Curtains for the Cardinal

Sigismondo #2

by Elizabeth Eyre

In this second Italian Renaissance whodunit the enigmatic Sigismondo - at once mercenary, courtier, sleuth - is again called upon to solve a crime that seems to threaten an entire duchy. Prince Livio of Montenero, in a fit of insane rage following the death of his wife, lops off the head of his son, whom he suspects of being a bastard, and attempts to do the same to his daughter, the beautiful young Minerva. Sigismondo, who is fortunately present, saves her and transports her to a remote villa, where she is protected by a blind lord - who might be her real father - and his household of strange characters. Meanwhile, in the Duchy of Nemorra, Cardinal Petrucci arrives to officiate at the long-scheduled wedding of Nemorra's Lord Astorre to Minerva, now missing. Before anyone learns she is gone, the cardinal is murdered in a particularly gruesome manner, and Sigismondo steps forward to sort matters out and to find the murderer.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Crime, Medieval

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

AKA 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.

Reviews

[Katherynne Boham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun followup to the first Sigismondo mystery. It's one of those plots where the best laid plans go very awry and I read with delight how it all turned out. I am enjoying this series and am looking forward to #3.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe a bit harsh - 2.5 ish

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written with a Renaissance setting, this story detailed decapitations, murders, and intrigue. Very descriptive landscape and character development. A great mystery for a rainy night.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Sigismondo and all the twists and turns in these books. A fun historical spy/mystery book if a bit bloody at times.

[Sofia Gutkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, lively novel set in the Middle Ages, which unfortunately goes on for too long in the second half of the book.

[Claire Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim, and it's not my usual cup of tea. Still, I loved it for being twisty and wonderfully descriptive of the atmosphere of Renaissance Italy.

Reminded me very much of Assassin's Creed II, so anyone who's into the games will probably like this and the other books in the same series.

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eventful.

[Kaylynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like books that start out with decapitations.

[Michele Millington · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing style difficult