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Requiem of Revenge: Music and Murder in 18th Century Europe
A twisty biographical crime novel to sink your teeth into! Perfect for fans of Alias Grace, His Bloody Project, Laura Shepherd-Robinson and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
What goes around, comes around…
Bath, England, 1761
A gruesome discovery is made in one of the city’s wealthiest townhouses. A man has been imprisoned and blinded; left to die in his own home.
He is rescued and his wife, Lady Arabella Taylor is arrested for the crimes.
Doctor Erasmus Harvey examines the victim, and finds out he is Chevalier John Taylor, an esteemed surgeon. The chevalier is keen to see his wife punished and Harvey is sent to take her confession.
But when Harvey meets with Arabella, he is astonished to find she shows no remorse. In fact, she insists her crimes were justified.
Repulsed by this she-devil, Harvey is unsure whether to declare her insane. But as he hears her testimony, what she reveals shocks him to his core.
And he soon realises he is not only unravelling the truth behind the crimes inflicted on the chevalier, but also the death of the celebrated composer J.S. Bach.
Who is the victim and who is the criminal? Why did Arabella torture her husband?
Her crimes could expose a scandal that will send shockwaves through Europe…
REQUIEM OF REVENGE is a page-turning historical thriller based on the true crime mystery surrounding the death of J S Bach.
'A compelling drama of surgical fraud and destructive arrogance, vividly told' - Linda Stratmann, author of The Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes series
What goes around, comes around…
Bath, England, 1761
A gruesome discovery is made in one of the city’s wealthiest townhouses. A man has been imprisoned and blinded; left to die in his own home.
He is rescued and his wife, Lady Arabella Taylor is arrested for the crimes.
Doctor Erasmus Harvey examines the victim, and finds out he is Chevalier John Taylor, an esteemed surgeon. The chevalier is keen to see his wife punished and Harvey is sent to take her confession.
But when Harvey meets with Arabella, he is astonished to find she shows no remorse. In fact, she insists her crimes were justified.
Repulsed by this she-devil, Harvey is unsure whether to declare her insane. But as he hears her testimony, what she reveals shocks him to his core.
And he soon realises he is not only unravelling the truth behind the crimes inflicted on the chevalier, but also the death of the celebrated composer J.S. Bach.
Who is the victim and who is the criminal? Why did Arabella torture her husband?
Her crimes could expose a scandal that will send shockwaves through Europe…
REQUIEM OF REVENGE is a page-turning historical thriller based on the true crime mystery surrounding the death of J S Bach.
'A compelling drama of surgical fraud and destructive arrogance, vividly told' - Linda Stratmann, author of The Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes series
- GenresHistorical Fiction
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2024
18 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Richard Kurti
25 books36 followersIn another life, I’d love to have been a clockmaker.
It’s not enough that a clock is a beautiful object, it also has to work – it needs to keep accurate time, month after month.
This is what attracted me to screenwriting, which is where I started as a professional writer. Screenplays have to tell moving, exciting, engaging stories, but they are also incredibly complex and very technical machines that are blueprints for the entire production.
When I ventured into the world of novel writing, I tried to bring some of the lessons I’d learnt in screenwriting with me…
High Concept
I always try to find a big idea to put at the heart of a novel.
It needs to be complex enough to resonate with different characters and situations, but it also needs to be clear enough to immediately take hold of your imagination.
Plot-Character-Plot-Character
To me, they’re very similar things.
Plots only happen because characters are striving for something; at the same time, characters are defined by what they actually do in different circumstances.
Mechanics
This is all about using different techniques to create the most dramatic and gripping story. Often it’s about knowing where to end a scene, or when to reveal information, or the ordering of different events. It’s a bit like playing a massive game of hide and seek with the reader!
Did I succeed?
Let me know what you think through Goodreads, or with a Tweet to @Richard_Kurti
Instagram: RichardKurtiWriter
It’s not enough that a clock is a beautiful object, it also has to work – it needs to keep accurate time, month after month.
This is what attracted me to screenwriting, which is where I started as a professional writer. Screenplays have to tell moving, exciting, engaging stories, but they are also incredibly complex and very technical machines that are blueprints for the entire production.
When I ventured into the world of novel writing, I tried to bring some of the lessons I’d learnt in screenwriting with me…
High Concept
I always try to find a big idea to put at the heart of a novel.
It needs to be complex enough to resonate with different characters and situations, but it also needs to be clear enough to immediately take hold of your imagination.
Plot-Character-Plot-Character
To me, they’re very similar things.
Plots only happen because characters are striving for something; at the same time, characters are defined by what they actually do in different circumstances.
Mechanics
This is all about using different techniques to create the most dramatic and gripping story. Often it’s about knowing where to end a scene, or when to reveal information, or the ordering of different events. It’s a bit like playing a massive game of hide and seek with the reader!
Did I succeed?
Let me know what you think through Goodreads, or with a Tweet to @Richard_Kurti
Instagram: RichardKurtiWriter
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 27, 2025
Richard Kurti’s Requiem of Revenge is a gripping historical thriller set in 18th-century Europe, blending music, mystery, and murder into a compelling narrative. The novel masterfully captures the elegance and darkness of the period, weaving an intricate story of betrayal, ambition, and vengeance.
The protagonist, a talented but overlooked composer, finds himself entangled in a deadly conspiracy when his mentor is murdered. As he navigates the dangerous world of court politics and rival musicians, the novel explores themes of artistic jealousy, justice, and the cost of genius. Kurti’s meticulous research brings the setting to life, immersing readers in the grandeur of aristocratic salons, candlelit opera houses, and shadowy alleyways.
The novel’s pacing is expertly handled, with suspense building steadily as the protagonist unravels secrets hidden behind musical scores and coded messages. The use of historical figures and real musical compositions adds authenticity, making it a treat for lovers of classical music and historical fiction alike.
Overall, Requiem of Revenge is a beautifully written and intellectually engaging novel that will appeal to fans of historical thrillers and mystery lovers. Kurti’s ability to blend fact and fiction makes this book a memorable read, filled with both the harmony of music and the dissonance of human nature.
Now, I am going to buy another book from the same writer.
The protagonist, a talented but overlooked composer, finds himself entangled in a deadly conspiracy when his mentor is murdered. As he navigates the dangerous world of court politics and rival musicians, the novel explores themes of artistic jealousy, justice, and the cost of genius. Kurti’s meticulous research brings the setting to life, immersing readers in the grandeur of aristocratic salons, candlelit opera houses, and shadowy alleyways.
The novel’s pacing is expertly handled, with suspense building steadily as the protagonist unravels secrets hidden behind musical scores and coded messages. The use of historical figures and real musical compositions adds authenticity, making it a treat for lovers of classical music and historical fiction alike.
Overall, Requiem of Revenge is a beautifully written and intellectually engaging novel that will appeal to fans of historical thrillers and mystery lovers. Kurti’s ability to blend fact and fiction makes this book a memorable read, filled with both the harmony of music and the dissonance of human nature.
Now, I am going to buy another book from the same writer.
January 12, 2025
As someone who is horribly squeamish when it comes to the eyes, I'm not sure how I finished this book. But the fact I did in one day is a testament to the great storytelling, even if I had to skim some of the details. I love historical fiction, especially when it explores little known characters of the past and brings their stories to light. Im horrified and intrigued to learn the chevalier was a real character and find myself running to learn more. Thanks for keeping the pages turning, even through the horrors of eye surgery!
June 25, 2024
Loved this book
First class story and a good page turner. Enjoyed the history of the time it was based on. Cracking read, just finished it at 3.30 in the morning !
First class story and a good page turner. Enjoyed the history of the time it was based on. Cracking read, just finished it at 3.30 in the morning !
March 7, 2025
Total reading enjoyment
Really good read, loved the story, and loved it even more once I read it was based on true event. I will definitely recommend!
Really good read, loved the story, and loved it even more once I read it was based on true event. I will definitely recommend!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews