The Medici Murders

Written by David Hewson

Narrated by Richard Armitage

When a well-known British TV historian, Marmaduke Godolphin, is found murdered in the canals of Venice during carnival, stabbed by a stiletto blade, the Venetian police are eager to have the case solved and cleared up within a day - murder is bad for tourism!

The police recruit the help of retired archivist, Arnold Clover. Godolphin had hired his services on arriving in Venice to help sort through some historical papers of note. These dusty documents may contain previously unknown information about the assassination of the murderer, Lorenzino de' Medici, 500 years previously.

How coincidental that Godolphin meets his death in the same place as the Medici murderer, Lorenzino, on a cold, dark, bloody night. Can Arnold use his powers of perception to establish a link and solve the murder of Godolphin?

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: Oct 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781004089000

David Hewson

Former Sunday Times journalist David Hewson is well known for his crime-thriller fiction set in European cities. He is the author of the highly acclaimed The Killing novels set in Denmark, the Detective Nic Costa series set in Italy and the Pieter Vos series in Amsterdam. The Killing trilogy is based on the BAFTA award-winning Danish TV series created by Søren Sveistrup and produced by DR, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. While he lives in Kent, Hewson's ability to capture the sense of place and atmosphere in his fiction comes from spending considerable research time in the cities in which the books are set: Copenhagen, Rome, Venice and Amsterdam.

Reviews for The Medici Murders

[Duchess Sarah Ferguson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Medici Murders is an entertaining mystery set in the picturesque squares, alleyways and cloisters of Venice, as a retired English archivist teams up with a Capitano of the local Carabinieri to solve a mystery with historical undercurrents in the city's past.

Via a well-constructed dual timeline, a fascinating story emerges. Pop-History documentary presenter Sir Marmaduke "Duke" Godolphin has been found dead in the Rio de San Tomà canal, having apparently met with an unknown assailant on the Ponte San Tomà the previous evening. That bridge is none other than the location of the notorious murder, on 26th February 1548, of Florentine exile Lorenzino de' Medici by two hired thugs.

Carabinieri Capitano Valentina Fabbri has summoned retired English archivist Arnold Clover to her offices on Campo San Zaccaria, to provide assistance with the case.

As Capitano Fabbri probes, Clover gradually relates his observations of Godolphin, the "gilded circle" of former acolytes and more recent hangers-on who have accompanied him to Venice and the various jealousies, resentments and potential motives that exist amongst the members of the group. Woven amidst the personal drama are the emerging details of the fascinating assignment that Clover and his Venetian friend Luca Volpetti had embarked upon at Godolphin's behest. Will Clover's efforts to shed light on a 470-year-0ld mystery assist Fabbri to solve this recent suspicious death?

I have enjoyed David Hewson's writing immensely in the past, and The Medici Murders reinforced this impression. Hewson shows a real understanding and affection for the city of Venice and the setting is perfectly integrated with the plot.

I'd highly recommend The Medici Murders to any reader who enjoys well-plotted and atmospheric mysteries. This book will particularly appeal to lovers of Venice and those with an interest in Renaissance art and history.

My thanks to the author, David Hewson, publisher Severn House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this compelling title.