Carnival of Lies by DV Bishop

Set in Renaissance Italy, these crime thrillers by NZ Booklovers Award-winning author DV Bishop combine the best of crime writing with history as well as beautiful locations.

In this latest gripping novel, Cesare Aldo learns of a conspiracy to assassinate the Duke of Florence. Aldo reluctantly must travel to Venice to stop the journal of the Duke from falling into the wrong hands. He barely makes it to Venice alive, and once there, danger lurks on every corner of this city of masks – a place he has sworn never to return to, a place where he has no friends and too many enemies.

The beautiful and dangerous Contessa Coltello appears to be playing a perilous game of intrigue that could result in Aldo's death – he, a pawn on her chessboard of deception and ambition. It would seem she has some sort of master plan, but will that result in him being able to leave Venice alive, or will it result in his execution?

It is easy to see why DV Bishop has won awards for his novels, and once again, the enigmatic, complicated Cesare Aldo is the star of this novel – although Contessa Coltello is a close second when it comes to masterful characterisation. These thrilling historical novels are addictive.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Pan Macmillan