Rosemary F. (canadianeh) reviewed Death of the Duchess (Italian Renaissance, Bk 1) on + 242 more book reviews
Truly absorbing tale set in Renaissance Italy: two warring families and a convoluted kidnapping. Loved Sigismondo and particularly his sidekick Benno, who is not as stupid as he looks, but I can smell him from here! A great find: I look forward to the rest of the series.
Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
First Sigismundo historical mystery set in Renaissance Italy and featuring the afore-mentioned detective with his newly-acquired sidekick, Benno. Sigismundo is currently employed by The Duke, who asks him to investigate the disappearance of a young noblewoman set to be married to a young man from a family that is feuding with her own. The Duke has decreed this marriage as a way to bring the two families together, and neither of them is happy. So who kidnapped the girl? Did her own father spirit her away for safe-keeping, did the boy's father kidnap her, or is someone else involved? It's up to Sigismundo to find out. I like the main character and his grubby sidekick and the historical detail was interesting. The mystery itself was fairly easy to solve--one of those cases of spotting the baddie right off, but not being sure why or how.
