick Benno spring into action.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews