The Poison Keeper

Tofana #1

by Deborah Swift

Naples 1633

Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill.

Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell her the hidden keys to her success. But the day Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade.

Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi.

The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under his thrall, insists that she should be consort to him.

Based on the legendary life of Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how courage and love can overcome vengeance.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Italy, Fiction, 17th Century, Renaissance, Audiobook

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2021

About the author

I am a novelist living in the Lake District in England. I write historical fiction but read widely - contemporary and classic fiction. I choose my books carefully, so I don't read many duds. If I do, they are not reviewed here, as a gesture of respect to other writers.

I blog at my website
www.deborahswift.com

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giulia d'Adamo wants nothing more than to learn her mother's craft as an apothecary in 1633 Palermo.  However, Giulia's mother is overly cautious when it comes to training Giulia in anything more than the kitchen arts since the herbs she works with not only have the power to heal, but the power to harm.  Before her mother is able to teach her anything more, Giulia's mother is accused and killed for supplying the poison to the wife of the Duke de Verdi in an attempt to kill the abusive and treacherous Duke. Giulia flees to Naples to live with her Aunt Isabetta, a courtesan.  Giulia must take up the trade in order to earn her keep.  However, the Duke di Verdi's brother, Domenico, runs Naples and the Camorra, a mafia to control and extort the citizens of the town and the Duke di Verdi is still looking for Giulia in connection to her mother.  Giulia decides to seek retribution on her own and supplies the wife of the equally villainous Domenico with the poison necessary to kill him.  Other women soon begin to come to Giulia with similar issues and word spreads of Giulia's talent. With Domenico's death, the Duke di Verdi knows who must be responsible and begins to close in on her. 

Based on the life of Giulia Tofana, The Poison Keeper weaves a dangerous tale of how and why Giulia Tofana became known as the most notorious and effective poisoners of her time.  At first, Giulia is difficult to like.  She is defiant and does not understand the intricacies of her mother's business. However, she is forced to grow up quickly after her mother's death and must learn that society does not treat everyone fairly, especially women.  With vibrant detail, the city, clothing and buildings of Renaissance Italy come alive.  I loved learning about herbs and poisons and the power they hold alongside Giulia.  I also enjoyed the relationships that Giulia was able to build with other women that she helped and how they eventually rallied her effectively when the Duke di Verdi had decided her fate.  With family secrets, exciting friendships and a tumultuous political backdrop, The Poison Keeper is a fast-paced and exciting read.   While there is much speculation about the life and death of the real Giulia, I'm glad that her story can continue after The Poison Keeper and I'm excited to see what she does next. 

This story was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a two-book reading experience. 1600's starting in Palermo. Action moves as troubles increase in the life of a poisoner.

Kindle Unlimited

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I got to chapter 5 and gave up. The writing was mediocre at best with too much tell. It was fast-paced - too fast-paced for me. I had no interest in the characters. The Duke used 100 words to describe his worm of a wife and it got repetitive and boring. It might have been a great story, but I didn't have the inclination or intrigue to keep going.

[Gara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this story in return for my fair and unbiased review.
I enjoyed reading this story, based on real people, and set in medieval Naples. Watching the main character navigate her way through challenging decisions was compelling. Family secrets, made necessary by strict cultural constraints of the time, both denied her awareness of who she was and altered her choices of who she would become. Her relationships with the female characters in the story were the source of guidance and strength. Women were powerless to change their lives’ circumstances, and her desires to assist them led her to making difficult ethical decisions. Asking myself what I would do in similar circumstances made this a very good read, and learning that many of these characters were historical figures added to my interest.

[Cryssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been eager to read this as soon as I heard Deborah Swift was writing a novel set in 17th century Italy. My expectations were high and this novel exceeded my expectations! This is a fabulous snd gripping story of the infamous poisoner Giulia Tofino who poisoned hundreds of men. I’ll not reveal her reasons in this review but I was glued from the opening pages. With a deft hand, Swift recreates the physical world of Naples and Palermo and the everyday lives of the people. Giulia was a complex character, morally challenging and yet I was still hoping she would succeed. It’s a testament to the author’s skill that she can make us care. Highly recommended!

[A.C. Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating! I do not read a lot of historical fiction but after reading this it might be my second favorite genre.
Couldn’t put it down.
The descriptions of Renaissance Italy were so well written. Guilia had a strong character arc and I am excited to read the next one.
Highly recommend.

[Kiara]

DNF at 12%
lost interest with where the story was going

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Swift is one of those authors who can pick a reader up and simply drop them into any given historical setting, and she's equally at home writing about the 17th or the 20th centuries. The Poison Keeper is a slight departure, in that it's set in Italy, but again, whilst it's clear that the author has worked very hard to research the period and geographical detail, she's done it all so that we don't have to. That detail sits lightly on the page, so that you just feel like you're inhabiting the world you're reading about.

Whilst this story is based on a real-life character, I'm full of admiration for the plot twists and turns which I feel have come from the mind of the author rather than the pages of the history books. Much of Guilia's life is either undocumented, or the sources disagree, so full marks to Ms Swift for turning what must have at times been a frustratingly incomplete picture into such a page-turner.

This book gives it all - drama, tension, intrigue, and fully-rounded characters, believable relationships and a main character who grows and develops during the course of the novel. I enjoyed reading Guilia's story, although my heart was in my mouth several times, and I also learned a lot about life in 17th-century Naples. I was vaguely aware of the Camorra, and more so of the powers of the Inquisition, but it was interesting to see how these threats affected the daily lives of ordinary people. Along the way we learn a great deal about various trades, and lifestyles - in particular what was expected from the courtesans - and how in this age women were still very much regarded as inferior, as sinners, and had to find their freedoms and independence where they could. Reading the book you feel as though you can see, smell and hear the streets of Naples, and feel the heat, oppression and the danger.

This is the first in a planned series and while I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment, this can easily be read as a standalone.
Highly recommended.

Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds

[Elizabeth John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sumptuous journey through seventeenth-century Italy, Deborah Swift’s gorgeously-written historical fiction novel The Poison Keeper feeds every sense and satisfies all emotions. Totally immersive, I found myself lost in the exquisite details –citizens and architecture, clothing and food, all brought to life with Ms Swift’s beautiful prose. And it doesn’t stop there. Written around the extraordinary true story of Guilia Tofana, a protagonist who defies destiny and creates unheard-of freedom for herself and other women, Ms Swift brings us into the very heart of a poisoner’s lair with authentic recipes and convincing spells that weave their own magic. It’s hard to admit empathy and admiration for a mass-murderess, but such is the conviction of the story and the characters, that I challenge you not to take the side of Guilia and hope she survives her daring. Wonderfully paced, evocative of another era, and yet completely accessible, The Poison Keeper definitely has a permanent place on my bookshelf. Highly recommend.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so hard to find books that talk about the lives of women who are not part of the aristocracy class. The Poison Keeper is one such book. I know women in the 1700th century were second-class citizens subject to their fathers then handed off to husbands like chattel. I know that women had almost no protections under the law and was mainly subject to the laws of their husbands once married.

I did not know that there was a practice of "loaning" out a wife to other men as part of a personal or political bargain on the part of the husband. That these arrangements were made without the wife's ability to refuse. Then saddle her with so much shame that she keeps these sanctioned rapes a secret. With no rights and no protections, I can see why Aqua Tofana was so popular.

Reading further on my own, I found that it was not uncommon for men to sell their wives at market in Britain among the lower classes between the 1700-1900 century. Divorce at the time was astronomically expensive but selling a wife was not.

How fortunate we are to live now instead of then.

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I requested the ARC of "The Poison Keeper" by Deborah Swift from BookSirens I had a good idea, based on it's description, that it was going to be a good historical fiction read. I was not disappointed and actually by the end of the first chapter I knew this was not only going to be a good one, but a great one. Whenever a book highlights a strong, brave woman of history, one we'd otherwise never hear about, I'm all in. This one concentrates on Giulia Tofana a known "poisoner" of the 1600's.

Giulia Tofana is her mother's daughter and as her mother works hard in her apothecary business, Giulia begs to be more involved. Her mother allows her to do the simple tasks, but anything to do with the secretive business of poisons is hands off for Giulia. Giulia is blissfully ignorant of her mother's involvement when the Duke becomes deathly ill and his wife is accused of poisoning him. That is until she's arrested and taken away. Giulia is able to escape to her aunt's house where she'll be safe, but required to take on a new profession that will go against all she believes in and is willing to do, but in an effort to please her aunt she'll agree.

The world of apothecary still intrigues Giulia and her dream is to open up her own shop. With the help of others she'll be able to do this, but the challenges she'll face seem almost insurmountable. The Duke is looking for her because of her ties to her mother, the Duke's brother is hunting her for what she did to him and the women of Naples demand her skills to deal with their unsatisfactory marriages. Her apothecary skills go well beyond healing and into the dangerous art of poisoning. And she's good at it!

I couldn't put this one down and this started from the first few pages. It captured me that quick. I'll take a book with a strong, brave, intelligent female protagonist who also was a real figure in history every time and Giulia was a dynamo. Never shying away from danger and fighting for what she felt was right. Of course she was a famous poisoner, but was it justified? You'll have to read the book and decide for yourself, but I think yes, she was. There was no divorce, women were being forced to marry brutal and often times old men who they hated and who mistreated them or even beat them endlessly. I guess I would say, Giulia was doing a public service in her day for women in need.

The story was very well written, it flowed beautifully and I never found it confusing or difficult to follow. I loved the characters and their development over the course of the book. The location and it's descriptions, which to me is as important in historical fiction as the characters was described so well I felt I was there with Giulia in her apothecary shop as she used her pestle and mortar. I could feel the cobblestones beneath my feet as she fled for her life. And the twist at a little over 1/2 way through was a huge surprise I never saw coming! When an author can catch me completely off guard I must applaud them! Cheers Ms. Swift you got me good! Very glad I found this one and very glad to have read it. Well worth your time and you will not be disappointed. I always feel a little bit smarter after I read good historical fiction and reading this book reinforced that same feeling. I learned quite a bit from the research Ms. Swift took the time to do and I thank her for that! I was happy to see there's a 2nd book in this series and will be reading that one as well. Overall this was a winner and I'm happy to share my thoughts with all of you! Happy Reading!

[Keira Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Poison Keeper is the first novel in this series by Deborah Swift. It is set in the dangerous period of early 17th-century Renaissance Naples. It tells the story of the actual historical woman Giulia Toscana whose life takes many terrible twists from almost the first page. She longs to learn the deeper secrets of her mother’s profession before life-threatening events yank from her teenaged complaints. They thrust her from the frying pan into the fire when she flees from Palermo to Naples. Intent on revenging her mother’s brutal murder, she discovers that much of what she believed isn’t true. And just when we think her life couldn’t get worse, we discover we were wrong.

Swift tells the story from Giulia’s point of view. Her writing is convincing, the plot is action-packed, and her narrative gallops along. So, I accept Giulia’s motivations for her actions and sympathize with the desperation of the women who come to her. Swift also creates vivid supporting characters who act within the atmosphere of simmering rage that pervades Naples because of its corrupt rulers. Giulia’s enemies profit from the vicious Camorra who run the protection racket that squeezes business people to the point of despair.

If graphic writing about cruelty is not to your taste, you will find parts of this novel difficult. But then, the Renaissance is not your period, for torture and violence is its hallmark. But I encourage you to read it. Quite aside from the exciting story and writing, it raises ethical issues that are worthy of reflection. Swift has done an excellent job of creating a juicy and thought-provoking novel. Get it. It’s worth it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Book Bandit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited to share my thoughts of The Poison Keeper with you today. I have never read a book by Deborah Swift but I have heard brilliant things about her books so I could not wait to get started. And guess what, everything that is said about Swift's writing is true, this book is amazing!!

The story follows the life of Giulia whose life is turned upside down by her mother's shenanigans - her mother is a healer but she also likes to dabble in poison, and this comes back to bite her because she has been selling poison to the Duke de Verdi wife, but Lady Valentina has a change of heart and decides not to kill her husband - a mistake that both Lady Valentina and Giulia will come to deeply regret. The Duke, being the unforgiving sort, seeks his revenge, and thus the story begins. This novel is about a young woman who is forced to flee for her life. She takes refuge at her aunt's house - but it turns out her aunt is a courtesan which causes all sorts of problems. I am not going to say any more because this book is just so exciting that I want you to read it for yourself and to enjoy the richness of the story and the dramatic historical backdrop.

There are villains aplenty in this novel and there are some scenes that some readers might find very upsetting. I certainly found myself in tears on more than one occasion.

I thought this novel was a wonderfully written and very insightful story. I will certainly be checking out more novels from this very talented author.

This novel really is a book in a million!

*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Poison Keeper, author Deborah Swift has crafted a story of a young woman's grief and thirst for revenge that leads her down a dark path in 17th Century Italy.

Fleeing her home in Palermo for safety in Naples, Giulia D'Adamo finds herself thrust into the life of a courtesan, subject to the whims of an aunt she had never met and the powerful men who come to call. As she grieves the brutal death of her mother, Giulia quickly comes to understand and follow the path from apothecary to poisoner, both for revenge and to aid other women caught in dangerous circumstances with no other options.
Based on the true story of professional poisoner Guilia Tofana, The Poison Keeper is filled with poisoners and mercenaries, aristocrats and courtesans, priests, gangsters, corruption and desire, this is also a portrait of the limited rights of women and the lengths they went to in order to survive.

Author Swift has taken the choice bits of this history and crafted a story that takes Giulia from an awkward and naive teenager on the cusp of first love to a determined and daring young woman who has embraced the darker side of life and found it wanting. This is a fascinating work of fiction that pushed me a bit out of my comfort zone and managed to surprise me in several ways. While not a comfortable read, I was very interested to learn that this is the first in a series. Recommended for fans of historical fiction, stories of family secrets, and strong female characters.

This review refers to a digital galley I voluntarily received from the author. A positive review was not required and these are only my own honest opinions.

[Terry Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich and colourful novel to immerse yourself in - I loved it. It is the fictionalised story of the real life Giulia Tofana of Palermo whose mother had an apothecary business in which, unbeknownst to Giulia at the time, she made lethal potions for those with a good reason to want them. Disaster falls upon the family when one of her 'remedies' is discovered, and Giulia is forced to flee to Naples.

In Naples great danger is not far away, as she becomes involved in the fight against the corrupt system of power, makes new friends, and hones her skills.

Aside from being a cracking read as is the norm from Ms Swift, this book is a fascinating glimpse into the time and place, the customs, lifestyle and, of course, the apothecary business, both official and under-the-counter, as it were. The intricate research is evident without ever being obvious (no information dumps!), the pace is perfect (no boring or slow bits!) and the characters shone out with great realism (Bruno, a mercenary contracted to the cunning Duke de Verdi, was my favourite).

Highly recommended, and I'm very much looking forward to Book #2 of the trilogy.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giulia Tofana is the daughter of a skilled apothecary, but her mother refuses to take her as an apprentice. After her mother is arrested and executed for supplying poison for the Duke deVerde's failed murder, Giulia is forced to flee her home and live the life of a courtesan in her aunt's establishment in Naples. Vowing revenge on the Duke for her mother's death, she takes a job as an apothecary assistant to learn the trade while secretly studying her mother's book of poison recipes. Aqua Tofana is undetectable but will cause the victim to sicken and die over time. Now Giulia is helping women all over Naples to free themselves from abusive marriages.
I didn't realize until the author's note at the end that this was based on a true historical figure. Giulia Tofana confessed to killing 600 men with her poisons in Rome. The story was truly fascinating and had me riveted until the end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Infosifter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of the historical character this book was based on, so it was interesting to learn about her. My husband tells me that her name still signifies poisoner in Italian. It was kind of a difficult reading experience for me though because I disagreed with her choices. If everyone could simply poison people they thought deserved it, the world would be in anarchy and there would be people dropping dead left and right every day. Neighbor won't stop playing the radio too loud late at night? A bit of poison will solve your problems! (Lol) it would've been more interesting if there were cases where the MC refused to poison someone for ethical reasons, or found other ways out in some cases. my mind feels a bit grimy after reading this. 2.5 stars.

[Zora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seldom keep a library book for three full weeks, but this was so so hard for me to get through. One dimensional characters. Writing not that good. Heavy handed on the themes. Really not my kind of thing at all. But not horrible enough to give it one star. Made it to 78%, it was due, there were people waiting who might like it, and I really did not care one whit what happened in the last 22%

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling is right

I love to discover historical fiction books about real people I never heard of. This story has it all, poison, strong women, mafia ( Renaissance style), a twist and a love story that does not overtake the book. Well done!

[rzells · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting

This book definitely broke my reading slump. I think it's a good story, even if a few scenes were dull. The writing was pretty okay. Overall, kept me wanting to see till the end.

[Judy Croome · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pedantic in style and, for my taste, too much attention given to the gruesome methods of medieval torture, but the moral dilemma of Giulia, based on a real historical professional poisoner Giulia Tofana , was interesting enough to keep me reading to the end.

[Marie Z Johansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Unexpected Treat of a Read!

I happened upon this book as I was looking for something to read in between library book holds. This very well done historically based novel is an unexpected treasure! Based on factual characters, the women in this novel are well crafted and intriguing….as is the entire premise of the book.

I found the next book in this small series and cannot wit to read it! Deborah Swift does a fine job of writing…the book held my interest throughout…I even stayed up extra late to keep reading!

[Ashley Trujillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ very mediocre

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the rich historical detail, but also a good story!
The 1600's are not a time that is often read about by me, so the details did help immerse me in the time period. I had never heard of Giulia Tofana before this year, and so this intrigued me. Women were not often in any control of their circumstances, and thus this story was a depiction of the desperate measures some would go to in order to save their own skin.
Without saying too much, I do want to say that it was a fun ride. Not exceptionally thrilling or twisty, but well paced and enough excitement to keep the pages turning.
I received this e-ARC for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paula Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting Historical Fiction

This is my first book by Deborah Swift. I really enjoyed The Poison Keeper and will be reading more of her books. This book was exciting from the very first pages to the last page and was very fast paced. It really gives you a lot to think about, as far as good verses evil. Also is it a sin if you provide the means for someone else to kill someone ? Are you guilty for their murder along with the one who actually committed the murder ? A book that has kept me reading way past a time that I should be sleeping, except I had to find out what happened next. Excited to read the next book in this series.

[Nina Romano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel I've read by this author. The narrative is a well-written, well-researched thrilling work set in Palermo and Naples. The story follows interestingly drawn Renaissance characters, especially the protagonist, Giulia, who is determined, tenacious and clever, despite enduring heartbreak and sorrow. I enjoyed Deborah Swift's nuanced writing so much that I purchased three more of her books! And I'll definitely read the next book in this series.

[Melissa Acquaviva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giulia Tofana was a real life herbalist who poisoned men in the early 1700s in various parts of Italy. The Poison Keeper is the fictional version of her story. Giulia’s mother started the poisonings in Palermo, where according to the novel, she is caught assisting the Duke de Verdi’s wife in trying to murder him. When you consider that the Duke was cruel and powerful, it was probably not the best person to get on the wrong side of. She was tortured and killed as a witch. Giulia escapes and continues her mother’s legacy of assisting women in abusive or horrific city to find a quick way out of them.
Giulia moves on to Naples where she has a short attempt at the life of a courtesan, finding this isn’t for her and making an enemy of Domenico de Verdi, the Dukes brother and local leader of the Mafia. The subjugation of women as objects or less than worthy pervades this story. Giulia is taking steps to help her fellow women fight back against those cruelties. As she tries to navigate her new life, she becomes attached and dependent on a few different men. She meets a wealthy gentleman in her aunts bordello and becomes his companion. He later plays a large part in helping her to establish her own herbalist business. However, he also has his own unhealthy agenda that she is not able to really escape or avoid if she wants to succeed. There is also Father Girolamo, the Catholic Priest in the local church who takes her in after she has been kicked out of her aunts bordello and forced to the streets. He finds her a place to live and a job with a local herbalist. He then becomes complicit in all of the poisonings, fully aware of what she is doing, even sending the women to her, but all for a donation to the church and his own monetary gains. There is also Bruno Borroni, the henchman/body guard for the Duke , whom we later find had a Romance with Guilas aunt and is much closer to Giulia than we think. Theirs is a complex and deep, although short lived relationship, that teaches both of them some difficult lessons.
Giulia is eventually found and has to escape, luckily she has built up a web of resources through the women she has helped and is able to get out of Naples before she is killed. Her skills can be put to better uses in the future than murder or so we are led to believe...
The novel was good. The story is slow in some places, it drags in conversational passages and it has times where it gets a little sanctimonious considering it’s subject matter. All in all, I did enjoy it. It really gives you a good glimpse into what Italy was like in the 1700s and being interested in herbal medicine, I enjoyed learning about some of the remedies. There is a sequel planned for Giulia and I’m sufficiently interested enough to read it.

I’d like to thank the Author and BookSirens for the ARC for a free and honest review.

[Chris And · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great deal of research went into the writing of this book. Kudos to Ms. Swift for her excellent detailed descriptions of 17th century Italy. Having visited Florence several times and Naples once, I found the references she made to architecture a nice reminder to buildings that still exist there to this day. That said, I really found the storyline needing attention. The plot was unusual and held my interest in the beginning, but too many minor characters come and go with seemingly little importance and I lost interest. I did finish, but I doubt that I would read the rest of the series.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course...”

There may well have been a time when the Hippocratic Oath meant something to Giulia Tofana, but that was before her mother was accused of poisoning Duke de Verdi. Now, Giulia is running for her life.

Giulia had been as clueless as the Duke was to what her mother did behind closed doors, but by trying to help the Duke’s wife kill her abusive husband, Theofania also condemns her daughter’s future. The Duke has concluded that Giulia is guilty of the same crime as her mother, merely because of their association, and he will hunt her down. And he when he does, when he finds her, he will kill her...

From the first tender hints of love to a shocking discovery, The Poison Keeper: An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance by Deborah Swift is a fascinating, yet powerfully emotional story of the infamous poisoner, Giulia Tofana.

With a mesmerising sense of time and place, Swift has presented her readers with an utterly irresistible novel. This is the kind of book that grabs the reader from the opening sentence and does not let go until that final full stop. It is a story that is at all times hauntingly beautiful.

The coldly calculated and deliberate manner with which Giulia approaches her revenge goes against everything that she believed in. Her life, her future, should have included the handsome leatherworker, Fabio. Instead, she seeks revenge. Revenge for her mother and revenge for herself. Giulia, like her mother before her, dares to threaten the pattern of male domination and abuse. She uses her skills, which are aided considerably by her mother’s chymist book, to plot not only revenge but to give hope to those whose futures have been stolen by abusive husbands and circumstances beyond their control. Giulia dares to break this accepted pattern of submission to the dominant and powerful men in her life, and for that, her actions can be seen as heroic, and yet, there is always that realisation that we are following the journey of a woman who becomes not only a murderer but someone who willingly aids in the murder of others. Her desperate attempts to convince herself that she merely gives the means, and what happens to her poisons after she has sold them, seemed incredibly naïve on her part. But it was also understandable. Giulia goes to church every Sunday, however Christianity seemingly offers her little solace or hope of heavenly justice, and besides, Giulia cannot wait for God to avenge her. She still goes to church, she still wants the life she had, but that has been stolen from her, and as new revelations threaten to dismantle everything she thought she had known, the only thing that remains constant in her life is her knowledge of potions and poisons. For men such as Domenico, Giulia is the Eve that he has been waiting for—the one woman who dares to eat from that Tree of Knowledge and who dares to question the order of things. While Domenico wages war on the women in his life, Giulia, like the serpent in the bushes, dares to tread where angels fear to. Giulia was an incredibly fascinating character, her depiction was masterfully portrayed and very realistic in the telling. Although I deplored the person she became, I could understand her reasoning. In a world where men ruled and women endured, someone needed to stand up and be counted. It was not enough to shout the word “enough”—someone needed to be brave enough to see such a word through to the bitter end. Giulia is that someone.

The recurrent theme in this novel is the way in which men held power over women. They are both physically stronger and, with the backing of a seemingly morally corrupt Church, they can do whatever they want. Through the depiction of characters such as the de Verdi brothers, Swift explores the power that such men had and how their wealth covered a multitude of sins. For example, Domenico, the younger brother, is determined to build a lavish church to demonstrate his devotion to God, but as he steals from the very people he is meant to protect, by the means of a brutal protection racket, the real reason for Domenico's seemingly Christian devotion soon becomes clear. The church he is having built is not for God. It is so Domenico can feed his insatiable desire for admiration. The brothers seem inherently evil. They are both vile and cruel, but there is also an element of vulnerability about the two of them. They may think they are invincible, but the shocking truth is that despite their wealth and their men at arms they are no safer than the women they so cruelly abused.

The beautiful and famous courtesan, Isabetta, was a character that fascinated me. Unlike what those closest to her think, Isabetta is not completely lost to the scent of the poppy. Her addiction may well have shaped her life and taken her away from the man she loved, but she still tries to hang onto the life she has built for herself and the women under her charge. Isabetta is a woman that one could not help but feel sorry for. Her world has the appearance of wealth and opportunity, but her feet are on unstable ground as she is forced to bow to the whims of the wealthy. However, Isabetta is a character that is not as meek as she first appears. There is a strength in her that made her a very appealing character, and she certainly helped to drive the story forward.

The historical detailing of this novel is second to none. The hours that Swift has dedicated to researching this period of history shines through in the enthralling narrative. Swift has an almost visceral understanding of what makes history worth reading, and she is also the perfect tour-guide to take her readers on a trip back in time to a dangerous past.

The Poison Keeper: An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance by Deborah Swift is the kind of book that you have to recommend to everyone you know so that you can discuss it at length over coffee. I was thoroughly enchanted with this novel from beginning to end. This novel is a must-read for fans of quality Historical Fiction.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club

[Liz C · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating reflects the fact that I started it but didn't finish. Just didn't grip me for some reason, not sure why because it had all the makings of a good story may try a reread later.