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Cesare Aldo #2
The Darkest Sin
The Darkest Sin is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Florence and is the sequel to City of Vengeance.
Florence. Spring, 1537.
When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the Renaissance city’s northern quarter, he enters a community divided by bitter rivalries and harbouring dark secrets.
His case becomes far more complicated when a naked man’s body is found deep inside the convent, stabbed more than two dozen times. Unthinkable as it seems, all the evidence suggests one of the nuns must be the killer.
Meanwhile, Constable Carlo Strocchi finds human remains pulled from the Arno that belong to an officer of the law missing since winter. The dead man had many enemies, but who would dare kill an official of the city’s most feared criminal court?
As Aldo and Strocchi close in on the truth, identifying the killers will prove more treacherous than either of them could ever have imagined . . .
Florence. Spring, 1537.
When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the Renaissance city’s northern quarter, he enters a community divided by bitter rivalries and harbouring dark secrets.
His case becomes far more complicated when a naked man’s body is found deep inside the convent, stabbed more than two dozen times. Unthinkable as it seems, all the evidence suggests one of the nuns must be the killer.
Meanwhile, Constable Carlo Strocchi finds human remains pulled from the Arno that belong to an officer of the law missing since winter. The dead man had many enemies, but who would dare kill an official of the city’s most feared criminal court?
As Aldo and Strocchi close in on the truth, identifying the killers will prove more treacherous than either of them could ever have imagined . . .
432 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2022
79 people are currently reading
740 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 135 reviews
January 4, 2022
Book 2# in the series begins a few months after the first.
1537, Florence, Italy.
Bernardo Galeri was a liar, gambler, bully and a thief, and he’s been found naked and viciously stabbed to death in a convent of all places - he was part of a visitation from the diocese. The only inhabitants are the nuns, but could a nun really have done this? Everything points to that conclusion, but it’s up to Cesare Aldo to discover the truth. Aldo is an officer of the Otto di Guardia e Balia, the most powerful criminal court in the city.
Meanwhile, constable Carlo Strocchi is investigating human remains pulled from the river Arno, and thought to be Cerci, an officer of the law missing for some months. This was a most despicable individual, disliked by many, but who would go as far as killing him?
The two cases create a complex but clever whodunnit, with many twists and turns. Tense, and atmospheric, with murder, political intrigue, secrets, and old rivalries, all simmering away in the background, and a terrific protagonist in Cesare Aldo, mean this is shaping up to be a terrific series. A must for those who enjoy historical fiction.
*I was invited to read The Darkest Sin by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
1537, Florence, Italy.
Bernardo Galeri was a liar, gambler, bully and a thief, and he’s been found naked and viciously stabbed to death in a convent of all places - he was part of a visitation from the diocese. The only inhabitants are the nuns, but could a nun really have done this? Everything points to that conclusion, but it’s up to Cesare Aldo to discover the truth. Aldo is an officer of the Otto di Guardia e Balia, the most powerful criminal court in the city.
Meanwhile, constable Carlo Strocchi is investigating human remains pulled from the river Arno, and thought to be Cerci, an officer of the law missing for some months. This was a most despicable individual, disliked by many, but who would go as far as killing him?
The two cases create a complex but clever whodunnit, with many twists and turns. Tense, and atmospheric, with murder, political intrigue, secrets, and old rivalries, all simmering away in the background, and a terrific protagonist in Cesare Aldo, mean this is shaping up to be a terrific series. A must for those who enjoy historical fiction.
*I was invited to read The Darkest Sin by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
January 11, 2022
This is the terrific follow up to the wonderful DV Bishop's The City of Vengeance, set in Renaissance Italy in the 16th century, that established the complicated and able Cesare Aldo, an officer of Ottodi Guardia e Bilia in Florence. This is a blend of fact and fiction, with the inclusion of the actual corrupt Medici Archbishop at the time, and the real conflicts and debates that occurred in convents, with nuns split between having a real life role in handing out alms to the poor and the needy, and those who believed they should be enclosed orders dedicated only to god, meditations and prayers. The important Ruggerio, a man with teflon qualities in avoiding being caught out in his misdeeds, exercises his influence in having Cesare sent to look into reports of intruders entering a convent.
Whilst there, Cesare thinks he sees his half sister Teresa, only to discover it is her 15 year old daughter, Isabella Goudi, being educated there, this has him turmoil as he was banished from his family home at 14, thrown out on to the streets when his father died. The convent is a hotbed of intrigue and rivalries, the Abess is a believer in good works, helping those in desperate need and abused women, the Prioress leads the dissenting voices that favour a closed order, and they have engaged in underhand actions that have led to the Church sending visitations to ensure that the nuns are not engaged in untoward activities. The convent finds its existence come under severe threat when a naked man is found dead on the premises, stabbed in what looks like a frenzy of rage, and the perpetrator can only be a nun. Aldo investigates whilst his diligent colleague, Constable Carlo Strocchi, focuses on the murder of a hated officer of the court, his body recovered from the Arno.
Bishop paints an atmospheric picture of Florence in this historical period, the vast inequalities to be found in Italian society, the social norms and expectations, for instance with the position of women, and the power structures, the central role of the Catholic church, and the influence and privilege of the wealthy. We are provided insights into just how difficult the women as nuns found it to implement their own decisions in the convents, a practice that was stamped on by the religious hierarchy. This is a engaging and riveting story of twists and turns, with Aldo finding himself in danger on more than one front, and the conclusion has me highly anticipating the next in the series. I highly recommend this to those who love their historical mysteries and to crime fiction fans. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Whilst there, Cesare thinks he sees his half sister Teresa, only to discover it is her 15 year old daughter, Isabella Goudi, being educated there, this has him turmoil as he was banished from his family home at 14, thrown out on to the streets when his father died. The convent is a hotbed of intrigue and rivalries, the Abess is a believer in good works, helping those in desperate need and abused women, the Prioress leads the dissenting voices that favour a closed order, and they have engaged in underhand actions that have led to the Church sending visitations to ensure that the nuns are not engaged in untoward activities. The convent finds its existence come under severe threat when a naked man is found dead on the premises, stabbed in what looks like a frenzy of rage, and the perpetrator can only be a nun. Aldo investigates whilst his diligent colleague, Constable Carlo Strocchi, focuses on the murder of a hated officer of the court, his body recovered from the Arno.
Bishop paints an atmospheric picture of Florence in this historical period, the vast inequalities to be found in Italian society, the social norms and expectations, for instance with the position of women, and the power structures, the central role of the Catholic church, and the influence and privilege of the wealthy. We are provided insights into just how difficult the women as nuns found it to implement their own decisions in the convents, a practice that was stamped on by the religious hierarchy. This is a engaging and riveting story of twists and turns, with Aldo finding himself in danger on more than one front, and the conclusion has me highly anticipating the next in the series. I highly recommend this to those who love their historical mysteries and to crime fiction fans. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
November 23, 2024
‘I cannot recall having ever seen so much (blood) around a single body. There were numerous stab wounds, at least a dozen to the chest and torso, but it was the face that had suffered most. This had been a frenzied attack, a work of hatred.’
Well that is a good start to a story…
Good news in the character Cesare Aldo I have found my replacement for C J Sansom’s - Shardlake. Ok Shardlake is a crook backed lawyer. Aldo is a police officer of the Otto…but he does carry an injured knee. Both are unmarried. Shardlake looking for a wife. Aldo the embraces of Saul the Jewish Doctor. Shardlake lives in 16th century London. Aldo in 16th century Florence. Shardlake is handy with a legal book, Aldo with a stiletto. But both have great detective skills and pursue their prey to the end.
I bought this book - the second in the series - online after finding the first in a Charity shop. That shows how well I enjoyed the first. Bishop paints a visceral picture of the times. You can smell the sewers. Follows on well from first book but could be read standalone.
We find out more about Aldo’s illegitimate background and it appears that his relationship with Saul is consummated. Intriguing and complex story of murder in a convent.
Well that is a good start to a story…
Good news in the character Cesare Aldo I have found my replacement for C J Sansom’s - Shardlake. Ok Shardlake is a crook backed lawyer. Aldo is a police officer of the Otto…but he does carry an injured knee. Both are unmarried. Shardlake looking for a wife. Aldo the embraces of Saul the Jewish Doctor. Shardlake lives in 16th century London. Aldo in 16th century Florence. Shardlake is handy with a legal book, Aldo with a stiletto. But both have great detective skills and pursue their prey to the end.
I bought this book - the second in the series - online after finding the first in a Charity shop. That shows how well I enjoyed the first. Bishop paints a visceral picture of the times. You can smell the sewers. Follows on well from first book but could be read standalone.
We find out more about Aldo’s illegitimate background and it appears that his relationship with Saul is consummated. Intriguing and complex story of murder in a convent.
February 4, 2024
A strong follow-up to the first, with nuns under the lens.
Really enjoyed it!
Still not sure how I feel about Aldo, but he's competent enough to make for a fun investigation. I also like the contrast with Strocchi, and the moral questions surrounding the two in this book.
The journey into the convent was a little confusing, with lots of terms and names that confused me a lot. It took me a while to grasp who was who, and even still having read it I don't think I could tell you which one was the Prioress and which one was the Abbess. *shrugs*
The murder was great though, a nice little puzzle to solve.
Characters were aplenty but there was some great development of our two leads, Aldo and Strocchi. Connected stories but super easy to follow what was what.
A satisfying read, with a fun historical setting to keep it a little unique.
With thanks to Pan Macmillan Aus for a copy
Really enjoyed it!
Still not sure how I feel about Aldo, but he's competent enough to make for a fun investigation. I also like the contrast with Strocchi, and the moral questions surrounding the two in this book.
The journey into the convent was a little confusing, with lots of terms and names that confused me a lot. It took me a while to grasp who was who, and even still having read it I don't think I could tell you which one was the Prioress and which one was the Abbess. *shrugs*
The murder was great though, a nice little puzzle to solve.
Characters were aplenty but there was some great development of our two leads, Aldo and Strocchi. Connected stories but super easy to follow what was what.
A satisfying read, with a fun historical setting to keep it a little unique.
With thanks to Pan Macmillan Aus for a copy
March 22, 2022
Having enjoyed the first book in this series immensely, I was happy to see that the second story with Cesare Aldo is just as interesting and entertaining. It’s only a few months after the events in The City of Vengeance and Aldo is still trying to come to terms with everything that happened, not to mention his feelings for a certain Jewish doctor…
Meanwhile, young Carlo Strocchi travels home with his lovely new wife but during their stay in his home village he finds something that sets him on the path to finding out what happened with the mysteriously disappeared officer Cerci.
You can practically feel the heat from the Florentine summer coming off the pages, and each and every character comes alive on the pages. The brothel were Aldo lives, the convent where he tries to find the murderer before he will be thrown out by the authorities, and not to forget the motive for the murder – it’s all written in a beautiful engaging style. I can hardly wait to read the third part in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and PanMacMilland for this review copy.
Meanwhile, young Carlo Strocchi travels home with his lovely new wife but during their stay in his home village he finds something that sets him on the path to finding out what happened with the mysteriously disappeared officer Cerci.
You can practically feel the heat from the Florentine summer coming off the pages, and each and every character comes alive on the pages. The brothel were Aldo lives, the convent where he tries to find the murderer before he will be thrown out by the authorities, and not to forget the motive for the murder – it’s all written in a beautiful engaging style. I can hardly wait to read the third part in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and PanMacMilland for this review copy.
April 1, 2023
Excellent, wonderfully atmospheric historical thriller set in 16th century Florence. I came into this without having read the previous book, so I expect this book came with a few more unexpected twists for me than for those who had! An absolutely enthralling read - suffice it to say, I promptly went and purchased the series opener.
December 22, 2024
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!
As with City of Vengeance, I opted to read The Darkest Sin in audiobook format, which is currently the fastest way for me to catch up with the series before I finally get to jump on my ARC of book 4. It helps that the narrator, Mark Meadows does an excellent job bringing the story and the characters to life. I’m pretty sure I’ll be returning to these audiobooks for rereads.
The Darkest Sin is the second book in the Cesare Aldo series, which sees us back in Florence. We are a few months after the events in City of Vengeance, the year is 1537 and there is still plenty of sin for our dear friends to investigate about. Aldo, for instance, finds himself entangled in church politics when a man is found dead and naked in a convent. Which is not a good look for Santa Maria Magdalena and its abbess, that’s for sure. Especially since there are factions within the convent – some would prefer the convent to be closed, and some would like to continue offering help to the poor and a place for wealthy daughters to learn. Daughters such as Isabella Goudi, who happens to be Aldo’s step-niece, which in turn forces Aldo to face his estranged family after not talking to them for years. There is no lack of suspects, as quite a few of the sisters would have reasons to get rid of Bernardo Galeri. A man not many would mourn. Aldo has to use most of his cunning to get himself in a position to freely investigate and even then, he also needs luck to be on his side to figure out what went down.
While Aldo is occupied elsewhere, Strocchi gets a chance to visit his hometown with his new wife. Luck would have it that he finds the body of a missing officer, Cerci, and thus has the chance of a lifetime – he has to find out who killed him in order to earn the position of an officer instead of a constable. The odds are against him as there is no evidence, no witnesses of what happened, while there are plenty of people with a motivation. Cerci was an even bigger bastard than Galeri, and that’s saying something. But Strocchi is young and ambitious, full of ideals and so he throws himself at the investigation. Little does he know about the consequences he has to face at the end.
Both of these investigations are fun to follow for different reasons – in one case we already know who is the culprit and as the truth is getting nearer, one can’t help but keep hoping it’s not going to end up having a disastrous outcome. It’s interesting to find yourself rooting for someone not to get caught, and yet… For me, in that plotline were a shitton of tension and anticipation and so many emotions. In the other case, we don’t know the culprit, but we have a select number of suspects. And the excitement comes from the possibility of whether Aldo will be able to unearth all the secrets – and there are secrets aplenty. Who would have thought convents are such interesting places? Bishop waves the threads masterfully, and it’s not until almost the end that we figure out who is responsible. I love it when a mystery novel keeps me guessing until the end. I just wish he picked some different names for the novices, because sometimes it was hard to keep all the Marias straight in my head.
My only complaint about The Darkest Sin is that I would love to see a bit more character-building in the works. Like, I get both Aldo and Strocchi’s personalities and I like them, but both of their respective relationships happen mostly off-screen. And/or way too fast. I really would have liked to explore those more in-depth. I think it would have added more to their characters and would be easier to connect with them. Again, I like these characters, but as of yet, I’m not super connected to them emotionally. But since I enjoy all other aspects of the books, I’m not complaining much.
The Darkest Sin keeps the Cesare Aldo series going strong. As we follow the characters, the tension keeps growing and the stakes are getting ever higher. As Bishop explores different mystery tropes and fits them into 16th century Florence, I keep falling more and more in love with this series. I can’t wait to see where the next book will take Aldo and us, the readers.
As with City of Vengeance, I opted to read The Darkest Sin in audiobook format, which is currently the fastest way for me to catch up with the series before I finally get to jump on my ARC of book 4. It helps that the narrator, Mark Meadows does an excellent job bringing the story and the characters to life. I’m pretty sure I’ll be returning to these audiobooks for rereads.
The Darkest Sin is the second book in the Cesare Aldo series, which sees us back in Florence. We are a few months after the events in City of Vengeance, the year is 1537 and there is still plenty of sin for our dear friends to investigate about. Aldo, for instance, finds himself entangled in church politics when a man is found dead and naked in a convent. Which is not a good look for Santa Maria Magdalena and its abbess, that’s for sure. Especially since there are factions within the convent – some would prefer the convent to be closed, and some would like to continue offering help to the poor and a place for wealthy daughters to learn. Daughters such as Isabella Goudi, who happens to be Aldo’s step-niece, which in turn forces Aldo to face his estranged family after not talking to them for years. There is no lack of suspects, as quite a few of the sisters would have reasons to get rid of Bernardo Galeri. A man not many would mourn. Aldo has to use most of his cunning to get himself in a position to freely investigate and even then, he also needs luck to be on his side to figure out what went down.
While Aldo is occupied elsewhere, Strocchi gets a chance to visit his hometown with his new wife. Luck would have it that he finds the body of a missing officer, Cerci, and thus has the chance of a lifetime – he has to find out who killed him in order to earn the position of an officer instead of a constable. The odds are against him as there is no evidence, no witnesses of what happened, while there are plenty of people with a motivation. Cerci was an even bigger bastard than Galeri, and that’s saying something. But Strocchi is young and ambitious, full of ideals and so he throws himself at the investigation. Little does he know about the consequences he has to face at the end.
Both of these investigations are fun to follow for different reasons – in one case we already know who is the culprit and as the truth is getting nearer, one can’t help but keep hoping it’s not going to end up having a disastrous outcome. It’s interesting to find yourself rooting for someone not to get caught, and yet… For me, in that plotline were a shitton of tension and anticipation and so many emotions. In the other case, we don’t know the culprit, but we have a select number of suspects. And the excitement comes from the possibility of whether Aldo will be able to unearth all the secrets – and there are secrets aplenty. Who would have thought convents are such interesting places? Bishop waves the threads masterfully, and it’s not until almost the end that we figure out who is responsible. I love it when a mystery novel keeps me guessing until the end. I just wish he picked some different names for the novices, because sometimes it was hard to keep all the Marias straight in my head.
My only complaint about The Darkest Sin is that I would love to see a bit more character-building in the works. Like, I get both Aldo and Strocchi’s personalities and I like them, but both of their respective relationships happen mostly off-screen. And/or way too fast. I really would have liked to explore those more in-depth. I think it would have added more to their characters and would be easier to connect with them. Again, I like these characters, but as of yet, I’m not super connected to them emotionally. But since I enjoy all other aspects of the books, I’m not complaining much.
The Darkest Sin keeps the Cesare Aldo series going strong. As we follow the characters, the tension keeps growing and the stakes are getting ever higher. As Bishop explores different mystery tropes and fits them into 16th century Florence, I keep falling more and more in love with this series. I can’t wait to see where the next book will take Aldo and us, the readers.
May 6, 2022
Delving back into the mysteries ot 16th century Florence, this time we are given a bit more of the back story of Cesare Aldo, with the introduction of some family.
A dead, naked, blood covered, male body is found in a convent, and Aldo must find who is responsible and why. This gives the reader a great insight into the lives of the sisters, their reasons for being there, and the day to day of the nuns. Obviously the truth comes out, but not without a lot of investigation, dead ends, and red herrings in the way for our favourite Otto officer.
In a parallel story, Strocchi finds a body that had been pulled from the Arno on his visit to take his new wife to his home village, and… it’s Cerchi. This will come as no surprise to readers of the first book, and Strocchi is given the task of uncovering the murderer - no mean feat given that Cerchi was about as popular as a fart in a spacesuit.
Another treat for followers of the Otto’s finest, and looking forward to the next in the series.
A dead, naked, blood covered, male body is found in a convent, and Aldo must find who is responsible and why. This gives the reader a great insight into the lives of the sisters, their reasons for being there, and the day to day of the nuns. Obviously the truth comes out, but not without a lot of investigation, dead ends, and red herrings in the way for our favourite Otto officer.
In a parallel story, Strocchi finds a body that had been pulled from the Arno on his visit to take his new wife to his home village, and… it’s Cerchi. This will come as no surprise to readers of the first book, and Strocchi is given the task of uncovering the murderer - no mean feat given that Cerchi was about as popular as a fart in a spacesuit.
Another treat for followers of the Otto’s finest, and looking forward to the next in the series.
March 16, 2023
Rep: gay mc, Jewish gay li
CWs: gore, violence, past domestic abuse
CWs: gore, violence, past domestic abuse
September 5, 2022
Sinister, evocative, and enthralling!
The Darkest Sin is the complex, thrilling sequel that takes us back to Renaissance Florence in the spring of 1537 and into the life of Cesare Aldo, an officer of the Otto di Guardia e Balia, who now finds himself not only investigating the murder of a naked man found stabbed to death within the walls of the Santa Maria Magdalena convent, but also hoping that Constable Strocchi doesn’t have too much success discovering who actually killed their fellow brutish officer, Cherchi, who’s been missing since winter and whose body has just been recently discovered floating in the river Arno.
The prose is seamless and expressive. The characters are methodical, diligent, and tormented. And the plot is a gripping, twisty tale about life, loss, friendship, secrets, duty, deception, danger, abuse, corruption, politics, violence, and murder.
Overall, The Darkest Sin is another fabulous addition to the Cesare Aldo series by Bishop that does an exceptional job of interweaving historical times and compelling fiction into a gritty, suspenseful mystery that is darkly entertaining and exceptionally atmospheric.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Darkest Sin is the complex, thrilling sequel that takes us back to Renaissance Florence in the spring of 1537 and into the life of Cesare Aldo, an officer of the Otto di Guardia e Balia, who now finds himself not only investigating the murder of a naked man found stabbed to death within the walls of the Santa Maria Magdalena convent, but also hoping that Constable Strocchi doesn’t have too much success discovering who actually killed their fellow brutish officer, Cherchi, who’s been missing since winter and whose body has just been recently discovered floating in the river Arno.
The prose is seamless and expressive. The characters are methodical, diligent, and tormented. And the plot is a gripping, twisty tale about life, loss, friendship, secrets, duty, deception, danger, abuse, corruption, politics, violence, and murder.
Overall, The Darkest Sin is another fabulous addition to the Cesare Aldo series by Bishop that does an exceptional job of interweaving historical times and compelling fiction into a gritty, suspenseful mystery that is darkly entertaining and exceptionally atmospheric.
Thank you to PGC Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2025
U hrvatskom prijevodu "NAjmračniji grijeh". Ceasre Aldo bavi se ubojstvom mušakarca u ženskom samostanu. Meni još bolji od prvog dijela serijala!
May 2, 2025
[4] I do love a historical thriller. This book is my first intro into this world and this character and I was enthralled right on the jump by the world Bishop fleshes out. You feel transported instantly to this time period as Aldo navigates his career and his identity in the Florence of this time, a city rife with churches, corruption, and power struggles. The dual mysteries had me gagged like the reveal part way through the book had me shook but I think I would have been less surprised if I read the first book first; however, it was wondrous nonetheless. Aldo is such a fascinating main character. A man of convictions whose known deep suffering and injustice from an early age. A man who understands that in a city like Florence where men of power can get away with anything that the law in this city is used as a punishment on the weak and oppressed often women. He has a deep compassion for the women in the convent and just the plight of women in general due to his past and family history.
January 15, 2023
This was another very strong story based in Florence. Aldo is sent to a convent after stories of a man trying to climb over the wall. When he returns, it is to find a dead body and he gets involved in finding the murderer. The abbey is full of intrigue and self-interest despite an abbess who I liked as she seemed very sincere. The church is portrayed as very corrupt which I believe is historically accurate. In the meantime, Strocchi has found the body of Cerchi who was killed at the end of the first novel and is looking for killer. As a reader, you already know who this is which adds to the tension. Highly recommended.
August 31, 2025
Great sequel. I do love a tale of convent intrigue and I like Aldo. I would be very surprised if Bishop hasn't read Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant, and they both almost certainly used the same source documents so perhaps this was a little derivative, but I couldn't put it down so fair's fair, it was better than the first one at 4 5* and five stars it is.
April 8, 2022
I knew as soon as I read City of Vengeance last year that I had found a new favourite series and The Darkest Sin catapulted itself straight onto my list of most anticipated books of 2022. A few on that list have been awful misses already but this one is definitely not one of them.
First up, you should definitely read City of Vengeance first. Not only would you then get a better picture of the complicated character that is Cesare Aldo, but events in The Darkest Sin do follow up from events in the previous book. It’s not necessarily a case of ending up so horribly confused that you won’t be able to enjoy this one but I promise you, that when you’ve finished you’re going to go back to read the first book anyway so you may as well start there. 💁🏼♀️
The Darkest Sin focusses on two crimes that need investigating. In Florence, the naked and very dead body of a man is found in a convent. Technically, this isn’t a job for the Otto, the criminal court Cesare Aldo works for. Anything that happens in the convent is for the bishop to deal with. But since a man of influence asked Aldo’s help in another matter and he just happens to be there already … what’s a man of the court to do?
Meanwhile, in a village along the Arno, Strocchi discovers the remains of an officer of the law who went missing in Florence during winter. Strocchi knows this man had many enemies, as do those who read the first book. Strocchi can’t even begin to imagine who would have dared to kill this man though. Readers of the first book already know and loyalties are tested all over the place. For Strocchi, this investigation couldn’t possibly be more frustrating as he seems to just go from one dead end to the next. However, the author gives him a chance to shine here and I absolutely approved. I really like the character of Strocchi, he’s someone you want all the good things for, someone to root for. That’s exactly why this investigation left me conflicted because I wanted him to succeed but I also didn’t. Those who have read the first book will know why. If I still haven’t convinced you to read City of Vengeance, I don’t know what more I can do!
Aldo’s investigation is a complicated one and all the evidence points to one to the nuns themselves. This convent is divided. Some of the nuns are hiding secrets, some are entangled in bitter rivalries. While it should be a safe place for women, it’s really not. Men are still in charge, abbess or not. Men who ultimately try and decide how this convent should be run, men who make the decision on its future without a care for nuns themselves or the community they serve, men who find their way inside for whatever reason. A lot of research must have gone into these chapters dealing with convent life and I was absolutely fascinated. As it was in real life, some of the nuns were sent there by their families, others chose the life as a way to escape another life. Honestly, men don’t come out of this book looking all too well.
D.V. Bishop does an excellent job of bringing Florence to life. From the divide between the wealthy and the poor, from the power of the men ruling city and church to the (seemingly) submissive women, this beautiful city has many dark corners and the reader definitely gets a feel for those. Florence is a bustling city, an important city and like so many others it is ruled by greed. Just like its predecessor, The Darkest Sin oozes atmosphere. If you close your eyes, you can almost see the view from Ponte Vecchio, watching the Arno slice through the city. You can almost hear the sound of feet walking along the cobbled roads, or smell the fish at the markets.
I couldn’t at all figure out who was responsible for the death of the naked man in the convent. I did see where Strocchi’s path would lead and I wasn’t entirely sure I liked it, mostly because I like his character. May have mentioned that before. The Darkest Sin also reveals a bit more information about Aldo’s past, but I’m sure there is plenty more to discover. The conclusion most definitely left me wondering what’s next and I can’t wait of find out!
Historical crime fiction is absolutely my thing, combining as it does my two favourite genres. There are some truly good series out there and let me tell you, the Cesare Aldo one is definitely one of the best. I hate to tell you this, but if you’re not reading this series you’re missing out. Please go forth and fix the error of your ways. You can thank me later.
First up, you should definitely read City of Vengeance first. Not only would you then get a better picture of the complicated character that is Cesare Aldo, but events in The Darkest Sin do follow up from events in the previous book. It’s not necessarily a case of ending up so horribly confused that you won’t be able to enjoy this one but I promise you, that when you’ve finished you’re going to go back to read the first book anyway so you may as well start there. 💁🏼♀️
The Darkest Sin focusses on two crimes that need investigating. In Florence, the naked and very dead body of a man is found in a convent. Technically, this isn’t a job for the Otto, the criminal court Cesare Aldo works for. Anything that happens in the convent is for the bishop to deal with. But since a man of influence asked Aldo’s help in another matter and he just happens to be there already … what’s a man of the court to do?
Meanwhile, in a village along the Arno, Strocchi discovers the remains of an officer of the law who went missing in Florence during winter. Strocchi knows this man had many enemies, as do those who read the first book. Strocchi can’t even begin to imagine who would have dared to kill this man though. Readers of the first book already know and loyalties are tested all over the place. For Strocchi, this investigation couldn’t possibly be more frustrating as he seems to just go from one dead end to the next. However, the author gives him a chance to shine here and I absolutely approved. I really like the character of Strocchi, he’s someone you want all the good things for, someone to root for. That’s exactly why this investigation left me conflicted because I wanted him to succeed but I also didn’t. Those who have read the first book will know why. If I still haven’t convinced you to read City of Vengeance, I don’t know what more I can do!
Aldo’s investigation is a complicated one and all the evidence points to one to the nuns themselves. This convent is divided. Some of the nuns are hiding secrets, some are entangled in bitter rivalries. While it should be a safe place for women, it’s really not. Men are still in charge, abbess or not. Men who ultimately try and decide how this convent should be run, men who make the decision on its future without a care for nuns themselves or the community they serve, men who find their way inside for whatever reason. A lot of research must have gone into these chapters dealing with convent life and I was absolutely fascinated. As it was in real life, some of the nuns were sent there by their families, others chose the life as a way to escape another life. Honestly, men don’t come out of this book looking all too well.
D.V. Bishop does an excellent job of bringing Florence to life. From the divide between the wealthy and the poor, from the power of the men ruling city and church to the (seemingly) submissive women, this beautiful city has many dark corners and the reader definitely gets a feel for those. Florence is a bustling city, an important city and like so many others it is ruled by greed. Just like its predecessor, The Darkest Sin oozes atmosphere. If you close your eyes, you can almost see the view from Ponte Vecchio, watching the Arno slice through the city. You can almost hear the sound of feet walking along the cobbled roads, or smell the fish at the markets.
I couldn’t at all figure out who was responsible for the death of the naked man in the convent. I did see where Strocchi’s path would lead and I wasn’t entirely sure I liked it, mostly because I like his character. May have mentioned that before. The Darkest Sin also reveals a bit more information about Aldo’s past, but I’m sure there is plenty more to discover. The conclusion most definitely left me wondering what’s next and I can’t wait of find out!
Historical crime fiction is absolutely my thing, combining as it does my two favourite genres. There are some truly good series out there and let me tell you, the Cesare Aldo one is definitely one of the best. I hate to tell you this, but if you’re not reading this series you’re missing out. Please go forth and fix the error of your ways. You can thank me later.
March 22, 2022
Darkest Sin is an unputdownable follow up to the debut The City of Vengeance by D.V. Bishop and the second book to feature Cesare Aldo. When a murdered body is discovered in a convent whose only inhabitants are Nuns, Cesare Aldo finds himself well placed to investigate. Meanwhile, another body is discovered in the river Arno where Constable Carlo Strocchi is given the task of discovering the killer, but Strocchi’s investigations may lead him to someone closer to home!
Bishop creates a real sense of time and place; his writing evokes an air of gritty realism to his renaissance Italy in the 16th century. From dark and filthy streets to poverty and the down-trodden, to the higher echelons of society to the rich and corrupt, the dirty deals, backstabbing (literally) and the treachery. Bishop weaves a fast-paced, multi-layered story that gradually reveals the truth. It is full of political intrigue, where friendships are tested, and truths are laid bare!
The plotting is clever and well-constructed, you can tell there has been lots of research put into this story, giving it a well-crafted and complex reading experience. The ending is just sublime…edge of your seat, what is going to happen, which sets up what I hope will be the third book in the series. If you have enjoyed S.J. Parris Giordano Bruno novels and C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake…I do not doubt that this series sits alongside, and it’s very well deserved. It’s been a long time since a book has gripped me like Darkest Sin.
Bishop creates a real sense of time and place; his writing evokes an air of gritty realism to his renaissance Italy in the 16th century. From dark and filthy streets to poverty and the down-trodden, to the higher echelons of society to the rich and corrupt, the dirty deals, backstabbing (literally) and the treachery. Bishop weaves a fast-paced, multi-layered story that gradually reveals the truth. It is full of political intrigue, where friendships are tested, and truths are laid bare!
The plotting is clever and well-constructed, you can tell there has been lots of research put into this story, giving it a well-crafted and complex reading experience. The ending is just sublime…edge of your seat, what is going to happen, which sets up what I hope will be the third book in the series. If you have enjoyed S.J. Parris Giordano Bruno novels and C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake…I do not doubt that this series sits alongside, and it’s very well deserved. It’s been a long time since a book has gripped me like Darkest Sin.
October 28, 2022
discover the locations in the novel
You really should read this novel if you love ones that immediately transport you and immerse you in to its setting.
IF I thought the first book was amazing, this is even more so. What a book. I could see everything so clearly and sense the city around me. Every one of my sights were heightened so much it was like being in a scratch and sniff TV programme.
Renaissance Florence is an exciting place to be in a book, not so much so in real life it would seem. The story is set around some really dark moments at a time where Medici Archbishop was seemingly as corrupt as he is in this book. The city and its churches and convents seem to be on war footing with the outside world. Not only that, they seem to be in a war with themselves not knowing whether their true purpose is to help the outside world and let them in or close themselves off and dedicate their lives to God.
That all pails into insignificance when a naked man is found in one of the inner rooms of the Santa Maria Magdalena convent. Aldo investigates of course and at the same time is looking into a death of anther man washed up in the river Arno. As we find out the identities of the men, what a world flashes up before our eyes. Aldo is stuck right in the middle and it’s a scary and dangerous place. I swear the pages darkened when the self-important and brutish Ruggerio came on scene. His influence stretches far and wide but his ego cannot be contained.
The setting of the closed convent really allowed the characters from book one to come centre stage. The enclosed, shut off from the real world, claustrophobic feel of the novel is a world I know noting about. Its deliciously dark and the nuns are suspicious and creepy in many ways. The battles between the Abess and the Prioress for example had me hooked.
This book is an epic journey back in time. Immersive to the point you can smell the stench of the Arno as you open the pages, and wonder if the blood pooling from the dead man will somehow end up on you. I got a good insight into what might have taken place in a convent too. The murder and intrigue aside, you get to see the power struggles, what they had to give up etc. One character escapes here purely to avoid an arranged marriage. An indication of what women at the time had to endure.
The central mystery of a naked dead man in a convent got me hooked but it was everything else that kept me utterly intrigued and delighted to have experienced this amazing read.
June 21, 2023
I didn't find this as engaging as the first in the series, but it was still an enjoyable book to read. The most interesting aspect of this particular book was how the real villain was what society of the time pushed people to do.
November 11, 2023
i love gay italian people, wish they were real
January 30, 2024
Historical crime isn't really my thing but I'm enjoying this series a hell of a lot. You can smell 16th century Florence in all its squalor and life. Great stuff.
May 1, 2022
hoffentlich kommt der dritte Teil bald!
August 15, 2024
Unfortunately, my fears that these books needed a much tighter edit have been borne out in book 2.
The strengths in the universe of Florence and the main Florentine power brokers are great especially Aldo however for me there were some major missteps.
The book is over 400 pages long with close to 100 an explanation of the events in the convent, despite the events being pretty well known way before the denouement. The B storyline is objectively bad with Strocchi examining the events of book one...horrible writing.
Despite immense promise, that will be my exit on the series.
The strengths in the universe of Florence and the main Florentine power brokers are great especially Aldo however for me there were some major missteps.
The book is over 400 pages long with close to 100 an explanation of the events in the convent, despite the events being pretty well known way before the denouement. The B storyline is objectively bad with Strocchi examining the events of book one...horrible writing.
Despite immense promise, that will be my exit on the series.
May 27, 2022
Cesare Aldo hasn’t had the easiest of times of late, and it appears that his luck isn’t in any hurry to become any better after he investigates a report of intruders infiltrating a convent in the northern quarter of the city yet what he enters into is a place of many bitter rivalries, secrets that are more sacred than the religion itself, and someone who wouldn’t trust him even if he started turning their water into wine.
However, his case becomes steeped in blood when a man’s body is discovered inside the coven walls, his body stabbed multiple times and leaving not only the nuns shaken, but the religious leaders demanding answers he possible cannot obtain as quickly as they are asking, yet as the evidence begins to pile up, the finger starts to point at one of the nuns but surely that couldn’t be right. Or could it?
Meanwhile, constable Strocchi stumbles upon desecrated human remains dredged up from the Arno that belong to an officer of the law who all thought had simply fled to perhaps start a new life but as he looks deeper into the fate of this man, the question of just who would murder an official of the much-feared criminal court soon leads him to something that could land someone he trusts into the jaws of justice which may or may not be the best option as no one is without blame..
Will Cesare uncover the truth behind the corpse within the convent or will a power greater than the law stop him?
Filled with gallows humour, fabulous one-liners and a protagonist so witty, the author yet again delivers a superb historical thriller guaranteed to keep you guessing!
However, his case becomes steeped in blood when a man’s body is discovered inside the coven walls, his body stabbed multiple times and leaving not only the nuns shaken, but the religious leaders demanding answers he possible cannot obtain as quickly as they are asking, yet as the evidence begins to pile up, the finger starts to point at one of the nuns but surely that couldn’t be right. Or could it?
Meanwhile, constable Strocchi stumbles upon desecrated human remains dredged up from the Arno that belong to an officer of the law who all thought had simply fled to perhaps start a new life but as he looks deeper into the fate of this man, the question of just who would murder an official of the much-feared criminal court soon leads him to something that could land someone he trusts into the jaws of justice which may or may not be the best option as no one is without blame..
Will Cesare uncover the truth behind the corpse within the convent or will a power greater than the law stop him?
Filled with gallows humour, fabulous one-liners and a protagonist so witty, the author yet again delivers a superb historical thriller guaranteed to keep you guessing!
June 5, 2022
This is a fabulous follow up to City of Vengeance. Definitely read CoV first, before you read this, as a key plot follows directly on from the first book. If you haven't read either book, then I'm jealous of you, because you have so much to look forward to. Gay Florentine Renaissance murder mysteries? YES PLEASE!
March 3, 2022
Last year I read and reviewed City of Vengeance , the first book in the Cesare Aldo Series, and it was one of my best reads of 2021. D.V.Bishop has now published the second book in the series The Darkest Sin which is set a couple of months after the end of the first book. This historical thriller sees Aldo investigating the murder of man in one of the cities convents, probably murdered by one of the nuns in a shocking manner. Getting acess to the convent is not easy, but once inside Aldo finds himself looking for secrets that put his own life in danger. Whilst Aldo is at the convent, constable Strocchi finds himself looking into the murder of Officer Cerchi, a man hated and feared by many. Two mysteries to solve in this fantastic historical thriller set in Renaissance Florence.
I loved the first book in the series and The Darkest Sin lived up to all my expectons. The setting of 1537 Florence is a fabulous backdrop, a city where there is a huge lifestyle gap between the rich and the poor, the streets in some areas have sewage running in the streets, whilst the rich live in grand palazzo. At this time the Catholic Church had a lot of infuence in the Italian City states, so a muder of a man in a convent was shocking to all. Interstingly whilst murder would be investigated by the Otto, the judicial body, murder in a convent is under the duristriction of the Church. D.V.Bishop’s knowledge of this period is excellent, capturing the atmosphere of the period as well as the sites and smells of Florence; I actually walked the streets in my head with the characters taking it all in. It was interesting to see the hierarchy of the convent, from the abbess to the servant nuns to the day students who come from good families to be educated. The convent is a community in itself, self sufficient, growing their own food and herbs for the apothecary, an infirmary and a school.
It was wonderful to reconnect with Aldo and learn a bit more about him. I found his beligerance to finding out the truth at all costs and his lack of respect for those in charge admireble and make him likeable as a character. In The Darkest Sin we learn a bit more about Aldo’s background and family, meeting his half sister and niece. This brings out a different side to his character, he obviously cares about his sister and his backstory helps us understand how this has made him the man he is. Fom the previous book we see the return of the merchant Ruggerio who he crossed words with previously and who seems to be pulling strings with the Otto and Aldo still in this book. There is also the return of Constable Stocchi, recently married and tasked with finding the murderer of Otto Officer Cerchi. Stocchi is now married, and like Aldo is a firm believer in justice and dogged in his investigation. Unlike Aldo however, he is naive in a city that has many factions at odds and corruption in places, he only sees black and white, an attitude that could put him in danger.
The Darkest Sin is an amazing sequel to City of Vengeance . Set in my favourite historical period and city this is the perfect historical thriller for me. Rich in detail, beautifully crafted and with an cast of fascinating characters. This compelling and addictive thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait for book three!!!!
I loved the first book in the series and The Darkest Sin lived up to all my expectons. The setting of 1537 Florence is a fabulous backdrop, a city where there is a huge lifestyle gap between the rich and the poor, the streets in some areas have sewage running in the streets, whilst the rich live in grand palazzo. At this time the Catholic Church had a lot of infuence in the Italian City states, so a muder of a man in a convent was shocking to all. Interstingly whilst murder would be investigated by the Otto, the judicial body, murder in a convent is under the duristriction of the Church. D.V.Bishop’s knowledge of this period is excellent, capturing the atmosphere of the period as well as the sites and smells of Florence; I actually walked the streets in my head with the characters taking it all in. It was interesting to see the hierarchy of the convent, from the abbess to the servant nuns to the day students who come from good families to be educated. The convent is a community in itself, self sufficient, growing their own food and herbs for the apothecary, an infirmary and a school.
It was wonderful to reconnect with Aldo and learn a bit more about him. I found his beligerance to finding out the truth at all costs and his lack of respect for those in charge admireble and make him likeable as a character. In The Darkest Sin we learn a bit more about Aldo’s background and family, meeting his half sister and niece. This brings out a different side to his character, he obviously cares about his sister and his backstory helps us understand how this has made him the man he is. Fom the previous book we see the return of the merchant Ruggerio who he crossed words with previously and who seems to be pulling strings with the Otto and Aldo still in this book. There is also the return of Constable Stocchi, recently married and tasked with finding the murderer of Otto Officer Cerchi. Stocchi is now married, and like Aldo is a firm believer in justice and dogged in his investigation. Unlike Aldo however, he is naive in a city that has many factions at odds and corruption in places, he only sees black and white, an attitude that could put him in danger.
The Darkest Sin is an amazing sequel to City of Vengeance . Set in my favourite historical period and city this is the perfect historical thriller for me. Rich in detail, beautifully crafted and with an cast of fascinating characters. This compelling and addictive thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait for book three!!!!
October 14, 2022
Aldo and Strocchi are back with their next set of investigations. A man turns up naked and stabbed to death in a convent; and another body washes up from the river, that causes some uncomfortable questions.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Cesare Aldo series. The main mystery in this book is completely seperate to what happens in the first, but I would recommend reading City of Vengeance first, as it builds the background for the Otto, and the political powers in Venice.
Cesare Aldo is sent to investigate reports of someone trying to break into a convent - a minor crime that is usually beneath an officer of the Otto; but this leads him to the discovery of a murder.
Aldo has to uncover the secrets of the convent, and who might be a murderer; before the church punishes the wrong nun.
Carlo Strocchi is visiting his old village, to introduce his mother to his new wife, when he stumbles upon a chance clue to a missing man. He confirms a missing officer of the Otto is indeed dead, and investigates who killed him. Unfortunately, the officer was widely hated, leaving Strocchi with many leads to follow.
Aldo's storyline in the main one, and takes up most of the book. Whereas Strocchi's investigation moves swiftly to start with, but moves into the background for the second half of the book (with good reason). There are the occasional Strocchi chapters past 50%, but he's mostly spinning his wheels, waiting for the right moment.
Aldo spends most of his time at the convent, and we are introduced to a a new wave of characters.
I've got to say, in the last book, I was left somewhat disappointed by the lack of likeable female characters - but The Darkest Sin more than makes up for it!
It really focuses on the limited roles open to women at the time, and the price they have to pay for the security of being a wife. The convent has its devoutly religious occupants, but it is also a sanctuary for the beaten and mistreated women; or those that don't fit the mould.
The Abbess in charge, cares deeply for all of her charges; but she is also keenly intelligent, and easily a match for Aldo.
Even within her convent, they are not free from men interfering with their lives. The archbishop rules over everything religious, and has the power to punish nuns, and even disband the convent.
We also learn more about Aldo's family - he's a bastard son, cast out by the family's matriarch; but we get to see some really sweet interactions with his half-sister Teresa, and her daughter Isabella.
Isabella is very head-strong, and despite coming across as somewhat spoilt and shallow to begin with, she's got a good heart, and she's not scared of danger. The more you get to know her, the more similarities she has with Aldo.
It was fascinating following Aldo and the others, as they stripped back all of the misleading evidence, and got to the root of what happened, and why.
It does keep you guessing throughout, with several of the nuns having very strong motives for wanting the man dead.
The big reveal felt a little anti-climatic after all the work towards it, but it was still reasonably satisfying.
Now, we have to wait and find out what repercussions will come from Strocchi's investigation!
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Cesare Aldo series. The main mystery in this book is completely seperate to what happens in the first, but I would recommend reading City of Vengeance first, as it builds the background for the Otto, and the political powers in Venice.
Cesare Aldo is sent to investigate reports of someone trying to break into a convent - a minor crime that is usually beneath an officer of the Otto; but this leads him to the discovery of a murder.
Aldo has to uncover the secrets of the convent, and who might be a murderer; before the church punishes the wrong nun.
Carlo Strocchi is visiting his old village, to introduce his mother to his new wife, when he stumbles upon a chance clue to a missing man. He confirms a missing officer of the Otto is indeed dead, and investigates who killed him. Unfortunately, the officer was widely hated, leaving Strocchi with many leads to follow.
Aldo's storyline in the main one, and takes up most of the book. Whereas Strocchi's investigation moves swiftly to start with, but moves into the background for the second half of the book (with good reason). There are the occasional Strocchi chapters past 50%, but he's mostly spinning his wheels, waiting for the right moment.
Aldo spends most of his time at the convent, and we are introduced to a a new wave of characters.
I've got to say, in the last book, I was left somewhat disappointed by the lack of likeable female characters - but The Darkest Sin more than makes up for it!
It really focuses on the limited roles open to women at the time, and the price they have to pay for the security of being a wife. The convent has its devoutly religious occupants, but it is also a sanctuary for the beaten and mistreated women; or those that don't fit the mould.
The Abbess in charge, cares deeply for all of her charges; but she is also keenly intelligent, and easily a match for Aldo.
Even within her convent, they are not free from men interfering with their lives. The archbishop rules over everything religious, and has the power to punish nuns, and even disband the convent.
We also learn more about Aldo's family - he's a bastard son, cast out by the family's matriarch; but we get to see some really sweet interactions with his half-sister Teresa, and her daughter Isabella.
Isabella is very head-strong, and despite coming across as somewhat spoilt and shallow to begin with, she's got a good heart, and she's not scared of danger. The more you get to know her, the more similarities she has with Aldo.
It was fascinating following Aldo and the others, as they stripped back all of the misleading evidence, and got to the root of what happened, and why.
It does keep you guessing throughout, with several of the nuns having very strong motives for wanting the man dead.
The big reveal felt a little anti-climatic after all the work towards it, but it was still reasonably satisfying.
Now, we have to wait and find out what repercussions will come from Strocchi's investigation!
February 20, 2022
Cesare Aldo is back in the sequel to DV Bishop’s historical crime debut City of Vengeance. Once again, Bishop brings the world of Sixteenth Century Florence vividly to life while delivering a well paced murder mystery While this book deals with a very different crime, Bishop keeps some of the threads hanging from his debut ticking along in the background through an investigation by Aldo’s partner Carlo Strocchi.
The Darkest Sin opens with a murder in a monastery. The victim is not one of the nuns but a man, found naked, in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds. How Cesare Aldo finds himself there when the body is discovered takes a little while to explain but Bishop drops back a few days to describe the lead up to this event and Aldo’s connection to it. Although the church takes over the investigation of the murder, Aldo still manages to insert himself into the case, pushing through to find the truth no matter the cost. Once Aldo gets some control of the investigation, The Darkest Sin becomes an effectively claustrophobic procedural with a ticking clock behind it as the Church tries to wrap things up quickly. In the meantime, Strocchi stumbles upon the body of missing officer Cerchi and his investigation into that death inexorably leads him closer to Aldo.
The Darkest Sin is another great entry in this strong historical crime series. While the first book was tied closely in with the historical manoeuvrings of the Medici family, this volume is a little less beholden to specific events. Bishop still manages to incorporate key elements of Florentine history as a driver of some of the characters motivations. He is also interested in the fight between those who wanted to keep the monasteries open and those who wanted those women to be completely enclosed and cut off from the world.
And while, once again, the narrative ranges over key people in the story, the focus is on Aldo, with a strong supporting role from Strocchi. More is learnt about Aldo’s history, his early years being raised by a noble family despite being illegitimate and the consequences of the death of his father when he was twelve. And there is great insight into Strocchi, his moral code which seems at odds with the corruption and greyness that exists in Florence.
With The Darkest Sin Bishop continues to show his effortless capacity to deliver page-turning and interesting crime genre tales. The red herrings are carefully laid and twists are well paced and the conclusion is satisfying. And while sometimes the dialogue can feel a little anachronistic, readers should take this as Bishop capturing the spirit of the time in a way that makes sense to modern audiences. With this book ending on a kind-of cliffhanger, or at least a decision point for some of the characters, it feels like a third book is on the way and that beyond that this series may have some way to run. Given the strength of the first two entries that is not a bad thing.
The Darkest Sin opens with a murder in a monastery. The victim is not one of the nuns but a man, found naked, in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds. How Cesare Aldo finds himself there when the body is discovered takes a little while to explain but Bishop drops back a few days to describe the lead up to this event and Aldo’s connection to it. Although the church takes over the investigation of the murder, Aldo still manages to insert himself into the case, pushing through to find the truth no matter the cost. Once Aldo gets some control of the investigation, The Darkest Sin becomes an effectively claustrophobic procedural with a ticking clock behind it as the Church tries to wrap things up quickly. In the meantime, Strocchi stumbles upon the body of missing officer Cerchi and his investigation into that death inexorably leads him closer to Aldo.
The Darkest Sin is another great entry in this strong historical crime series. While the first book was tied closely in with the historical manoeuvrings of the Medici family, this volume is a little less beholden to specific events. Bishop still manages to incorporate key elements of Florentine history as a driver of some of the characters motivations. He is also interested in the fight between those who wanted to keep the monasteries open and those who wanted those women to be completely enclosed and cut off from the world.
And while, once again, the narrative ranges over key people in the story, the focus is on Aldo, with a strong supporting role from Strocchi. More is learnt about Aldo’s history, his early years being raised by a noble family despite being illegitimate and the consequences of the death of his father when he was twelve. And there is great insight into Strocchi, his moral code which seems at odds with the corruption and greyness that exists in Florence.
With The Darkest Sin Bishop continues to show his effortless capacity to deliver page-turning and interesting crime genre tales. The red herrings are carefully laid and twists are well paced and the conclusion is satisfying. And while sometimes the dialogue can feel a little anachronistic, readers should take this as Bishop capturing the spirit of the time in a way that makes sense to modern audiences. With this book ending on a kind-of cliffhanger, or at least a decision point for some of the characters, it feels like a third book is on the way and that beyond that this series may have some way to run. Given the strength of the first two entries that is not a bad thing.
August 20, 2022
This is the 2nd book in the Cesare Aldo series and you really should read the first book City of Vengeance as part of this story has links to the previous. Also, the first book gives a brilliant introduction to Aldo as a person, as an investigator and also the people in the city of Florence in this time period.
Set in Florence in 1537, Aldo is asked to see about the reports of intruders but finds the body of a man in the convent of Mary Magdalen. It is inconceivable that a nun would be responsible, but how and why this has happened is something that Aldo may not even be asked to investigate in. Aldo works for the Otto, the administration of the criminal court at the time. The murder is on Church grounds and therefore not under the same jurisdiction.
Another Otto constable is looking into a missing man when he discovers a body. Constable Strocchi is a new recruit who was introduced in the first book, while he is still wet behind the ears, he does pick things up and is learning the art of dealing with the criminal and underworld elements. He is very principled, newly married and under pressure to get results.
This second book is fantastic, and while I loved the first one, this one is even better. I think this is due to the fact that I am already aware of the main characters, their roles, their personalities and traits. The does mention the cases and details of Strocchi and Aldo, but it is so much better to already know them before starting this one.
The two investigations are run separately, so the author does flit back and forth between the two. I love this as it means I am eager to return to each of the cases to see what has progressed. The cases are different in the way they are investigated, but the basics are the same. Trying to discover the leads, getting to the truth, recognising the lies and taking the time to think things over.
It was great to see Aldo and Strocchi working sep[erately as it meant I got more insight into each of the characters and also what they are thinking about. They obviously have different priorities in their lives and this is a great way of really getting under the skin of each character.
The cases are brilliantly worked out, morals and dilemmas I do love them. Putting a character in the firing line, yes I adore that as well. The author chose some interesting routes for his characters and this meant the story had a great pace, constantly evolving and throwing up different challenges.
This is a fabulous book and it definitely cements this series as one that I will definitely be keeping up with. This is one for those who like historical murder mysteries with a complex storyline that is also easy to follow when you are in the zone. I really didn't want to put this one down and read it in two sittings.
Excellent storyline, interesting characters, can't wait for the next book and it is one I would absolutely recommend.
Set in Florence in 1537, Aldo is asked to see about the reports of intruders but finds the body of a man in the convent of Mary Magdalen. It is inconceivable that a nun would be responsible, but how and why this has happened is something that Aldo may not even be asked to investigate in. Aldo works for the Otto, the administration of the criminal court at the time. The murder is on Church grounds and therefore not under the same jurisdiction.
Another Otto constable is looking into a missing man when he discovers a body. Constable Strocchi is a new recruit who was introduced in the first book, while he is still wet behind the ears, he does pick things up and is learning the art of dealing with the criminal and underworld elements. He is very principled, newly married and under pressure to get results.
This second book is fantastic, and while I loved the first one, this one is even better. I think this is due to the fact that I am already aware of the main characters, their roles, their personalities and traits. The does mention the cases and details of Strocchi and Aldo, but it is so much better to already know them before starting this one.
The two investigations are run separately, so the author does flit back and forth between the two. I love this as it means I am eager to return to each of the cases to see what has progressed. The cases are different in the way they are investigated, but the basics are the same. Trying to discover the leads, getting to the truth, recognising the lies and taking the time to think things over.
It was great to see Aldo and Strocchi working sep[erately as it meant I got more insight into each of the characters and also what they are thinking about. They obviously have different priorities in their lives and this is a great way of really getting under the skin of each character.
The cases are brilliantly worked out, morals and dilemmas I do love them. Putting a character in the firing line, yes I adore that as well. The author chose some interesting routes for his characters and this meant the story had a great pace, constantly evolving and throwing up different challenges.
This is a fabulous book and it definitely cements this series as one that I will definitely be keeping up with. This is one for those who like historical murder mysteries with a complex storyline that is also easy to follow when you are in the zone. I really didn't want to put this one down and read it in two sittings.
Excellent storyline, interesting characters, can't wait for the next book and it is one I would absolutely recommend.
April 14, 2022
𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙, 𝘼 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙙𝙤𝙯𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨. 𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢? 𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙪𝙣𝙨?
First of all lets start with the plot. I could not resist to put down the book once I read the synopsis. That was intriguing isn't it? Mystery? Detective? the nun? A man were found naked and stabbed a dozen times? how gruesome is that sounds?! Everything just makes me feels excited to read it ngl.
𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
Set in 1537, a historical mystery story. I love the premise, I've always want to read murder/crime investigation set in historical and church place. I love how this book immediately give us the hints who is the possible culprit in this gruesome murder.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫
For a 400+ pages book, that's quite a lot of character. But lets start with our MC first of course. His name is Aldo, and very charming detective we have here. I love how he calmy handle the investigation and that he quickly solves the puzzles for the crimes. The nuns were also such an interesting characters. I have a hard times to remember their name and who is who. But give thanks to author's writing for makes it easy to differentiate and how each the nuns character stand out.
𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
I would not say the author's writing is that phenomenal or that good. I guess its pretty average. But I adore that his writing style is so atmospheric that I can imagine the victim's body, the bloody scenes, the church and the nuns. I can imagine the dark vibes at the church right after the body were found. However, some of his writing part feels a bit too underwhelmed like it almost makes me lose interest. This is also the first time I get so confused with characters, the story progressed and how the character pov changing.
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹
I am quite disappointed despite not having that much expectation on this book. I am expecting some big and brilliant plot twist at the final part. But the plot twist here just so bland, and I could also predict on what happened on the murder victim. I guess I want more dramatic murder scheme, or some kind gruesome revenge that just mind-blowing?
There were 2 difference case in the book, but both are just not what I expected. Too bad the premise and the story were so interesting at the start but turn out to be dull at the end. I do not mind the slow progress in the book nor do I bothered by the multiple character POV (as I can get used to them) but I have a big problem with the murder and plot twist itself.
Anyway, this is just my own preference. But if you want to experience a historical murder investigation, with a church as its settings then you might want to try this out.
3.5 ⭐️ for me
(Thank you to Pansing (@definitelybooks) for this review copies).
First of all lets start with the plot. I could not resist to put down the book once I read the synopsis. That was intriguing isn't it? Mystery? Detective? the nun? A man were found naked and stabbed a dozen times? how gruesome is that sounds?! Everything just makes me feels excited to read it ngl.
𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
Set in 1537, a historical mystery story. I love the premise, I've always want to read murder/crime investigation set in historical and church place. I love how this book immediately give us the hints who is the possible culprit in this gruesome murder.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫
For a 400+ pages book, that's quite a lot of character. But lets start with our MC first of course. His name is Aldo, and very charming detective we have here. I love how he calmy handle the investigation and that he quickly solves the puzzles for the crimes. The nuns were also such an interesting characters. I have a hard times to remember their name and who is who. But give thanks to author's writing for makes it easy to differentiate and how each the nuns character stand out.
𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
I would not say the author's writing is that phenomenal or that good. I guess its pretty average. But I adore that his writing style is so atmospheric that I can imagine the victim's body, the bloody scenes, the church and the nuns. I can imagine the dark vibes at the church right after the body were found. However, some of his writing part feels a bit too underwhelmed like it almost makes me lose interest. This is also the first time I get so confused with characters, the story progressed and how the character pov changing.
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹
I am quite disappointed despite not having that much expectation on this book. I am expecting some big and brilliant plot twist at the final part. But the plot twist here just so bland, and I could also predict on what happened on the murder victim. I guess I want more dramatic murder scheme, or some kind gruesome revenge that just mind-blowing?
There were 2 difference case in the book, but both are just not what I expected. Too bad the premise and the story were so interesting at the start but turn out to be dull at the end. I do not mind the slow progress in the book nor do I bothered by the multiple character POV (as I can get used to them) but I have a big problem with the murder and plot twist itself.
Anyway, this is just my own preference. But if you want to experience a historical murder investigation, with a church as its settings then you might want to try this out.
3.5 ⭐️ for me
(Thank you to Pansing (@definitelybooks) for this review copies).
August 26, 2023
Otto officer Cesare Aldo is summoned to a women’s convent at the behest of a wealthy merchant because there are rumours of men intruding at night. Once he gets in, a bloodied corpse of a naked man is found – stabbed more than a dozen times. One of the nuns is a killer, or so it seems. Aldo must work together with the church to find the culprit. But who is this man? How did he enter the convent at night? Why was he naked? And who did this? When -on top of this all- Aldo meets his niece Isabella in the cloisters his past catches up with him. Meanwhile, constable Strocchi finds a corpse washed up from the Arno in his native village. It turns out to be his former colleague Cerchi whom Aldo has been searching for in the past few weeks.
In The darkest sin, we pick up a few months after the events of City of Vengeance. There are two murder mysteries but the focus is on the convent murder and you immediately notice that this mystery is much more complex than the one in the first book. I could not guess the killer, and that is something I liked a lot :).
Bishop captivatingly describes a Florentine women’s convent of the time. With different classes in nuns, day students and the male church that didn’t want to give them too much power. Behind the walls, there’s also a battle going on to close the convent so they can devote themselves solely to God, while others feel it’s their job to help the poor in the city.
Strocchi, meanwhile, has built a life with Tomasia and when he introduces her to his mother, he finds the corpse of Inspector Cerchi. Now Strocchi is given the task of finding the culprit. And that’s not easy, because Cerchi was such an unpleasant man that his list of enemies is a long one.
I can say that once again I was completely sucked into beautiful Florence. I love how Bishop can bring the 16th century Florence to life. For all fans of historical mysteries/detectives, this series comes highly recommended. I look forward to reading the next part.
Dutch review:
Cesare Aldo gaat in opdracht van een rijke handelaar naar een vrouwenklooster omdat er geruchten zijn dat er 's nachts mannen naar binnen dringen. Eens hij daar is wordt er een bebloed lijk aangetroffen van een naakte man. En dat in een gemeenschap waar enkel vrouwen leven. Aldo moet samen met de kerk op zoek naar de dader. Maar wie is de man, waarom was hij naakt en wie is de moordenaar? Wanneer Aldo zijn nicht Isabella aantreft in de kloostergangen als dagstudent haalt zijn verleden hem in. Ondertussen vindt constable Strocchi een lijk dat uit de Arno is aangespoeld in zijn geboortedorp. Het blijkt zijn ex-collega Cerchi te zijn waarnaar Aldo al een tijd op zoek is.
In dit tweede deel pikken we in een aantal maanden na de gebeurtenissen van City of Vengeance. Er zijn twee moordmysteries: dat van een man in een klooster en de dood van Cerchi. De focus ligt op de moord in het klooster en je merkt meteen dat dit mysterie veel sterker is uitgewerkt dan in het eerste boek. Ik kon de moordenaar niet gokken en het zit allemaal veel complexer in elkaar dan je eerst denkt.
Bishop zet op een boeiende manier een vrouwenklooster uit die tijd neer. Met verschillende klassen in nonnen, dagstudenten en de mannelijke kerk die hen vooral niet te veel macht wou geven. Intern is er ook een strijd aan de gang om het klooster gesloten te maken zodat zij zich enkel tot God kunnen wijden, anderen vinden dan weer dat het hun taak is de armen in de stad te helpen en op te vangen.
Strocchi heeft ondertussen een leven opgebouwd met Tomasia en wanneer hij haar gaat voorstellen aan zijn mama vindt hij het lijk van inspecteur Cerchi. Nu krijgt Strocchi de taak om de moordenaar te vinden. En dat is niet makkelijk, want Cerchi was zo'n onaangename man dat hij heel wat vijanden had opgebouwd.
En zo kan ik zeggen dat ik opnieuw helemaal meegezogen was naar het mooie Firenze en naar de intriges van de verschillende personages. Voor alle fans van historische mysteries/detectives is dit zeker een aanrader. Ik kijk ernaar uit om het volgende deel te lezen.
In The darkest sin, we pick up a few months after the events of City of Vengeance. There are two murder mysteries but the focus is on the convent murder and you immediately notice that this mystery is much more complex than the one in the first book. I could not guess the killer, and that is something I liked a lot :).
Bishop captivatingly describes a Florentine women’s convent of the time. With different classes in nuns, day students and the male church that didn’t want to give them too much power. Behind the walls, there’s also a battle going on to close the convent so they can devote themselves solely to God, while others feel it’s their job to help the poor in the city.
Strocchi, meanwhile, has built a life with Tomasia and when he introduces her to his mother, he finds the corpse of Inspector Cerchi. Now Strocchi is given the task of finding the culprit. And that’s not easy, because Cerchi was such an unpleasant man that his list of enemies is a long one.
I can say that once again I was completely sucked into beautiful Florence. I love how Bishop can bring the 16th century Florence to life. For all fans of historical mysteries/detectives, this series comes highly recommended. I look forward to reading the next part.
Dutch review:
Cesare Aldo gaat in opdracht van een rijke handelaar naar een vrouwenklooster omdat er geruchten zijn dat er 's nachts mannen naar binnen dringen. Eens hij daar is wordt er een bebloed lijk aangetroffen van een naakte man. En dat in een gemeenschap waar enkel vrouwen leven. Aldo moet samen met de kerk op zoek naar de dader. Maar wie is de man, waarom was hij naakt en wie is de moordenaar? Wanneer Aldo zijn nicht Isabella aantreft in de kloostergangen als dagstudent haalt zijn verleden hem in. Ondertussen vindt constable Strocchi een lijk dat uit de Arno is aangespoeld in zijn geboortedorp. Het blijkt zijn ex-collega Cerchi te zijn waarnaar Aldo al een tijd op zoek is.
In dit tweede deel pikken we in een aantal maanden na de gebeurtenissen van City of Vengeance. Er zijn twee moordmysteries: dat van een man in een klooster en de dood van Cerchi. De focus ligt op de moord in het klooster en je merkt meteen dat dit mysterie veel sterker is uitgewerkt dan in het eerste boek. Ik kon de moordenaar niet gokken en het zit allemaal veel complexer in elkaar dan je eerst denkt.
Bishop zet op een boeiende manier een vrouwenklooster uit die tijd neer. Met verschillende klassen in nonnen, dagstudenten en de mannelijke kerk die hen vooral niet te veel macht wou geven. Intern is er ook een strijd aan de gang om het klooster gesloten te maken zodat zij zich enkel tot God kunnen wijden, anderen vinden dan weer dat het hun taak is de armen in de stad te helpen en op te vangen.
Strocchi heeft ondertussen een leven opgebouwd met Tomasia en wanneer hij haar gaat voorstellen aan zijn mama vindt hij het lijk van inspecteur Cerchi. Nu krijgt Strocchi de taak om de moordenaar te vinden. En dat is niet makkelijk, want Cerchi was zo'n onaangename man dat hij heel wat vijanden had opgebouwd.
En zo kan ik zeggen dat ik opnieuw helemaal meegezogen was naar het mooie Firenze en naar de intriges van de verschillende personages. Voor alle fans van historische mysteries/detectives is dit zeker een aanrader. Ik kijk ernaar uit om het volgende deel te lezen.
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