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Cesare Aldo #1
City of Vengeance
City of Vengeance is an explosive debut historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Florence.
Florence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.
Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.
During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?
Florence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.
Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.
During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2021
210 people are currently reading
2542 people want to read
About the author
D.V. Bishop
7 books88 followersGrew up in Mt Roskill, Auckland, Aotearoa.
In July 2023 D.V. Bishop became the first New Zealand writer to win the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Historical Dagger Award with his novel The Darkest Sin.
In July 2023 D.V. Bishop became the first New Zealand writer to win the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Historical Dagger Award with his novel The Darkest Sin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
December 19, 2020
Though fictional, historical thriller, ‘City of Vengeance’, is based partly on real incidents and people.
Medieval Florence, in the icy cold winter of 1536, Cesare Aldo (former soldier, and now serving as an officer of the criminal court) has successfully escorted Jewish moneylender Samuele Levi safely back to his hometown, though it wasn’t without incident, with the pair of them barely escaping with their lives. However, shortly after arriving back, Levi is brutally murdered in his own home.
Aldo is given four days to find out who killed him and why, or suffer the consequences. This isn’t the only problem facing Aldo, as he discovers a plot to overthrow Duke Allesandro de’ Medici, ruler of Florence. Yet another murder also occupies his very limited time, the murder of a young man who dressed as a woman. Although the authorities have no interest in this particular murder, Aldo thinks it may be connected with Levi’s.
The plot progressed at a steady pace – some moments saw the tension increase dramatically before it eased back, only to flare up again.
I instantly liked Aldo as a character. He’s not in a particularly powerful position, however, it is a position where he could easily be bought, but Aldo’s not susceptible to bribery, despite the fact that he has a huge secret of his own, which could bring about his downfall, and that in itself added extra tension to the storyline.
Tense, and atmospheric, with murder, political intrigue, secrets, and old rivalries, all simmering away in the background, just waiting for their moment in history, to grasp what some of them believe, is rightfully theirs. A great read!
* I was invited to read City of Vengeance by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Medieval Florence, in the icy cold winter of 1536, Cesare Aldo (former soldier, and now serving as an officer of the criminal court) has successfully escorted Jewish moneylender Samuele Levi safely back to his hometown, though it wasn’t without incident, with the pair of them barely escaping with their lives. However, shortly after arriving back, Levi is brutally murdered in his own home.
Aldo is given four days to find out who killed him and why, or suffer the consequences. This isn’t the only problem facing Aldo, as he discovers a plot to overthrow Duke Allesandro de’ Medici, ruler of Florence. Yet another murder also occupies his very limited time, the murder of a young man who dressed as a woman. Although the authorities have no interest in this particular murder, Aldo thinks it may be connected with Levi’s.
The plot progressed at a steady pace – some moments saw the tension increase dramatically before it eased back, only to flare up again.
I instantly liked Aldo as a character. He’s not in a particularly powerful position, however, it is a position where he could easily be bought, but Aldo’s not susceptible to bribery, despite the fact that he has a huge secret of his own, which could bring about his downfall, and that in itself added extra tension to the storyline.
Tense, and atmospheric, with murder, political intrigue, secrets, and old rivalries, all simmering away in the background, just waiting for their moment in history, to grasp what some of them believe, is rightfully theirs. A great read!
* I was invited to read City of Vengeance by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
December 12, 2020
This is the first in a historical murder mystery series, a blend of fact and fiction, by DV Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy featuring an officer of the criminal court and former soldier, Cesare Aldo, in the wealthy and influential city state of Florence in 1536, ruled by the Duke Alessandro de Medici. Aldo is returning to Florence guarding a Jewish moneylender, Samuele Levi living in fear of his life, managing to repel an attack by murderous bandits. However, Levi is murdered in his home within the city walls, his daughter Rebecca leaving home after an argument with her father. Aldo, one of the most able investigators, is tasked with finding the killer within 4 days before the feast of Epiphany, an almost impossible mission. Meanwhile, Constable Carlo Strocchi is determined to find the brutal murderers of a young man, Luca Corsini, wearing a exquisite and expensive woman's dress.
Florence in this period of history is a hotbed of court intrigue, gossip, political machinations, plots, sexual excess, bordellos, sharp inequalites, with extreme wealth existing with desperate poverty. Debtors and criminals are housed in the notorious hellhole that is the La Stinche prison. Homosexuality is a crime punishable by death, so Corsini's murder is not seen as a priority, indeed, many see it as a fate the victim deserved. Strocchi, however, is determined to find the killers, and upon discovering Corsini's home has been ransacked, he searches it thoroughly, finding a hidden book with incendiary information under the floorboards. This book ends up in the hands of an unscrupulous official, Meo Cerchi, with the result that further deaths follow. Aldo, living in a bordello, finds himself delving into Levi's life, a man for whom hardly anyone has a good word to say, a case that becomes a living nightmare when he uncovers a plot to kill Alessandro de Medici, but struggles to be believed. Living in fear of having his private secrets exposed, Aldo works with Strocchi as it begins to emerge their separate cases just might be connected.
Bishop writes a riveting and atmospheric piece historical fiction, he makes this period of Florentine history come vividly alive, such as the need for the likes of Aldo and Strocchi to tread carefully when it came to dealing with the city's powerful elites, as a group they act with impunity, virtually untouchable by Florence's justice system. The highlight of this promising beginning to the series is, without doubt, the complex and towering figure of Aldo, larger than life, finding himself facing dangers from all corners, a resilient, memorable, charismatic and enduring character that immediately ensnared my interest, so much so that I cannot wait to read the next in the series. This is for all those who enjoy well written and enthralling historical murder mysteries, such as readers who love the novels of CJ Sansom. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
Florence in this period of history is a hotbed of court intrigue, gossip, political machinations, plots, sexual excess, bordellos, sharp inequalites, with extreme wealth existing with desperate poverty. Debtors and criminals are housed in the notorious hellhole that is the La Stinche prison. Homosexuality is a crime punishable by death, so Corsini's murder is not seen as a priority, indeed, many see it as a fate the victim deserved. Strocchi, however, is determined to find the killers, and upon discovering Corsini's home has been ransacked, he searches it thoroughly, finding a hidden book with incendiary information under the floorboards. This book ends up in the hands of an unscrupulous official, Meo Cerchi, with the result that further deaths follow. Aldo, living in a bordello, finds himself delving into Levi's life, a man for whom hardly anyone has a good word to say, a case that becomes a living nightmare when he uncovers a plot to kill Alessandro de Medici, but struggles to be believed. Living in fear of having his private secrets exposed, Aldo works with Strocchi as it begins to emerge their separate cases just might be connected.
Bishop writes a riveting and atmospheric piece historical fiction, he makes this period of Florentine history come vividly alive, such as the need for the likes of Aldo and Strocchi to tread carefully when it came to dealing with the city's powerful elites, as a group they act with impunity, virtually untouchable by Florence's justice system. The highlight of this promising beginning to the series is, without doubt, the complex and towering figure of Aldo, larger than life, finding himself facing dangers from all corners, a resilient, memorable, charismatic and enduring character that immediately ensnared my interest, so much so that I cannot wait to read the next in the series. This is for all those who enjoy well written and enthralling historical murder mysteries, such as readers who love the novels of CJ Sansom. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
May 11, 2023
3 "so much to admire, extremely interesting, way too Hollywood" stars !!
Winner-2022 READ WHERE i WISH I WAS EDITOR AWARD
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Pan Macmillan for an e-copy. I am providing an honest review. This was released February 2021.
A warm mention to Paromjit whose stellar review made me want to read this immediately. GR buddy Maureen also left a very enthusiastic four star review which also propelled me further.
I am considering presenting this book to my writing circle in the Autumn so will do this review in point form format to allow the ideas to take hold in my little brain and give them time to grow.
What was absolutely stellar :
1. subject matter was incredibly interesting...a historical crime fiction of the murder of Duke Alessandro de Medici (who was likely mixed race) in 1536 Florence over the period of about 10 days
2. the book was INCREDIBLY well plotted with a logical and fascinating sequence of events...the author left no string hanging and the foreshadowing and layout were unbelievably excellent...(all these terrible chick lit thriller writers have so much to learn about this)
3. the exploration of misogyny, homophobia and anti-semitism as sub-themes in this book was both welcome and educational...the stakes were so high for unprotected women, men who desired love with other men and the Jewish communities in general.
4. the ability of the writer to keep track of a very large cast of characters and make them distinct for the reader while providing a general sociology to understanding social status, the church and the functioning of political bureaucracies as well as exploring to some degree both police forces and bordellos
5. the careful seeding of the plot to lay out future instalments of this series...both interesting and enticing
6. the book cover is five star amazing !
What was troublesome and needed huge improvements:
1. the main characters could have been etched much more deeply with some exploration of their internal conflicts and personality functioning
2. as fascinating as this was this felt rather anachronistic to appease general readers
3. the physical fighting felt more Pirates of the Caribbean than true historical content....at times became so slapstick that it was just DAMN SILLY
4. the dialogue when humor was included was so cheezy that it gave me that really bad kind of gas as well as the constant italian words for primarily male genitalia and swear words that made the gas worse...no more cazzo palle or merda puhleeze
Preferentially I would also liked more political and family intrigue, some delicious heterosexual sex and a deepening of the gay romance (these were not deal breakers for me just minor quibbles).
Aspects of this were so bloody amazing that I want to continue but I really dislike slapstick and cheezy humor. I will compromise and longlist and see what happens.
Winner-2022 READ WHERE i WISH I WAS EDITOR AWARD
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Pan Macmillan for an e-copy. I am providing an honest review. This was released February 2021.
A warm mention to Paromjit whose stellar review made me want to read this immediately. GR buddy Maureen also left a very enthusiastic four star review which also propelled me further.
I am considering presenting this book to my writing circle in the Autumn so will do this review in point form format to allow the ideas to take hold in my little brain and give them time to grow.
What was absolutely stellar :
1. subject matter was incredibly interesting...a historical crime fiction of the murder of Duke Alessandro de Medici (who was likely mixed race) in 1536 Florence over the period of about 10 days
2. the book was INCREDIBLY well plotted with a logical and fascinating sequence of events...the author left no string hanging and the foreshadowing and layout were unbelievably excellent...(all these terrible chick lit thriller writers have so much to learn about this)
3. the exploration of misogyny, homophobia and anti-semitism as sub-themes in this book was both welcome and educational...the stakes were so high for unprotected women, men who desired love with other men and the Jewish communities in general.
4. the ability of the writer to keep track of a very large cast of characters and make them distinct for the reader while providing a general sociology to understanding social status, the church and the functioning of political bureaucracies as well as exploring to some degree both police forces and bordellos
5. the careful seeding of the plot to lay out future instalments of this series...both interesting and enticing
6. the book cover is five star amazing !
What was troublesome and needed huge improvements:
1. the main characters could have been etched much more deeply with some exploration of their internal conflicts and personality functioning
2. as fascinating as this was this felt rather anachronistic to appease general readers
3. the physical fighting felt more Pirates of the Caribbean than true historical content....at times became so slapstick that it was just DAMN SILLY
4. the dialogue when humor was included was so cheezy that it gave me that really bad kind of gas as well as the constant italian words for primarily male genitalia and swear words that made the gas worse...no more cazzo palle or merda puhleeze
Preferentially I would also liked more political and family intrigue, some delicious heterosexual sex and a deepening of the gay romance (these were not deal breakers for me just minor quibbles).
Aspects of this were so bloody amazing that I want to continue but I really dislike slapstick and cheezy humor. I will compromise and longlist and see what happens.
January 16, 2021
Cesare Aldo took no pleasure from killing, but sometimes it was necessary.
So, starts and ends this book. It's 1536 and Duke Alessandro de Medici is the ruler of the Florentine Republic. Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the criminal court of Florence, the Otto di Guardia e Balia, has been charged with finding the killer of Samuele Levi, a Jewish money lender. Levi had recently been fearful that his life was in danger and narrowly escaped an attack on a trip to Bologna but now his fears have been realised. Despite Levi being an argumentative and unpopular man, Aldo has his work cut out with Levi's daughter Rachel having no idea who would want to murder her difficult father. However, his investigations into Levi's death lead Aldo into uncovering a conspiracy against Duke Alessandro, but without hard evidence he has trouble getting his superiors to believe him.
The Renaissance has brought great luxury to Florence in the form of beautiful architecture, fashion, literature and art and by 1536 it has become the banking centre of Europe. However, while some families are prosperous and wealthy, many people still live in poverty struggling to earn enough to feed and house their families. Based of factual events, the sights, sounds and smells of daily life in Florence at that time has been well researched by the author adding atmosphere to the novel. Gossip and intrigue are rife on the streets, as are bribery, extra-marital affairs and prostitution. Homosexuality is taboo and considered a crime and another of the Otto's cases involves the death of a beautiful young man beaten to death while dressed as a woman.
The murder mystery is complex and complicated by political intrigue and the factions of the court and the church. Aldo is a skilled investigator and a great character. He has a secret of his own he must preserve or his life will be in danger. Honest with his own sense of justice, he is tough and not adverse to killing when he is attacked or protecting someone. This promises to be the first of a series and I'm very much looking forward to a sequel.
With thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for a copy to read
So, starts and ends this book. It's 1536 and Duke Alessandro de Medici is the ruler of the Florentine Republic. Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the criminal court of Florence, the Otto di Guardia e Balia, has been charged with finding the killer of Samuele Levi, a Jewish money lender. Levi had recently been fearful that his life was in danger and narrowly escaped an attack on a trip to Bologna but now his fears have been realised. Despite Levi being an argumentative and unpopular man, Aldo has his work cut out with Levi's daughter Rachel having no idea who would want to murder her difficult father. However, his investigations into Levi's death lead Aldo into uncovering a conspiracy against Duke Alessandro, but without hard evidence he has trouble getting his superiors to believe him.
The Renaissance has brought great luxury to Florence in the form of beautiful architecture, fashion, literature and art and by 1536 it has become the banking centre of Europe. However, while some families are prosperous and wealthy, many people still live in poverty struggling to earn enough to feed and house their families. Based of factual events, the sights, sounds and smells of daily life in Florence at that time has been well researched by the author adding atmosphere to the novel. Gossip and intrigue are rife on the streets, as are bribery, extra-marital affairs and prostitution. Homosexuality is taboo and considered a crime and another of the Otto's cases involves the death of a beautiful young man beaten to death while dressed as a woman.
The murder mystery is complex and complicated by political intrigue and the factions of the court and the church. Aldo is a skilled investigator and a great character. He has a secret of his own he must preserve or his life will be in danger. Honest with his own sense of justice, he is tough and not adverse to killing when he is attacked or protecting someone. This promises to be the first of a series and I'm very much looking forward to a sequel.
With thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for a copy to read
March 6, 2024
City of Vengeance (Cesare Aldo, #1) by D.V. Bishop
Synopsis /
Florence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.
Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.
During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?
My Thoughts /
“Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi: An Autobiography
If early history and the timeless mystique of sixteenth-century Florence light a spark in your soul, then head back in time with Cesare Aldo and quench your appetite with the first instalment of this atmospheric historical crime series.
FLORENCE IN THE RENAISSANCE
The Renaissance is an important event in European history that stretched from the 14th century to the 17th century. The term Renaissance, a French word meaning "rebirth" also refers to a period in European civilization that was marked by a revival (or new growth) of classical learning and wisdom. In other words, a rebirthing of brilliance from a civilisation of intellectual decline.
In fifteenth-century Florence, many people believed themselves to be living in a new age. The most powerful of the rival families in Renaissance Florence were the Medici. Powerful, because not only were they wealthy, (I'm talking massively, established their own bank wealthy), they were able to use that wealth to garner political and economic control over Florence in the early 1400s.
Cosimo de Medici was the first Medici family member to control the Florence city-state. While Florence was still considered to be a republic at the start of the Medici reign, the immense wealth and power of the Medici family meant that Cosimo could effectively rule over the city-state from behind the scenes.
THE STORY IS SET in Renaissance Florence during the winter of 1536, and chronicles the events of a murder and its subsequent investigation over a span of 12 days. Not a bad result considering the time-period!
WHEN THE STORY OPENS, we are introduced to Cesare Aldo, an ex-mercenary who is now an officer in the Otto di Guardia e Balia (Florence's most feared criminal court). As a former soldier, Aldo is fearless in his pursuit of justice. He has the trained skills of an assassin; he possesses a sharp mind and is extremely self-disciplined. But for all his strengths, Aldo also harbours a secret, which, if it gets out, would not only end his career, but end his life.
Aldo has been given the job to guard a Jewish moneylender by the name of Samuele Levi, as he travels from Bologna back to Florence. It's a simple enough task for Aldo - a man who rarely rests because 'sleeping made men easy targets'. But sometimes the simplest task becomes complicated. On the way back from Bologna they are ambushed and violently attacked. Aldo is seriously injured, while the moneylender - whom the group were targeting, feigned his death by lying still on the road.
Hours after delivering the moneylender back into Florence, Samuele Levi is murdered in his home and Duke Alessandro de Medici, ruler of the city state, commands Aldo to find the killer before the feast of Epiphany begins or suffer the consequences. That's 4 days. An almost impossible task.
As his investigation progresses, Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the reigning Duke. Such a plot, should it succeed, would plunge the city into a state of chaos and possibly financial ruin. It becomes apparent to Aldo that there is more than just fear and greed behind these crimes, there is power and hierarchy. Can Aldo find justice for Samuele Levi and stop a conspiracy which, if successful, might destroy his beloved Florence?
As a debut novel, this is an impressive piece of work. The writing is rich in detail, the characters complex, cunning, compelling, and untrustworthy. It's a slow burn, but the plotting is solid and very engaging. The author doesn't hold back - 1536 Florence has its streets awash with blood, and the stench of the unwashed is rife. Which made this reader reflect on the many useful benefits of plentiful soap and clean running water!
I had spent years gathering reference materials and researching the period. I wanted to know how people in Renaissance Florence lived and loved, how they worked and rested, what life was like in such a tumultuous time. But books and journals and academic papers only get you so far as a writer. Secondary sources are a good start, but for those sensory details that help to bring a place alive on the page, it is always better if you can go there.
― Author D.V. Bishop.
Synopsis /
Florence. Winter, 1536. A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.
Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.
During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city. But a rival officer of the court is determined to expose details about Aldo’s private life that could lead to his ruin. Can Aldo stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies, or will his own secrets destroy him first?
My Thoughts /
“Remember that all through history, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they seem invincible. But in the end, they always fall. Always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi: An Autobiography
If early history and the timeless mystique of sixteenth-century Florence light a spark in your soul, then head back in time with Cesare Aldo and quench your appetite with the first instalment of this atmospheric historical crime series.
FLORENCE IN THE RENAISSANCE
The Renaissance is an important event in European history that stretched from the 14th century to the 17th century. The term Renaissance, a French word meaning "rebirth" also refers to a period in European civilization that was marked by a revival (or new growth) of classical learning and wisdom. In other words, a rebirthing of brilliance from a civilisation of intellectual decline.
In fifteenth-century Florence, many people believed themselves to be living in a new age. The most powerful of the rival families in Renaissance Florence were the Medici. Powerful, because not only were they wealthy, (I'm talking massively, established their own bank wealthy), they were able to use that wealth to garner political and economic control over Florence in the early 1400s.
Cosimo de Medici was the first Medici family member to control the Florence city-state. While Florence was still considered to be a republic at the start of the Medici reign, the immense wealth and power of the Medici family meant that Cosimo could effectively rule over the city-state from behind the scenes.
THE STORY IS SET in Renaissance Florence during the winter of 1536, and chronicles the events of a murder and its subsequent investigation over a span of 12 days. Not a bad result considering the time-period!
WHEN THE STORY OPENS, we are introduced to Cesare Aldo, an ex-mercenary who is now an officer in the Otto di Guardia e Balia (Florence's most feared criminal court). As a former soldier, Aldo is fearless in his pursuit of justice. He has the trained skills of an assassin; he possesses a sharp mind and is extremely self-disciplined. But for all his strengths, Aldo also harbours a secret, which, if it gets out, would not only end his career, but end his life.
Aldo has been given the job to guard a Jewish moneylender by the name of Samuele Levi, as he travels from Bologna back to Florence. It's a simple enough task for Aldo - a man who rarely rests because 'sleeping made men easy targets'. But sometimes the simplest task becomes complicated. On the way back from Bologna they are ambushed and violently attacked. Aldo is seriously injured, while the moneylender - whom the group were targeting, feigned his death by lying still on the road.
Hours after delivering the moneylender back into Florence, Samuele Levi is murdered in his home and Duke Alessandro de Medici, ruler of the city state, commands Aldo to find the killer before the feast of Epiphany begins or suffer the consequences. That's 4 days. An almost impossible task.
As his investigation progresses, Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the reigning Duke. Such a plot, should it succeed, would plunge the city into a state of chaos and possibly financial ruin. It becomes apparent to Aldo that there is more than just fear and greed behind these crimes, there is power and hierarchy. Can Aldo find justice for Samuele Levi and stop a conspiracy which, if successful, might destroy his beloved Florence?
As a debut novel, this is an impressive piece of work. The writing is rich in detail, the characters complex, cunning, compelling, and untrustworthy. It's a slow burn, but the plotting is solid and very engaging. The author doesn't hold back - 1536 Florence has its streets awash with blood, and the stench of the unwashed is rife. Which made this reader reflect on the many useful benefits of plentiful soap and clean running water!
I had spent years gathering reference materials and researching the period. I wanted to know how people in Renaissance Florence lived and loved, how they worked and rested, what life was like in such a tumultuous time. But books and journals and academic papers only get you so far as a writer. Secondary sources are a good start, but for those sensory details that help to bring a place alive on the page, it is always better if you can go there.
― Author D.V. Bishop.
December 7, 2021
Wowwww this took me so long to read so by the end I was kind of done with it, but it was still pretty good!
The plot involves a murder in Florence, 1536, which leads to the unravelling of plots that our officer Aldo must solve before more people get hurt.
Spoiler alert: More people get hurt.
I really liked the way the two plots twined together, though I'm still a little unsure why the second was necessary. This is a long story, and the second plot line seemed to serve no purpose other than bringing Aldo and Strocchi together. I enjoyed it, but it definitely made the story longer than it had to be.
At the same time, it reads as though it's been heavily edited. Some scenes are completely cut in favour of just telling us what happened in a few words, and at times it caused quite a separation from the story. It's hard to get invested when you're not properly experiencing the story.
I did enjoy the setting, and I feel it created a great image of Florence at this time. I believe those interested in historical fiction will have a lot of fun with the rich detail in this story.
An interesting story with a lot going on, and it's not afraid to detail a little blood and carnage. I enjoyed it, though don't know if I'll continue with the series. A little too political for me.
With thanks to Macmillan for a copy
The plot involves a murder in Florence, 1536, which leads to the unravelling of plots that our officer Aldo must solve before more people get hurt.
Spoiler alert: More people get hurt.
I really liked the way the two plots twined together, though I'm still a little unsure why the second was necessary. This is a long story, and the second plot line seemed to serve no purpose other than bringing Aldo and Strocchi together. I enjoyed it, but it definitely made the story longer than it had to be.
At the same time, it reads as though it's been heavily edited. Some scenes are completely cut in favour of just telling us what happened in a few words, and at times it caused quite a separation from the story. It's hard to get invested when you're not properly experiencing the story.
I did enjoy the setting, and I feel it created a great image of Florence at this time. I believe those interested in historical fiction will have a lot of fun with the rich detail in this story.
An interesting story with a lot going on, and it's not afraid to detail a little blood and carnage. I enjoyed it, though don't know if I'll continue with the series. A little too political for me.
With thanks to Macmillan for a copy
October 22, 2024
‘Cross-dressing, torture, oodles of violence - this pungent example of historical noir has the lot.’ Review from The Times.
Great Charity shop find. Sixteenth century thriller set in Florence. Introducing Cesare Aldo a law enforcer in the Otto di Guardia e Balia. Investigating the murder of a cross-dresser and a Jewish money lender. The book bounds along at great pace. The descriptions of the characters, time and violence are well done.
I really enjoyed the character of Aldo. His actions in the last few pages whilst shocking had me cheering. I will be looking out more of his stories.
The other good thing was this was only the second historical novel read before Clemens 😉. Wait for his review in the future.
Great Charity shop find. Sixteenth century thriller set in Florence. Introducing Cesare Aldo a law enforcer in the Otto di Guardia e Balia. Investigating the murder of a cross-dresser and a Jewish money lender. The book bounds along at great pace. The descriptions of the characters, time and violence are well done.
I really enjoyed the character of Aldo. His actions in the last few pages whilst shocking had me cheering. I will be looking out more of his stories.
The other good thing was this was only the second historical novel read before Clemens 😉. Wait for his review in the future.
March 27, 2025
This is a mystery set in mid-16th century Florence, Italy.
I'm Italian (so please forgive my English) and I'm always drawn to historical fiction set in the most beautiful and important cities of my country, especially when real historical figures play a role, even a small one, in the story.
The mystery itself wasn't bad, not the best and most engaging I've read in years, but it had a lot of potential to be a great read, however, some things really bothered me and that's why I rated it 3 stars, when it could have been 4 stars.
__PLOT IN SHORT ___ Florence. Winter, 1536.
A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.
Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.
During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city.
A day before another murder had happened: a young boy, who was prostituting himself disguised as a woman.
Strocchi, a constable, Aldo's colleague, wants to shed light on the case, discovering that here too important people who have in their hands the city's trade, are involved with the dead man (or with the murder).
In all this is intertwined with Aldo's private life, in fact he hides a secret and a rival officer of the court is determined to expose some details about Aldo that could lead to his ruin.
Strocchi on the contrary is a sincere young constable still full of ideals and eager to do the right thing, one Aldo can trust.
Would Aldo and Strocchi be able to stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies or will they be defeated by politics and corrupt people greedy for gain and power?
________________
DID I LIKE IT ? My opinions on this book are controversial :
__ABOUT THE MYSTERY ___
YES ---> I liked that part of this BOOK was INSPIRED BY A REAL HISTORICAL EVENT : the murder of Alessandro de Medici which took place in 1537.
I always find historical fiction very interesting when true history is well mixed with fictional elements and I think the writer did it well.
Those who are not Italian will appreciate the author's historical notes, useful and stimulating for better documentation even just by reading Wikipedia.
NO ---> It is true that the book is written in English, so most readers probably don't know many things about the Medici, but I am Italian and since the son of a famous leader (whom a street in my city is also named after) is involved in the story, I already knew the culprit ( ) so I missed a part of the suspense.
Taking inspiration from real events is right, but putting a murder in a book, which you can even read about on the web, is not the best choice.
Furthermore, the first fictional murder seems to almost be forgotten at a certain point in the book and the connection between the two murders is very weak/non-existent.
__ ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTERS __
YES ---> I became fond of both main characters: Cesare Aldo (at least until 98% of the book when he disappointed me) and Carlo Strocchi.
It's easy to appreciate characters when they are good-hearted men in a world where money and power can corrupt even men of the church as it happened in those days.
It's even easier when one of them has had a troubled past.
The same goes for a secondary character that I think will be recurring in the following books: Saul Orvieto, a Jewish doctor with whom Aldo develops a sentimental bond.
I would have liked to have a little more of the characters' private lives in the book and if I were to read more books in the series, it would be more out of interest in the characters than the mysteries they investigate.
NO---> As you can see above I liked the character the series is named after, Cesare Aldo, almost until the end, when I never expected him to ruin the ending for the readers and behave like a real hypocrite.
How ?
I can only tell you in a SPOILER ( don't read it if you plan to read the book )
This contributed to making me give up continuing the series.
I can't read books where I don't have respect for the main character.
___ ABOUT THE WRITING STYLE __
NO ---> I don't know if the author has been to Italy or has Italian friends, in any case he stuffed the first half of the book with the most vulgar word that we Italians have to express male genitals: "cazzo" and "palle" (sorry if I report it here).
" C..." It's a disgusting word and within the first 25% of the book, it appears frequently, approximately every two to three pages, even in vulgar contexts such as: sucking his "c....".
Then from 25% to 50% of the book it is still a recurring word even in sentences where it could have been avoided.
This thing disgusted me a lot, even if in Italy that dirty word has now become a common exclamation.
The issue is not only the vulgarity of the word itself, but also the vulgarity of the sentences in which it was used. The constant repetition of this word, appearing on almost every page, was disgusting and made me want to stop reading.
If the author didn't want to use the clinical word "penis", he could have employed other Italian words that indicate the male genital organ, such as "uccello" or "pisello," which are less overtly vulgar than the word chosen by him.
The author also had fun inserting here and there Italian words that are readily translatable into English (secretary, office, family , puttana (whore)...) and I don't understand the usefulness of this choice.
--> The atmosphere was no longer Italian because of those words, the author should have instead concentrated a little on some suggestive description of Florence, but apart from mentioning the name of some palaces, there is no description that transports the reader to 16th century Florence.
I recently read a book set in Venice in which there were words in Venetian (which are explainable in Italian, but do not have a corresponding word) and in Italian of the time that would not be translatable and therefore it was right.
BUT IN THIS BOOK THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE and it seemed ridiculous to me.
Thanks for reading my opinion :-)
I'm Italian (so please forgive my English) and I'm always drawn to historical fiction set in the most beautiful and important cities of my country, especially when real historical figures play a role, even a small one, in the story.
The mystery itself wasn't bad, not the best and most engaging I've read in years, but it had a lot of potential to be a great read, however, some things really bothered me and that's why I rated it 3 stars, when it could have been 4 stars.
__PLOT IN SHORT ___ Florence. Winter, 1536.
A prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home, a death with wide implications in a city powered by immense wealth.
Cesare Aldo, a former soldier and now an officer of the Renaissance city’s most feared criminal court, is given four days to solve the murder: catch the killer before the feast of Epiphany – or suffer the consequences.
During his investigations Aldo uncovers a plot to overthrow the volatile ruler of Florence, Alessandro de’ Medici. If the Duke falls, it will endanger the whole city.
A day before another murder had happened: a young boy, who was prostituting himself disguised as a woman.
Strocchi, a constable, Aldo's colleague, wants to shed light on the case, discovering that here too important people who have in their hands the city's trade, are involved with the dead man (or with the murder).
In all this is intertwined with Aldo's private life, in fact he hides a secret and a rival officer of the court is determined to expose some details about Aldo that could lead to his ruin.
Strocchi on the contrary is a sincere young constable still full of ideals and eager to do the right thing, one Aldo can trust.
Would Aldo and Strocchi be able to stop the conspiracy before anyone else dies or will they be defeated by politics and corrupt people greedy for gain and power?
________________
DID I LIKE IT ? My opinions on this book are controversial :
__ABOUT THE MYSTERY ___
YES ---> I liked that part of this BOOK was INSPIRED BY A REAL HISTORICAL EVENT : the murder of Alessandro de Medici which took place in 1537.
I always find historical fiction very interesting when true history is well mixed with fictional elements and I think the writer did it well.
Those who are not Italian will appreciate the author's historical notes, useful and stimulating for better documentation even just by reading Wikipedia.
NO ---> It is true that the book is written in English, so most readers probably don't know many things about the Medici, but I am Italian and since the son of a famous leader (whom a street in my city is also named after) is involved in the story, I already knew the culprit ( ) so I missed a part of the suspense.
Taking inspiration from real events is right, but putting a murder in a book, which you can even read about on the web, is not the best choice.
Furthermore, the first fictional murder seems to almost be forgotten at a certain point in the book and the connection between the two murders is very weak/non-existent.
__ ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTERS __
YES ---> I became fond of both main characters: Cesare Aldo (at least until 98% of the book when he disappointed me) and Carlo Strocchi.
It's easy to appreciate characters when they are good-hearted men in a world where money and power can corrupt even men of the church as it happened in those days.
It's even easier when one of them has had a troubled past.
The same goes for a secondary character that I think will be recurring in the following books: Saul Orvieto, a Jewish doctor with whom Aldo develops a sentimental bond.
I would have liked to have a little more of the characters' private lives in the book and if I were to read more books in the series, it would be more out of interest in the characters than the mysteries they investigate.
NO---> As you can see above I liked the character the series is named after, Cesare Aldo, almost until the end, when I never expected him to ruin the ending for the readers and behave like a real hypocrite.
How ?
I can only tell you in a SPOILER ( don't read it if you plan to read the book )
This contributed to making me give up continuing the series.
I can't read books where I don't have respect for the main character.
___ ABOUT THE WRITING STYLE __
NO ---> I don't know if the author has been to Italy or has Italian friends, in any case he stuffed the first half of the book with the most vulgar word that we Italians have to express male genitals: "cazzo" and "palle" (sorry if I report it here).
" C..." It's a disgusting word and within the first 25% of the book, it appears frequently, approximately every two to three pages, even in vulgar contexts such as: sucking his "c....".
Then from 25% to 50% of the book it is still a recurring word even in sentences where it could have been avoided.
This thing disgusted me a lot, even if in Italy that dirty word has now become a common exclamation.
The issue is not only the vulgarity of the word itself, but also the vulgarity of the sentences in which it was used. The constant repetition of this word, appearing on almost every page, was disgusting and made me want to stop reading.
If the author didn't want to use the clinical word "penis", he could have employed other Italian words that indicate the male genital organ, such as "uccello" or "pisello," which are less overtly vulgar than the word chosen by him.
The author also had fun inserting here and there Italian words that are readily translatable into English (secretary, office, family , puttana (whore)...) and I don't understand the usefulness of this choice.
--> The atmosphere was no longer Italian because of those words, the author should have instead concentrated a little on some suggestive description of Florence, but apart from mentioning the name of some palaces, there is no description that transports the reader to 16th century Florence.
I recently read a book set in Venice in which there were words in Venetian (which are explainable in Italian, but do not have a corresponding word) and in Italian of the time that would not be translatable and therefore it was right.
BUT IN THIS BOOK THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE and it seemed ridiculous to me.
Thanks for reading my opinion :-)
October 24, 2024
Ponte Vecchio stood empty as Aldo crossed the bridge, butcher shops on either side still shut. Their doorways were stained crimson from the previous day, and countless days before. Most of the blood got sluiced into the Arno but the rest froze overnight, tainting the cobbles. Above the shops were the shuttered windows of those who lived on the Ponte Vecchio, their homes perched above the shops and other businesses. In winter the smells of rotting meat and offal were masked by the cold, but in summer the stench must infest every part of those homes, as would the flies drawn by the rancid offcuts and spilled blood.
My introduction to the intrigues of sixteenth-century Florence came by way of reading the contemporary crime thriller The Hermitage, where the villain makes use of the “The Vasari Corridor,” an enclosed, elevated passageway commissioned in 1565 by Cosimo de’ Medici, to allow family and guests to move freely between their residence and the government palace without having to sully themselves on the streets.
And “sully" is the word here in this gripping historic novel. It is the winter of 1536 and the ducal “throne” is held by the dissolute Alessandro de’ Medici, aided by his cousin, Lorenzino. Former soldier Cesare Aldo, now working for the judiciary, is paid to accompany Jewish moneylender Samuele Levy, returning to Florence from a trip to Bologna, to protect him from bandits.
Aside from the powerful and ruthless ruling family, Florence is home to merchant guilds, financed by moneylenders in the Jewish sector, with bordellos stimulating the local economy. The death of a homosexual dressed as a courtesan is closely followed by the stabbing of Samuele Levy in his own home, drawing Aldo and young constable Strocchi into a dangerous game as they uncover a threat against Alessandro. But why is segretario Bindi unconvinced, nor the representative of the Holy Roman Emperor, Cardinal Cibo? Throw in corrupt official Cherchi and a host of unpleasant villains. Aldo hides his own secrets,
Based on historical fact, this "atmospheric" (the River Arno serves as an open sewer) - debut novel by Scottish screenwriter and TV dramatist, DV Bishop, received acclaim at the Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival, the author awarded a Robert Louis Stevenson fellowship. Certainly the violence and frequent sexual references won’t appeal to everyone, but for me it was a cracking good yarn, with the added bonus of a map featuring key locations in Florence.
My introduction to the intrigues of sixteenth-century Florence came by way of reading the contemporary crime thriller The Hermitage, where the villain makes use of the “The Vasari Corridor,” an enclosed, elevated passageway commissioned in 1565 by Cosimo de’ Medici, to allow family and guests to move freely between their residence and the government palace without having to sully themselves on the streets.
And “sully" is the word here in this gripping historic novel. It is the winter of 1536 and the ducal “throne” is held by the dissolute Alessandro de’ Medici, aided by his cousin, Lorenzino. Former soldier Cesare Aldo, now working for the judiciary, is paid to accompany Jewish moneylender Samuele Levy, returning to Florence from a trip to Bologna, to protect him from bandits.
Aside from the powerful and ruthless ruling family, Florence is home to merchant guilds, financed by moneylenders in the Jewish sector, with bordellos stimulating the local economy. The death of a homosexual dressed as a courtesan is closely followed by the stabbing of Samuele Levy in his own home, drawing Aldo and young constable Strocchi into a dangerous game as they uncover a threat against Alessandro. But why is segretario Bindi unconvinced, nor the representative of the Holy Roman Emperor, Cardinal Cibo? Throw in corrupt official Cherchi and a host of unpleasant villains. Aldo hides his own secrets,
Based on historical fact, this "atmospheric" (the River Arno serves as an open sewer) - debut novel by Scottish screenwriter and TV dramatist, DV Bishop, received acclaim at the Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival, the author awarded a Robert Louis Stevenson fellowship. Certainly the violence and frequent sexual references won’t appeal to everyone, but for me it was a cracking good yarn, with the added bonus of a map featuring key locations in Florence.
December 30, 2020
Meeting Cesare Aldo was a great pleasure and I’m very happy there will be more books in his series. Although at first the story goes a bit slow because we have to get to know a lot of people and learn about the history, soon after reading the first chapters it’s impossible to put this book down. Aldo is an unusual man for his times with a sharp brain and a sharp wit that helps him unravel the secrets in this book. I just love the historical facts and the way the author used them to write this entertaining story. There are several very bad persons in this book and it’s good to see that they get what they deserve – and this goes for the good people too. You can almost smell the city and hear the beautiful Italian language through the words.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for this review copy.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for this review copy.
September 15, 2024
I was entertained and want to know more about the goings on in Florence during Cosimo Medici but the writing annoyed me so I'm not sure if I'll continue the series or not. It definitely felt like a screenwriter and not a novelist wrote this book.
December 8, 2023
I thought City of Vengeance was a very accomplished solid debut historical fiction book, it was set in Florence which was a unique setting compared to other historical fiction books Ive read so far. If you like CJ Sansom that sort of thing you should give this a read.
dnf-abandoned
April 14, 2021There are some great reviews for this, but the style really didn't appeal to me, so I quit after only 25 pages or so. Don't take my word for it - many loved it!
May 24, 2022
Well, how do I start?
I'm rating it 3 stars despite a DNF. Merda! Never read thus much about cazzo shapes in my living memory.
Too many swears and bottom feeder grit to even describe them here. Regardless it trends the period. Plot as far as I got was average, nothing more.
For my taste this was also way, way over the top for intense verbosity and excessive circuitous length.
Absolutely as violent as this Renaissance Tuscany.
I rarely rate a DNF but this one I can. I just didn't make it to the very end. Aldo is a good character and actually deep, interesting but this effusive and graphic sexual gay content and continuous descriptive expletive barrage is not for me. Will not do a #2. Oops!
I'm rating it 3 stars despite a DNF. Merda! Never read thus much about cazzo shapes in my living memory.
Too many swears and bottom feeder grit to even describe them here. Regardless it trends the period. Plot as far as I got was average, nothing more.
For my taste this was also way, way over the top for intense verbosity and excessive circuitous length.
Absolutely as violent as this Renaissance Tuscany.
I rarely rate a DNF but this one I can. I just didn't make it to the very end. Aldo is a good character and actually deep, interesting but this effusive and graphic sexual gay content and continuous descriptive expletive barrage is not for me. Will not do a #2. Oops!
December 7, 2020
Two honest officers of the Otto find their new cases are going to put themselves and their city in danger.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book covers a wide cast of characters, and you get to see plenty of sides to Florence in 1536; but the plot is focussed on two in particular.
Aldo leads a very quiet and modest life, despite his history as an excellent swordsman. He could have pursued his own ambitions and glory; but he prefers to work relentlessly at protecting the innocent people of Venice.
His newest case has a personal edge - Aldo successfully escorted a Jewish money-lender on a journey back from Bologna; only for him to be murdered later in his own home.
Strocchi is a promising new member of the Otto that Aldo has taken under his wing.
Strocchi has recently moved from the countryside, and lacks the corruption that many of his peers suffer from.
During his patrol, he comes across a person who is beaten to death. When many are dismissive because it was a gay man touting illegal sex; Aldo swears to get to the bottom of it.
This is a slow-building murder mystery that follows Aldo and Strocchi's investigations, as they both work separately to get answers out of people that answer because of religion, or fear of repercussions.
It keeps you guessing throughout, on who the culprits are and why, and what bigger plots are at hand. The plot throws suspicion on several people, who each have believable motives for the murders.
I thought it had all been resolved by half-way, as we hit a bit of a climax, and I wondered what could possibly happen in the next 200 pages. There were no big shocking moments after that, but it was still highly entertaining and I was hooked for the rest of the book.
I liked how well-researched everything was, with the Otto - an example of early policing. The protocols and intricacies of court and different castes in Florence.
I thought the taboo of being gay was very well done. At this time in history it was illegal. With Strocchi's investigation, you get to see how many people coped, how they hid their "sins", and the dishonour it could potentially bring.
I liked how this tied in with learning more about Aldo, who lives like a monk and has no interest in women.
The first half of the book did strike me as lacking any likeable female characters.
This is understandably male-heavy, as it deals with the deaths of a gay prostitute and money-lender, so most of the contacts made are male; and the Otto is a completely-male force.
But it just irked me a little bit that the only women that featured seemed to be working out how to get their leg over for their advantage.
In the second half it was much better, as Rebecca (the money-lender's daughter) and some other smaller characters stop acting like wet rags and became quite interesting.
The story ends well enough, with all the questions answered; but it is definitely setting up for a series, and I'm intrigued to see where this goes.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book covers a wide cast of characters, and you get to see plenty of sides to Florence in 1536; but the plot is focussed on two in particular.
Aldo leads a very quiet and modest life, despite his history as an excellent swordsman. He could have pursued his own ambitions and glory; but he prefers to work relentlessly at protecting the innocent people of Venice.
His newest case has a personal edge - Aldo successfully escorted a Jewish money-lender on a journey back from Bologna; only for him to be murdered later in his own home.
Strocchi is a promising new member of the Otto that Aldo has taken under his wing.
Strocchi has recently moved from the countryside, and lacks the corruption that many of his peers suffer from.
During his patrol, he comes across a person who is beaten to death. When many are dismissive because it was a gay man touting illegal sex; Aldo swears to get to the bottom of it.
This is a slow-building murder mystery that follows Aldo and Strocchi's investigations, as they both work separately to get answers out of people that answer because of religion, or fear of repercussions.
It keeps you guessing throughout, on who the culprits are and why, and what bigger plots are at hand. The plot throws suspicion on several people, who each have believable motives for the murders.
I thought it had all been resolved by half-way, as we hit a bit of a climax, and I wondered what could possibly happen in the next 200 pages. There were no big shocking moments after that, but it was still highly entertaining and I was hooked for the rest of the book.
I liked how well-researched everything was, with the Otto - an example of early policing. The protocols and intricacies of court and different castes in Florence.
I thought the taboo of being gay was very well done. At this time in history it was illegal. With Strocchi's investigation, you get to see how many people coped, how they hid their "sins", and the dishonour it could potentially bring.
I liked how this tied in with learning more about Aldo, who lives like a monk and has no interest in women.
The first half of the book did strike me as lacking any likeable female characters.
This is understandably male-heavy, as it deals with the deaths of a gay prostitute and money-lender, so most of the contacts made are male; and the Otto is a completely-male force.
But it just irked me a little bit that the only women that featured seemed to be working out how to get their leg over for their advantage.
In the second half it was much better, as Rebecca (the money-lender's daughter) and some other smaller characters stop acting like wet rags and became quite interesting.
The story ends well enough, with all the questions answered; but it is definitely setting up for a series, and I'm intrigued to see where this goes.
February 4, 2025
Enjoyed this!
It was a great blend of historical-fiction and thriller/crime.
It was a great blend of historical-fiction and thriller/crime.
December 5, 2025
Will definitely be reading more of this series.
A lot of fun. Wasn't entirely sold on this until maybe around page twenty or so when it Aldo's backstory is alluded to and it's said he rode with Giovanni delle Bande Nere. One of my favourite movies is The Profession of Arms, about the death of Giovanni delle Band Nere, and so it was fun to picture Aldo as an extra in that movie, riding around in the snow.
A lot of fun. Wasn't entirely sold on this until maybe around page twenty or so when it Aldo's backstory is alluded to and it's said he rode with Giovanni delle Bande Nere. One of my favourite movies is The Profession of Arms, about the death of Giovanni delle Band Nere, and so it was fun to picture Aldo as an extra in that movie, riding around in the snow.
August 28, 2025
4.5*
I'm not a big reader of historical fiction but I will happily immerse myself in anything about the Medicis and Renaissance Florence.
This 'whodunnit' is grounded in historical facts but the author plays with the 'little people' caught up in the intrigue. A future TV adaptation would not surprise me.
I'm not a big reader of historical fiction but I will happily immerse myself in anything about the Medicis and Renaissance Florence.
This 'whodunnit' is grounded in historical facts but the author plays with the 'little people' caught up in the intrigue. A future TV adaptation would not surprise me.
August 5, 2025
Jak, jako dobar povijesni krimić! JEdan od mojih omiljenih žanrova. Odmah sam krenula na drugi iz serijala.
February 17, 2022
Visit the locations in the novel
A historical delight set in Renaissance Florence. The book takes us back to 1536 and to the city where Duke Alessandro de Medici rules the roost and where money lenders control the poor.
We meet Cesare Aldo, officer of the criminal court and former soldier. He’s on his way back to the city with a Jewish moneylender who he’s protecting. They manage to reach safety after an attack, only for the lender to be murdered once in the city. Daughter Rebecca is distraught as they had recently argued.
The Duke calls Cesare and demands that he finds the killer within four days. The feast of Ephipany is only a few days away and he wants everything cleared up. Easier said than done of course. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Constable Carlo Strocchi is investigating the brutal murderers of a young man, Luca Corsini, who was wearing an artistic woman’s dress.
There’s a lot going on her and it’s a detailed read so savour it slowly. The world builds up slowly and it’s a rich and complex one. The level of scene setting and atmospheric detail is just divine. It’s like a CAD model of moving through the streets, around the dark corners and even inside the bordellos. Florence is a city of poverty, very rich v very poor and an alternative set who live in the shadows such as money lenders and the prostitutes. Corsini, murdered in women's clothes is not even considered to be worthy of the lowest of the low. So investigating his murder is a whole other affair.
Florence is a city of extreme inequality. When they find a diary in Corsini’s house, all hell breaks loose as this information could anger many people and worse. Others whose name he might have known for a whole ost ofreasons. If it got into the wrong hands for example…
So, two murders, seemingly unrelated. Then, there are rumours of a plot to kill the duke himself….
This is a book to read slowly as there is a lot going on and you need to take it all in. It’s easy to read nd flows nicely but take your time and savour it. Such a strong debut deserves it. As does Aldo who is one of the most interesting and complex characters I have read in a long time. I want to know more about him.
Meaty and fulfilling. If this novel were a pastrami sandwich I would eat it. As a novel it’s just as full of flavour.
April 15, 2021
I’d be hard pressed to say this was ‘good’ in any grand sense of the term and with a name like City of Vengeance I think I’d be forgiven for that.
I was keen to read a classic murder mystery story with limited angst and a healthy dose of both hyperbole and moustache twirling villains. I wasn’t disappointed in that regard as I was treated to a diverting and faintly ludicrous romp across 16h century Florence.
The main protagonist was likeable enough in the way that Jack Bauer or John McClane are likeable in their rough and ready take on justice. By the end Aldo's behaviour and brow-beaten take on the world was pretty predictable and most of the tension seemed to arise from just how knackered he got. Honestly I feel like if he'd just had a good nights sleep at any point most of the pathos would have drained away.
Narratively it’s well done with sufficient pace to keep things moving along nicely. There are very few dramatic reveals and the story does loose it’s momentum as some plot lines peter out or just end abruptly and unsatisfyingly.
I shouldn’t complain as I wanted an easy read with lots of swashbuckling, high octane Middle Ages action and on that front at least D.V Bishop delivered.
I was keen to read a classic murder mystery story with limited angst and a healthy dose of both hyperbole and moustache twirling villains. I wasn’t disappointed in that regard as I was treated to a diverting and faintly ludicrous romp across 16h century Florence.
The main protagonist was likeable enough in the way that Jack Bauer or John McClane are likeable in their rough and ready take on justice. By the end Aldo's behaviour and brow-beaten take on the world was pretty predictable and most of the tension seemed to arise from just how knackered he got. Honestly I feel like if he'd just had a good nights sleep at any point most of the pathos would have drained away.
Narratively it’s well done with sufficient pace to keep things moving along nicely. There are very few dramatic reveals and the story does loose it’s momentum as some plot lines peter out or just end abruptly and unsatisfyingly.
I shouldn’t complain as I wanted an easy read with lots of swashbuckling, high octane Middle Ages action and on that front at least D.V Bishop delivered.
January 26, 2021
Disappointing. . . Set in Renaissance Florence.
When I started reading 'City Of Vengeance' I was excited because I've been to Florence and I certainly enjoy historical thrillers.
Unfortunately, despite giving this a fair chance, I just couldn't feel the love. Maybe it was just a slow burner, but I like to be drawn in from the outset with so much brilliant literature out there. Sadly, this didn't happen. I agree with another reviewer who pointed out there was too much confusion with a vast number of characters. . . Also, too many Latin phrases.
Cesare Aldo must investigate the death of an important Jewish moneylender, with only a short period in which to solve the crime, so it seemed promising. There were plenty of references to Florence's bawdy side, but I had to keep stopping to put everything into context.
I just lost interest so sadly I couldn't finish the book. I wish that it could have been more engaging.
Galadriel.
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.
When I started reading 'City Of Vengeance' I was excited because I've been to Florence and I certainly enjoy historical thrillers.
Unfortunately, despite giving this a fair chance, I just couldn't feel the love. Maybe it was just a slow burner, but I like to be drawn in from the outset with so much brilliant literature out there. Sadly, this didn't happen. I agree with another reviewer who pointed out there was too much confusion with a vast number of characters. . . Also, too many Latin phrases.
Cesare Aldo must investigate the death of an important Jewish moneylender, with only a short period in which to solve the crime, so it seemed promising. There were plenty of references to Florence's bawdy side, but I had to keep stopping to put everything into context.
I just lost interest so sadly I couldn't finish the book. I wish that it could have been more engaging.
Galadriel.
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.
February 21, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the ARC
Florence, 16th century. Aldo Cesare is tasked with protecting a Jewish money lender and later with investigating his murder. This leads him to discover some de Medici court intrigues which then endanger his own life. Parallel to this plotline there is another murder of a male prostitute, which serves to provide some background to Aldo's private life, but also muddles the story a bit. The two murders and two investigations are sometimes hard to separate, I had trouble at times to tell the characters apart. Not just the investigating officers, but also the criminals and nobles.
The setting is original, but the use of Italian words bothered me at times, especially since there seems to be only one swear word that is used over and over again.
Florence, 16th century. Aldo Cesare is tasked with protecting a Jewish money lender and later with investigating his murder. This leads him to discover some de Medici court intrigues which then endanger his own life. Parallel to this plotline there is another murder of a male prostitute, which serves to provide some background to Aldo's private life, but also muddles the story a bit. The two murders and two investigations are sometimes hard to separate, I had trouble at times to tell the characters apart. Not just the investigating officers, but also the criminals and nobles.
The setting is original, but the use of Italian words bothered me at times, especially since there seems to be only one swear word that is used over and over again.
March 7, 2024
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!
First of all, how very dare you. I don’t know how, but I’m going to find the person(s) who FAILED to make me start reading the Cesare Aldo series much sooner. HEADS WILL ROLL FOR THIS! *Ahem* Lucky for me, I still have a couple of months to catch up before book 4 is published this summer – a book I requested and ARC of halfway through City of Vengeance. If that’s not enough of an indication of how much I enjoyed this debut historical mystery novel, then let me elaborate further.
I’ve been eyeing City of Vengeance for a while now, but I kept pushing it aside. Having read C.J. Sansom‘s Shardlake series, I developed very high expectations for historical fiction novels, and it’s a bar that’s hard to jump for many. So I’m wary when it comes to picking a book in the same genre, as it can go either way. Although that’s true for everything, I guess. Anyway, back in January when I created my shortened TBR for 2024, I put City of Vengeance on it, then in February on a whim, I went and got an audiobook copy. I couldn’t tell you why my brain picked it, but it did, and a good thing too, for the reason above.
City of Vengeance is set in early 1536, in Florence. The plot revolves around two murder cases, one of them revealing a plot against the Duke. If you are familiar with Alessandro de’ Medici’s history, then you probably won’t be surprised who is behind it (I wasn’t either, but not because I know anything about these historical events, but because I’ve read enough mysteries to know who might be a primary suspect, especially when it comes to politics). One of the victims is Luca Corsini, a young boy who is found beaten to death in a dress courtesans usually wear. Strocchi, a young constable who recently moved to Florence is determined to find out what happened to him, even though no one above him is interested much in the fate of a “buggerone” as one of them likes to call him. He soon finds out that a number of wealthy merchants favored the boy, and thus there are a few possible suspects who might have wanted to keep their identity secret.
The other victim is a Jewish moneylender, who is killed in his home on the night he returns from Bologna. Guarded by none other than Cesare Aldo, ex-mercenary, police investigator. And so, he sets out to find out who wanted him dead so much that they not even attacked on the road, but went as far as killing him in his home, when he was adamant he was safe within the walls of Florence. His investigation is thwarted by the close-knit Jewish community who don’t want to talk to him, but at the same time, he gets pressured to solve the case by the Emperor’s representative and the Duke himself. The time is ticking and Aldo not only has to find a murderer, but keep an eye on his own back as someone is determined to set him aside, revealing a secret of his own.
I loved pretty much everything about City of Vengeance – the setting, the intrigue, the characters, the way Bishop made Florence come alive. There are quite a few characters, but it never feels too many because Bishop navigates between them with ease. They never feel onedimensional, even those characters who only appear a few times. I liked Strocchi, the young constable for his morales and the way he has no prejudice against victims – every life matters, and everyone deserves justice. He is the naive, idealistic character in this story.
Then there is Aldo himself, with a strong sense of justice, a natural curiosity, and determination to find answers. But he is no saint, he had his share of killing on the battlefields, and has no qualms about getting his hands dirty if needs be. He can be brutal and he is no idealist that’s for sure. I liked how Aldo and Strocchi worked together, so different and yet making a sensible pair.
Another character that needs to be mentioned is an officer above them (I have no idea how to spell his name since I listened to the audiobook, and I’d rather not butcher it), who has it for Aldo. He is a nasty piece of shit that’s for sure. He is the type who only looks out for himself, actively asks for bribes, blackmails people if he can get money out of them, and definitely punches down as much as he can. He is as bigot as they come and I’m not sure he had any redeeming qualities. But maybe that’s what made reading this book such a joy – the spectrum of characters, some you could cheer for, some you could enjoy hating all the while you try to figure out what must have happened.
Well that, and also the look into the life of these people, especially the Jewish community – I would have liked to see more of that. And if I want to nitpick a bit more, sometimes I thought people happened to be at a certain place a bit too conveniently, but I could forgive that. I also wasn’t sure about certain plotlines, like Aldo and the doctor’s connection, though I can see how that gives more character to Aldo, so I’m not so mad about that either.
City of Vengeance is a very strong debut from D. V. Bishop, and I can see why he is praised and even compared to C. J. Sansom. This is not a perfect book, but it’s an excellent start to what I expect to be an amazing series. I absolutely can’t wait to continue. Also, City of Vengeance gave me the final push in wanting to learn Italian. Between Bishop (not least thanks to the amazing narrator, Mark Meadows) and Maneskin they just made me completely fall in love with it. How can you not with names such as Scoronconcolo? Oh, and Florence! I need to make a trip to Florence someday soon. Anyway. I need to stop gushing, I have the next book to read.
First of all, how very dare you. I don’t know how, but I’m going to find the person(s) who FAILED to make me start reading the Cesare Aldo series much sooner. HEADS WILL ROLL FOR THIS! *Ahem* Lucky for me, I still have a couple of months to catch up before book 4 is published this summer – a book I requested and ARC of halfway through City of Vengeance. If that’s not enough of an indication of how much I enjoyed this debut historical mystery novel, then let me elaborate further.
I’ve been eyeing City of Vengeance for a while now, but I kept pushing it aside. Having read C.J. Sansom‘s Shardlake series, I developed very high expectations for historical fiction novels, and it’s a bar that’s hard to jump for many. So I’m wary when it comes to picking a book in the same genre, as it can go either way. Although that’s true for everything, I guess. Anyway, back in January when I created my shortened TBR for 2024, I put City of Vengeance on it, then in February on a whim, I went and got an audiobook copy. I couldn’t tell you why my brain picked it, but it did, and a good thing too, for the reason above.
City of Vengeance is set in early 1536, in Florence. The plot revolves around two murder cases, one of them revealing a plot against the Duke. If you are familiar with Alessandro de’ Medici’s history, then you probably won’t be surprised who is behind it (I wasn’t either, but not because I know anything about these historical events, but because I’ve read enough mysteries to know who might be a primary suspect, especially when it comes to politics). One of the victims is Luca Corsini, a young boy who is found beaten to death in a dress courtesans usually wear. Strocchi, a young constable who recently moved to Florence is determined to find out what happened to him, even though no one above him is interested much in the fate of a “buggerone” as one of them likes to call him. He soon finds out that a number of wealthy merchants favored the boy, and thus there are a few possible suspects who might have wanted to keep their identity secret.
The other victim is a Jewish moneylender, who is killed in his home on the night he returns from Bologna. Guarded by none other than Cesare Aldo, ex-mercenary, police investigator. And so, he sets out to find out who wanted him dead so much that they not even attacked on the road, but went as far as killing him in his home, when he was adamant he was safe within the walls of Florence. His investigation is thwarted by the close-knit Jewish community who don’t want to talk to him, but at the same time, he gets pressured to solve the case by the Emperor’s representative and the Duke himself. The time is ticking and Aldo not only has to find a murderer, but keep an eye on his own back as someone is determined to set him aside, revealing a secret of his own.
I loved pretty much everything about City of Vengeance – the setting, the intrigue, the characters, the way Bishop made Florence come alive. There are quite a few characters, but it never feels too many because Bishop navigates between them with ease. They never feel onedimensional, even those characters who only appear a few times. I liked Strocchi, the young constable for his morales and the way he has no prejudice against victims – every life matters, and everyone deserves justice. He is the naive, idealistic character in this story.
Then there is Aldo himself, with a strong sense of justice, a natural curiosity, and determination to find answers. But he is no saint, he had his share of killing on the battlefields, and has no qualms about getting his hands dirty if needs be. He can be brutal and he is no idealist that’s for sure. I liked how Aldo and Strocchi worked together, so different and yet making a sensible pair.
Another character that needs to be mentioned is an officer above them (I have no idea how to spell his name since I listened to the audiobook, and I’d rather not butcher it), who has it for Aldo. He is a nasty piece of shit that’s for sure. He is the type who only looks out for himself, actively asks for bribes, blackmails people if he can get money out of them, and definitely punches down as much as he can. He is as bigot as they come and I’m not sure he had any redeeming qualities. But maybe that’s what made reading this book such a joy – the spectrum of characters, some you could cheer for, some you could enjoy hating all the while you try to figure out what must have happened.
Well that, and also the look into the life of these people, especially the Jewish community – I would have liked to see more of that. And if I want to nitpick a bit more, sometimes I thought people happened to be at a certain place a bit too conveniently, but I could forgive that. I also wasn’t sure about certain plotlines, like Aldo and the doctor’s connection, though I can see how that gives more character to Aldo, so I’m not so mad about that either.
City of Vengeance is a very strong debut from D. V. Bishop, and I can see why he is praised and even compared to C. J. Sansom. This is not a perfect book, but it’s an excellent start to what I expect to be an amazing series. I absolutely can’t wait to continue. Also, City of Vengeance gave me the final push in wanting to learn Italian. Between Bishop (not least thanks to the amazing narrator, Mark Meadows) and Maneskin they just made me completely fall in love with it. How can you not with names such as Scoronconcolo? Oh, and Florence! I need to make a trip to Florence someday soon. Anyway. I need to stop gushing, I have the next book to read.
April 23, 2022
Based loosely on historical events, Cesare Aldo bursts into the view of the historical fiction buff in the first of DV Bishop’s series set in Medici Florence.
After an unsuccessful attack on his client, the moneylender Levi, while travelling, Aldo is drawn into the investigative process by the subsequent murder of the man. Add in the murder of Corsini, a (male) courtesan who is brutally and fatally beaten, and the looming plot of an assassination, then our new hero is kept fairly busy, in addition to observing due process as dictated by the times, and trying to keep from being attacked himself. Then adding in the preservation of his secret - one that would not see him live long or well in the city.
This is certainly a good follow on (and a nice change of scene) from my usual Shardlake/Bruno books, and with book number 2 already on the bedside table, we’ll run with Cesare through the back streets of Florence and see where that gets us.
After an unsuccessful attack on his client, the moneylender Levi, while travelling, Aldo is drawn into the investigative process by the subsequent murder of the man. Add in the murder of Corsini, a (male) courtesan who is brutally and fatally beaten, and the looming plot of an assassination, then our new hero is kept fairly busy, in addition to observing due process as dictated by the times, and trying to keep from being attacked himself. Then adding in the preservation of his secret - one that would not see him live long or well in the city.
This is certainly a good follow on (and a nice change of scene) from my usual Shardlake/Bruno books, and with book number 2 already on the bedside table, we’ll run with Cesare through the back streets of Florence and see where that gets us.
August 31, 2025
City of Vengeance by DV Bishop - Very Good
Continuing my search for a Shardlake replacement, this certainly looks promising.
Set in 16th Century Florence when the Medicis are in power, Cesare Aldo is an officer with the Otto (the police force of the time). He's been tasked with escorting and protecting a prominent money lender on a journey to and from Bologna. The trip is not without incident but they return to Florence safely only for the moneylender to be murdered after Cesare has discharged his duty. Of course this means that he has to investigate and help bring the culprits to justice.
Alongside this, another murder has taken place in the city - a young male prostitute. This is seen as less of a priority but soon implicates various of the great and good and threatens various great families and even Cesare himself.
Of course, the back drop to all of this are the Medicis themselves and the various plots to overthrow the current ruler of Florence.
A nice mix of adventure, intrigue and history. Will definitely read more.
#review
Continuing my search for a Shardlake replacement, this certainly looks promising.
Set in 16th Century Florence when the Medicis are in power, Cesare Aldo is an officer with the Otto (the police force of the time). He's been tasked with escorting and protecting a prominent money lender on a journey to and from Bologna. The trip is not without incident but they return to Florence safely only for the moneylender to be murdered after Cesare has discharged his duty. Of course this means that he has to investigate and help bring the culprits to justice.
Alongside this, another murder has taken place in the city - a young male prostitute. This is seen as less of a priority but soon implicates various of the great and good and threatens various great families and even Cesare himself.
Of course, the back drop to all of this are the Medicis themselves and the various plots to overthrow the current ruler of Florence.
A nice mix of adventure, intrigue and history. Will definitely read more.
#review
October 18, 2025
Excellent. This is a good read. We get very little of the romantic silliness that comes as baggage whenever we touch on Florence in literature, nor do future geniuses crop up in bars having a glass of vino and being all cynical about the Podesta and his crew. There is a grittiness and down-to-earth late medievalism to this detective story about the murder of a wealthy Jewish loan shark involving, surprisingly, a homosexual ex-mercenary "policeman" (where such a thing is a bit risky) working in a city where the politics are always the driving undercurrent. Plus ca change as they say.
It's well-written and gripping and it looks like I've discovered another series that will keep me going for a while. This comes highly recommended.
It's well-written and gripping and it looks like I've discovered another series that will keep me going for a while. This comes highly recommended.
December 18, 2020
City of Vengeance by D.V. Bishop is an excellent historical fiction that has it all: an excellent historical fiction plot, mystery, murder, suspense, intrigue, and was truly fascinating.
This book is the first in what is sure to be an excellent new series set in Florence, Italy. The Renaissance time period creates a great atmosphere of societal, cultural, and political change. This is a great selection as a backdrop for the narrative. This book starts towards the latter end of 1536 and we are introduced to Cesare Aldo, a complicated man with a past. A man of the law, a previous soldier, and a complex and flawed individual that makes for great reading. He ends up being placed into a predicament: solve a high-profile murder in just a few days time or face the consequences. The investigations between Aldo and his colleague Carlo Strocchi make for a suspenseful, gripping, and thrilling read. The more they uncover, the more political espionage and darkening plots that are discovered. Things continue to get complicated with when the ante is raised at the involvement of the potential usurping and deadly plot to kill the city’s number one man: Duke Alessandro de Medici. As the book continues on, we see how separate cases, circumstances, and details seem to intertwine and thicken, and the book comes to a fabulous conclusion.
What makes this even better for me is to know that this story, and characters, will continue onward and that some of the dramatic details are actually based on real facts. I love when a book can be tied into history.
This is a wonderful tapestry of HF, complex and well-drawn out characters and plot lines, mysteries that kept me guessing, twists, turns, suspense, and thrilling events that truly make for a wonderful novel.
I highly recommend this gem.
5/5 stars
Thank you to Pan MacMillan for this wonderful ARC and in I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 12/18/20 there is no BB listing created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/4/21.
This book is the first in what is sure to be an excellent new series set in Florence, Italy. The Renaissance time period creates a great atmosphere of societal, cultural, and political change. This is a great selection as a backdrop for the narrative. This book starts towards the latter end of 1536 and we are introduced to Cesare Aldo, a complicated man with a past. A man of the law, a previous soldier, and a complex and flawed individual that makes for great reading. He ends up being placed into a predicament: solve a high-profile murder in just a few days time or face the consequences. The investigations between Aldo and his colleague Carlo Strocchi make for a suspenseful, gripping, and thrilling read. The more they uncover, the more political espionage and darkening plots that are discovered. Things continue to get complicated with when the ante is raised at the involvement of the potential usurping and deadly plot to kill the city’s number one man: Duke Alessandro de Medici. As the book continues on, we see how separate cases, circumstances, and details seem to intertwine and thicken, and the book comes to a fabulous conclusion.
What makes this even better for me is to know that this story, and characters, will continue onward and that some of the dramatic details are actually based on real facts. I love when a book can be tied into history.
This is a wonderful tapestry of HF, complex and well-drawn out characters and plot lines, mysteries that kept me guessing, twists, turns, suspense, and thrilling events that truly make for a wonderful novel.
I highly recommend this gem.
5/5 stars
Thank you to Pan MacMillan for this wonderful ARC and in I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 12/18/20 there is no BB listing created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/4/21.
November 11, 2022
The debut novel in a series featuring Cesare Aldo, former soldier, now an officer in the city's most feared criminal court, CITY OF VENGEANCE is set during the winter of 1536 in Florence, Italy. At that time Florence was a wealthy and influential city, ruled over by the Duke Alessandro de Medici - volatile and dangerous in his own right. When a prominent Jewish moneylender is murdered in his home Aldo is directed to solve the murder before the feast of Epiphany, in four days time. What the edict doesn't take into account is the plot that Aldo uncovers to overthrow de Medici.
Not only was Florence wealthy and influential at this time, it was also rife with intrigue, gossip, political machinations, inequality and sexual excess. The extreme wealth of many contrasted starkly with desperate poverty. (Felt way too familiar to be honest). The murders of Levi, a Jewish moneylender who lived in fear, dying at the hands of a murderer despite repelling attacks by murderous bandits before, occurs around the same time as a young man is also brutally murdered, his body discovered clothed in beautiful, and very expensive, women's clothing. With that investigation led by Constable Carlo Strocchi, Aldo and he soon find their cases intersecting and they combine resources to find the killer, in the face of some very determined resistance.
Whilst CITY OF VENGEANCE is obviously going to appeal greatly to fans of historical crime fiction, this is such a strong debut it's one that should be sought out by all fans of the wider genre. It's atmospheric to the point of sensory overload, cleverly plotted, perfectly paced and absolutely riveting. The settings in which the characters move about provide really vivid pictures of the extremes - from the great wealth to the grinding poverty; and the sexual excesses that become the bordellos and sex worker's daily lives. There's also plenty of moral ambiguity with one victim being the sort of man nobody could bring themselves to say anything positive about, from a family riven with problems of their own.
At the heart of it all though, especially as a debut novel in a character based series, Cesare Aldo has to have potential, and he's got it in spades. Larger than life in some ways, charismatic, yet believable, and accessible, there's something memorable about this character, and CITY OF VENGEANCE. Definitely a series to watch out for.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Not only was Florence wealthy and influential at this time, it was also rife with intrigue, gossip, political machinations, inequality and sexual excess. The extreme wealth of many contrasted starkly with desperate poverty. (Felt way too familiar to be honest). The murders of Levi, a Jewish moneylender who lived in fear, dying at the hands of a murderer despite repelling attacks by murderous bandits before, occurs around the same time as a young man is also brutally murdered, his body discovered clothed in beautiful, and very expensive, women's clothing. With that investigation led by Constable Carlo Strocchi, Aldo and he soon find their cases intersecting and they combine resources to find the killer, in the face of some very determined resistance.
Whilst CITY OF VENGEANCE is obviously going to appeal greatly to fans of historical crime fiction, this is such a strong debut it's one that should be sought out by all fans of the wider genre. It's atmospheric to the point of sensory overload, cleverly plotted, perfectly paced and absolutely riveting. The settings in which the characters move about provide really vivid pictures of the extremes - from the great wealth to the grinding poverty; and the sexual excesses that become the bordellos and sex worker's daily lives. There's also plenty of moral ambiguity with one victim being the sort of man nobody could bring themselves to say anything positive about, from a family riven with problems of their own.
At the heart of it all though, especially as a debut novel in a character based series, Cesare Aldo has to have potential, and he's got it in spades. Larger than life in some ways, charismatic, yet believable, and accessible, there's something memorable about this character, and CITY OF VENGEANCE. Definitely a series to watch out for.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
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