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The Secret Courtesan
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26A dual-timeline adventure novel of a historian who risks everything—including her life—to discover the truth about a female Renaissance sculptor unjustly erased by history.
Two determined women four hundred years apart. One mysterious statue. And a bombshell that could change history.
Art historian Mia is running out of time to prove her theory that the sculptor of an unearthed erotic statue was a courtesan erased from history—a scandal no one will believe. Chasing through Venice, she tracks down hidden details of Sofia, a powerful courtesan who seems to have left a trail of sex-fueled art buried across the city, but Mia’s now being followed, and even her boss might be in on the lie.
Meanwhile, in 1609, Sofia defies Venice’s unfair laws to create illicit art that could ruin her future. Her aspirations to become a great artist go up in flames when her patron’s wife steals her work and threatens her lover.
Four hundred years later, it's up to Mia to discover the truth, but now she’s uncovered a world of art theft that could leave her ousted—or, worse, right in the crosshairs of the most powerful crime family in Italy, who will stop at nothing to force her to authenticate the famous statue. Mia’s only hope is to prove Sofia’s existence before everyone involved silences them both forever.
Two determined women four hundred years apart. One mysterious statue. And a bombshell that could change history.
Art historian Mia is running out of time to prove her theory that the sculptor of an unearthed erotic statue was a courtesan erased from history—a scandal no one will believe. Chasing through Venice, she tracks down hidden details of Sofia, a powerful courtesan who seems to have left a trail of sex-fueled art buried across the city, but Mia’s now being followed, and even her boss might be in on the lie.
Meanwhile, in 1609, Sofia defies Venice’s unfair laws to create illicit art that could ruin her future. Her aspirations to become a great artist go up in flames when her patron’s wife steals her work and threatens her lover.
Four hundred years later, it's up to Mia to discover the truth, but now she’s uncovered a world of art theft that could leave her ousted—or, worse, right in the crosshairs of the most powerful crime family in Italy, who will stop at nothing to force her to authenticate the famous statue. Mia’s only hope is to prove Sofia’s existence before everyone involved silences them both forever.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 10, 2026
3 people are currently reading
482 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Chaput
10 books358 followersKerry Chaput is a multi-award-winning historical fiction author who writes of daring women with loads of adventure and a splash of magic. Born in California, she now calls the Pacific Northwest home, where she spends her days hitting the trails, chasing historical rabbit holes, and feeding her addiction to espresso and doggy cuddles. Explore her books at www.kerrywrites.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 18, 2025
I knew immediately that The Secret Courtesan was a book for me. It perfectly aligned with my reading tastes. A female-led, historical adventure thriller set in Venice's world of art across two timelines. It delivered on all my favorite elements.
Mia, an art historian, is running out of time to prove that an unearthed erotic statue was crafted by a courtesan erased from history. With her colleague Noah, she journeys to Venice to prove the truth she knows is right. In 1609, Sofia risks everything by creating illicit art in defiance of Venice’s laws. Her ambitions crumble when her patron’s wife steals her work and threatens her lover. Mia’s only hope is to prove Sofia’s existence before those involved silence them both forever.
This truly was a great book! It had adventure, mystery, art, romance, woman-focused perspective and was set partly in the Renaissance. My favorite timeline was the one in the past, obviously, and I often wished for more chapters featuring Sofia, but that's just the history nerd inside of me.
I enjoyed reading about Mia too. Her passion for art and finding out who the courtesan truly was shone throughout. I do have to admit that some elements from her timeline felt a little too surreal, like the supernatural feelings she would get in some places and the end was a bit too drawn out in the end but perhaps I’m overanalyzing these small details.
Overall, The Secret Courtesan by Kerry Chaput was a beautifully written, adventures art mystery set in two timelines that made for one unforgettable story. If you like art, history and stories that center on female voices, then I'm sure you'll love this one!
Mia, an art historian, is running out of time to prove that an unearthed erotic statue was crafted by a courtesan erased from history. With her colleague Noah, she journeys to Venice to prove the truth she knows is right. In 1609, Sofia risks everything by creating illicit art in defiance of Venice’s laws. Her ambitions crumble when her patron’s wife steals her work and threatens her lover. Mia’s only hope is to prove Sofia’s existence before those involved silence them both forever.
This truly was a great book! It had adventure, mystery, art, romance, woman-focused perspective and was set partly in the Renaissance. My favorite timeline was the one in the past, obviously, and I often wished for more chapters featuring Sofia, but that's just the history nerd inside of me.
I enjoyed reading about Mia too. Her passion for art and finding out who the courtesan truly was shone throughout. I do have to admit that some elements from her timeline felt a little too surreal, like the supernatural feelings she would get in some places and the end was a bit too drawn out in the end but perhaps I’m overanalyzing these small details.
Overall, The Secret Courtesan by Kerry Chaput was a beautifully written, adventures art mystery set in two timelines that made for one unforgettable story. If you like art, history and stories that center on female voices, then I'm sure you'll love this one!
November 27, 2025
This is a fantastic dual timeline story of a forgotten artist and the quest to find her in the historical records of Venice. Mia, art historian, must prove a statue was created by a female sculptor 400 years ago but was erased from history. On her quest, she has to travel to Venice from London to dig into the archives and the local architecture to find this artist with help from fellow historian, Noah. In 1609, Sofia wants to create art but women are forbidden to do so. She becomes a courtesan to a man, Lucca, and together they create some erotic statues, but his wife destroys it all. Mia tangles with the mafia in Venice as she begins to uncover the truth about Sofia.
I loved this book. It is a powerful story about how easily women were erased from history records. Each story line faced the misogynistic views of men in power and found ways to battle against it to have their voices heard. Mia and Sofia are strong, smart, and creative women and I thoroughly enjoyed how their stories evolved. Mia and Noah's relationship moves from friendship to something deeper. Having been to Venice, I could see the characters traveling through the city. Since it is an old city, you could recognize the similarities and differences four hundred years apart.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you love historical fiction, dual time lines, art, and 'badass women in history' (Kerry Chaput's substack title).
#TheSecretCourtesan #SheWritesPress #NetGalley
Thank you She Writes Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved this book. It is a powerful story about how easily women were erased from history records. Each story line faced the misogynistic views of men in power and found ways to battle against it to have their voices heard. Mia and Sofia are strong, smart, and creative women and I thoroughly enjoyed how their stories evolved. Mia and Noah's relationship moves from friendship to something deeper. Having been to Venice, I could see the characters traveling through the city. Since it is an old city, you could recognize the similarities and differences four hundred years apart.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you love historical fiction, dual time lines, art, and 'badass women in history' (Kerry Chaput's substack title).
#TheSecretCourtesan #SheWritesPress #NetGalley
Thank you She Writes Press and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 14, 2025
“If we look at history from a different angle, we see different truths.”
I love historical fiction, especially about badass women, so I was surprised to have never read anything by Kerry Chaput. This was an interesting book that took a forgotten and underestimated character and shined a light on her life and struggles. I enjoyed the dual timeline and learning about art from a feminist lens. Some of the things in the current timeline with Dr. Mia Harding were a little unbelievable (not the part where they forgot to call her Dr. but kept calling her Miss, that was very believable), but I definitely preferred Sofia’s story. All in all this was very enjoyable.
“History needs advocates to ask hard questions.”
✨3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for this arc. The Secret Courtesan comes out February 10, 2026.
I love historical fiction, especially about badass women, so I was surprised to have never read anything by Kerry Chaput. This was an interesting book that took a forgotten and underestimated character and shined a light on her life and struggles. I enjoyed the dual timeline and learning about art from a feminist lens. Some of the things in the current timeline with Dr. Mia Harding were a little unbelievable (not the part where they forgot to call her Dr. but kept calling her Miss, that was very believable), but I definitely preferred Sofia’s story. All in all this was very enjoyable.
“History needs advocates to ask hard questions.”
✨3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for this arc. The Secret Courtesan comes out February 10, 2026.
November 2, 2025
Feminist take on The DaVinci Code! Loved the heroine of the story and her quest to prove the truth. Perfect for fans of adventure, mystery, and reclaiming women’s history. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book should have been a slam dunk for me - historical fiction + art history + feminism + da Vinci code … but it totally fell apart for a variety of reasons.
The romantic parts weren’t written in a believable way. I don’t buy into any of them. I needed more witty banter or chemistry or anything to make me feel it. There was kinda a lack of depth to a lot of the writing. I wanted so badly to be whisked away into the time period but the writing just didn’t pull me in. There were also a lot of plot points that I couldn’t get behind…mainly with the MC. What was she doing for the weeks before the deadline to research? Why did she suddenly decide to dig deeper and seek an ally the night before the due date? Also, her character had a lot of aha moments (that we knew about from the alternate plot) but the way she figured it out was just by guessing or intuition???? That was very lazy writing. I wanted clever reveals! The final 15% was closer to what I was hoping for throughout the book but couldn’t make up for the rest of its mediocrity. Sadly, this book was a miss for me.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc.
The romantic parts weren’t written in a believable way. I don’t buy into any of them. I needed more witty banter or chemistry or anything to make me feel it. There was kinda a lack of depth to a lot of the writing. I wanted so badly to be whisked away into the time period but the writing just didn’t pull me in. There were also a lot of plot points that I couldn’t get behind…mainly with the MC. What was she doing for the weeks before the deadline to research? Why did she suddenly decide to dig deeper and seek an ally the night before the due date? Also, her character had a lot of aha moments (that we knew about from the alternate plot) but the way she figured it out was just by guessing or intuition???? That was very lazy writing. I wanted clever reveals! The final 15% was closer to what I was hoping for throughout the book but couldn’t make up for the rest of its mediocrity. Sadly, this book was a miss for me.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is what happens when National Treasure and Dangerous Liaisons collide and decide women should finally get the credit. The Secret Courtesan jumps right in with vivid characters and a plot that knows how to tease information just enough to keep you hooked and slightly unhinged.
The dual timelines are addictive in the best way. Each switch comes right after a revelation, forcing you to abandon one storyline just as it gets good. Both female leads are compelling, powerful, and impossible to ignore, and I raced through the pages desperate to see how their stories connected.
Yes, there is spice—exactly as advertised—but it never overshadows the heart of the story. This is ultimately about women’s power, agency, and the women history conveniently tried to forget. Add intrigue, corruption, and treasure-hunt vibes, and you’ve got a smart, fun, highly bingeable read. I’m genuinely hoping this turns into a series because I would happily follow Noah and Mia into whatever secrets and treasures come next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
The dual timelines are addictive in the best way. Each switch comes right after a revelation, forcing you to abandon one storyline just as it gets good. Both female leads are compelling, powerful, and impossible to ignore, and I raced through the pages desperate to see how their stories connected.
Yes, there is spice—exactly as advertised—but it never overshadows the heart of the story. This is ultimately about women’s power, agency, and the women history conveniently tried to forget. Add intrigue, corruption, and treasure-hunt vibes, and you’ve got a smart, fun, highly bingeable read. I’m genuinely hoping this turns into a series because I would happily follow Noah and Mia into whatever secrets and treasures come next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to She Writes Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Secret Courtesan started out strong with an intriguing premise and a vivid historical setting that immediately drew me in. The idea of uncovering a forgotten woman artist from Renaissance Venice was compelling and felt full of promise. Early on, the atmosphere and mystery kept the pages turning. However, as the story progressed, the momentum slowed and the plot began to feel stretched. I had a hard time staying fully engaged and eventually struggled to finish the book. The dual timelines didn’t always complement each other and sometimes disrupted the flow rather than enhancing it. Character development, especially within the love stories, felt thin and rushed. I wanted deeper emotional connections, but they never fully formed. Some scenes felt repetitive and could have been trimmed to tighten the narrative. While the themes of female empowerment and hidden history were admirable, the execution didn’t fully deliver. Overall, it was an okay read that started with promise but ultimately fell flat for me, earning a solid 3 stars.
November 8, 2025
I LOVED this book! As a woman with a history degree, I live for a mystery/thriller like this! So good! I really loved the dual timelines, with Sophia in 1600s Venice and Mia, present day art historian gathering evidence about Sophia from the past! I enjoyed hearing from Sophia's view, and then reflecting on the idea that, how and who writes history decides who and what is lost. I would highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This stunning historical fiction novel checks all the boxes. from love, to mystery, to all the DaVinci Code vibes. You'll swoon, your heart will race, and in then end you'll be holding your breath desperate for a heart wrenching wrong to be righted. Beautifully written and deeply emotive.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews