The Dark Heart of Florence by Tasha AlexanderMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I either learn something new or remember something I'd learned in school or add more information to historical events of which I was aware whenever I read one of Lady Emily stories. This one is no different--early Florentine history of feuding sides such as those between guelfs and ghibellines, the rise of the d'Medici and the horrible desecration of art works, books etc by the mad friar Savonarola were not new to me. Tasha Alexander, however, weaves short chapters taking place during Renaissance Florence with its Botticelli era with chapters set in 1903 Florence, when Colin and Lady Emily Hargreaves have been sent by the Crown to investigate the death of one of the Crown's informants. Actually, of course, only Colin is entrusted to investigate along with another agent, Darius. Lady Emily is included in the trip to give Colin's visit the cover of a family holiday to his daughter, Kit's, Pallazzo. To further cover the intent of the visit, Lady Emily is encouraged to include her dear Parisian friend. Celine, in the party.
So, though it sounds confusing and is not, the book has three main mysteries and sleuths going with several minor threads and characters for added excitement. Always delightful and entertaining, the chapters engross the ready in the history, sights and mystery of 15th and early 19th Century Florence before the World Wars forever changed modern history.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment