The Medici Murders by David Hewson

Happy Tuesday, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for David Hewson's latest, The Medici Murders. 

Marmaduke Godolphin was once well known in certain historical circles. First as a professor with his own group of followers dubbed the Gilded Circle. Then as host to multiple historical documentaries. 

Of late, however, Godolphin's shine has started to wear off. That is until he claims to have made an explosive discovery regarding the assassination of Lorenzino de Medici.

To prove his theory, he's enlisted the help of two archivists in Venice, one of whom, Arnold Clover, was a contemporary of Godolphin's circle. But on the eve of a Carnival celebration, Godolphin himself is murdered. 

The Caribinieri has asked for Arnold's help, as an insider and as an academic. And they have a very short time to come up with an answer or the case will be turned over to another investigator. There are multiple hurdles in their way, not least of which is the fact that Godolphin has made many enemies over the years—including those of his own circle. But does the murder have to do with Godolphin's personal matters? Or is it tied to his so-called discovery about Medici?

The Medici Murders kicks off a new series for Hewson. Book two, The Borgia Portrait, is due out later this year. 

Hewson is something of an expert on Italian history, as is evident here an in his earlier Nic Costa series (which was set in Rome). As a fan of the earlier series, I was very excited to return to Hewson's writing. He has a knack for creating sympathetic characters (Arnold) and plots that are entwined with the most fascinating and little known bits of history. 

But even aside from the points pertaining to the main plot itself, the settings and the little details that flesh them out, make you feel like a bit of an insider. 

Arnold is not Venetian. He's moved there in his retirement and is working as a volunteer archivist who sometimes helps English and American tourists navigate the archives where he works. He's passionate about Venice and history and has learned where the hidden gems are, where the best pasta is, and where to get a great affordable wine. 

I also appreciate that he's a retiree, which honestly brings to mind a bit of an Agatha Christie comparison in reading for me. Arnold, is a great contemporary counterpart of sorts to Miss Marple! (He's much more likable than Poirot!)

The Medici Murders is out now and is a perfect read for fans of historical mysteries (though it is a contemporary setting). I am definitely looking forward to another mystery featuring Arnold!

Safe As Houses by Simone van der Vlugt

While I've been doing fairly well on my challenges this year, readers, I have to admit that I wish I was getting more in the translation vein fitted into my reading week! I have some stacked up right now, waiting patiently, including the one I won from Ellie as part of the challenge: Andrea H. Japp's The Season of the Beast. 

This month my pick for the challenge is Simone van der Vlugt's Safe As Houses, due out from Canongate Books on July 4. This is the third of van der Vlugt's books to be translated into English, and the first from Canongate. It was originally released in 2012 as Blauw Water.

Lisa's day started out just like any other. She made breakfast for her daughter, Anouk, - who is home sick with bronchitis - and was out hanging the laundry when a stranger appeared in her yard. With no where else to turn, Lisa ran for home intending to bar the door. Unfortunately she didn't quite make it and the man barged in behind her. Lisa would soon learn that the man is escaped convict and murderer Mick Kreuger. Now she and Anouk are being held hostage in their own home as Kreuger plans his getaway. A passerby is Lisa's only hope, but even that hope dwindles as time passes by. Now all she can do is try to keep herself and her daughter safe as long as possible. 

Safe As Houses is a tense read! Lisa lies to Kreuger, all the while trying to plan the perfect escape, knowing that she's potentially making things worse. Kreuger is unstable but even Lisa doesn't know quite how bad he is at first. She manages to catch snippets of news reports about his crimes but quickly realizes that as long as he's getting his way, she and her daughter are seemingly ok.

There's a bit of a twist in the story in that someone does witness Kreuger in Lisa's home fairly early on. Senta gets lost on her way home and decides to stop and ask for directions - at Lisa's house. Her story is a secondary one that really ratchets up the intensity of the tale.

As a whole, I found the book to be rather short. It's good for a one-sitting read but I kind of wanted more to sink my teeth into. The translation works really well and the plot, while not terribly unique, works for the story.

Rating: 3.5/4

The Specimen by Martha Lea

Morning, everyone. Happy Valentine's Day! I swear I didn't purposely set this odd debut as my Valentine's post, it just ended up that way!

Seven years ago, young Gwen Carrick fell in love with Edward Scales. Now it's 1866 and Gwen has been charged with Edward's murder. Is she guilty? What events led to this tragic end? 

When they met in 1859, Gwen was living alone with her sister Euphemia, a famed spiritualist who specialized in contacting dead loved ones. To say the sisters didn't get along would be a vast understatement. In fact, their relationship was a strained coexistence. Gwen had a studious and scientific mind and longed for a life of respect and equality - one she could never expect as a woman. Scientific pursuits were simply not acceptable womanly studies. But Edward seemed to enjoy Gwen's mind. When he invited her to accompany him to Brazil, she believed it was because he valued her input and talents. Unfortunately, Edward was hiding many things from Gwen, things that could ruin her forever. 

The Specimen is a strange mystery and a greatly engrossing one at that. From the beginning, it becomes clear that the characters are hiding things, misrepresenting themselves, and - in some cases - deviously plotting against one another. Gwen's story comes out through flashbacks beginning in 1859 interspersed with newspaper articles covering the trial itself.

Martha Lea has quite a unique style. While some pieces of the puzzle are revealed throughout the plot, there seems to be quite of bit of information left to the reader's imagination. Some events are hinted at without being overtly explained while others are tackled in a manner more appropriate for the time period in which the story is set. To that end, there's a lot left unsaid between the characters but emphasized through their actions and reactions to one another.

Gwen's relationship with Edward is a train wreck! The kind of relationship you know is set for a bad end -- even if the story had not begun with Gwen being accused of his murder. In fact, the reader is unsure of her guilt or innocence throughout the whole of the book.

There were, admittedly, portions of the story that I found a bit confusing. The significance of the balas diamond (which I had to google). It's mentioned a few times and my best guest is that it's further testament to Gwen's overall innocent nature. Fergus's part in the whole scheme was also a little unclear to me at times. All in all, though, discovering the truth behind the events in the story is fascinating enough to overlook these aspects (and my assumption is simply that I misread or completely missed something somewhere along the line).

If you're in the mood for an odd historical mystery with aspects of spiritualism, Darwinism, murder, lots of backstabbing, and oddities, this is the one for you. The Specimen is quite an intriguing and enjoyable debut!