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Allen & Unwin, 2007
Reviewed by Sally Roddom
Young Silvano, the son of a rich Italian nobleman, is lusting after the
beautiful Angelica. The story opens with him having his poetry recited to
her as she sits in an open window. Silvano himself was supposed to have
recited it; however he is overcome with emotion so his friend Gervasio
does the deed. Unfortunately for the two young men, Angelica is married to
a sheep farmer called Tommaso. Further misfortune occurs when Tommaso is
stabbed to death in the street – with Silvano’s dagger. There is an added
problem for Silvano: he is first on the scene and becomes covered with
Tommaso’s blood. Arrest and execution seems imminent. Fortunately his
father is an old friend of the abbot of the Franciscan monastery in
Giardinetto. Silvano is at once hidden there in the guise of being a
novice while his name is cleared.
While this is happening a young girl is having problems of her own.
Chiara’s father has died, leaving her without a dowry. Her brother has
packed her off to the Franciscan nunnery in Giardinetto, despite her lack
of vocation. The two teens soon meet, and they wind up being sent to
Assisi to provide paint supplies to artist Simone Martini for his
frescoes. Another murder occurs, this time at the monastery, and Silvano
and Chiara turn amateur detective to discover who is really doing the
murders.
Mary Hoffman's medieval murder mystery spins a web of intrigue on a
background of art and religion. I can’t say that it was a page turner for
me but it was an enjoyable read. Each character was well portrayed, from
the blowsy Angelica to the grim and fanatical Minister General Michele da
Cesena, who turns up at the monastery to investigate the mortal sin that
was committed there. The reader gets a good insight into life in a
religious order and how men and women ended up as monks and nuns because
of circumstances rather than vocation.
Dec 2007 review originally published on Murder & Mayhem
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