The True Confession of Contessa Coltello
Synopsis
She's a spy and a seductress . . . but is she a killer?
Tuscany, Summer 1540.
Contessa Valentine Coltello accepts an invitation to celebrate the feast of San Giovanni at the country estate of an old flame. But the gathering is a mask for a covert auction of vital secrets stolen from Venice: the prized techniques for making Murano glass.
The sanction for selling this knowledge is death. As Venice’s spymaster within the Medici dominion, the Contessa has three days to prevent the auction, steal the secrets or destroy them before they change hands. If she fails, her own future is forfeit.
The mission is compromised when a ruthless rival strikes during the festivities, leaving clues that frame the Contessa for murder. Can she unmask the true killer before they strike again, or will Coltello hang for the one sin she has never committed?
The True Confession of Contessa Coltello is a standalone mystery set in the world of D. V. Bishop's Cesare Aldo series.
Details
Reviews
“A brilliant series”Anna Mazzola, author of The Book of Secrets
“Shadow of Madness is a book to savour. With a set-up as pleasing as Murder on the Orient Express, and a gloriously weird and wonderful cast of characters, the story doesn’t let up for a single moment. A superb addition to the Cesare Aldo universe, as well as a great standalone story in its own right”Anna Caig, author of The Wise Witch of Orkney
“Plotting is excellent and I didn’t guess anything in advance. Aldo is three-dimensionally interesting, someone with a complex past who has developed through the series. Absolutely loved it! A contender for my favourite Cesare Aldo”Fiona Forsyth, author of the Lucius Sestius historical thrillers
“A brilliantly absorbing and atmospheric thriller that is vividly imagined and utterly immersive. The labyrinthine plot has more twists and dark corners than the isolated ospedale setting itself. Both the characters and settings are so richly evoked, you’ll find yourself fully immersed in this chilling historical thriller.”Jamie West, author of Murder at the Matinee
