The Dead of Winter is a compilation of three short stories about the formative years of Goirdano Bruno and gives an insight into how he first became involved in murderous plots. I’m not normally a huge fan of short stories but I found these to be really satisfying complete stories and each one gives Bruno a little more depth as we see him develop from a young novice towards the man we encounter in the first full novel. Poor Bruno though, he’s never known a moments peace, murder and conspiracy have forever been a plague to him, poor guy.

S j parris never disappoints these novellas areno exception. A young Bruno in 3 short stories what’s no to love

Read these three insights into Bruno's early life in Italy for their terrific atmosphere and sense of fun. Bruno was clearly a fine and feisty lad as a novice and easily falls into adventures. Though I missed the really rather sexy voice given to him on audio these three stories will appeal to all of S J Parris's many fans

I’ve really enjoyed all of the S J Parris (aka Steph Merritt) Giordano Bruno novels. They stand by themselves and don’t need a backstory but the opportunity to read about young Bruno is delicious nonetheless. I wonder whether Merritt had these stories prepared before writing the main Bruno novels; did it help her work out what motivated him? They certainly address his interest in fighting injustice, desire for knowledge and attitude to women.
The Secret Dead is a great introduction to the ‘simmering human soup’ that is Naples, then and now. It touches on the persecution of conversos and high-handedness of the rich and aristocrats. The novice master at the priory of San Domenico marks Bruno out as having ‘trouble submitting to authority and a taste for difficult questions’. That’s our man right there.
I like the inclusion of famous people in these books, not least Bruno himself. I was intrigued to read about the polymath Giambattista della Porta (The Academy of Secrets) and the d’Este family (A Christmas Requiem). And I enjoyed the lovely bit of foreshadowing when he shows ignorance of and indifference to England, place of his future adventures.

Bruno is one of my favourite characters of all. A man who is years a head of his time. Not without good looks either has he seems to draw the ladies in.

The Dead of Winter and the Young Bruno finds himself in trouble within these three novellas.

His escapades are a boy to read and I loved reading about his younger days

What does the future hold for young Bruno as he makes his getaway from Rome. There is one guarantee ladies will be involved along with trouble.

I am a huge fan of S J Parris so was delighted to be able to read these three short stories. Masterfully written, these novels will reel you in and hold you enthralled.

Three magnificent novellas set in Italy in the 16th century and centered around the adventures and misadventures of a young Giordano Bruno during the few years preceding his eventual flight to England.

From the harshness of life in Naples under Spanish rule and the unflinching cruelty of the Inquisition to the sycophancy,nepotism and corruption so prevalent in Rome at the time, this richly woven fictional tapestry of Italy during the Renaissance is simply incredible from start to finish.

Superbly plotted with lots of twists and turns, full of delicious historical details and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters, these tales are just a marvellous literary treat!

Highly recommended and to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this incredible ARC

This was the first time I had read any of the Giordano Bruno books, and had to say I loved the three novellas that were presented in this book. Normally I’m not a great fan of Novellas but these really gave me a taste of the main character, especially the one that pre dates the series. I felt this set the series up nicely and as a result can now not wait to read the main series.

If you have already started the series or already read them I feel this would be a good read for anyone that already knows the character, but also like me a good way into the series. This said, despite being Novellas, I strongly recommend the book.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.

I love mysteries featuring Giordano Bruno and I loved this novella.
They are gripping and entertaining.
Character development and historical background are as good as usual.
An excellent read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A trilogy of early episodes in Bruno Gioradano's life. Rather unbelievable that he gest away with all this nonsense, but still enjoyable.

A perfect set of three short stories to complement the Giordano Bruno books. The author has taken us back to Bruno's early life as a novice monk in Naples. She has crafted the stories very cleverly, and completely convincingly brings out the character of Bruno in his youth. [I have noticed that other authors who have tried to do this - giving their ever ageing historical characters further adventures set at an earlier time - are not quite so adept at creating the younger man].
In his later life, Bruno is very worldly wise - with the exception of his understanding of women, who always seem to be his Achilles heel, and which is firmly reinforced here. It's made very clear that his "elders and betters" approach him rather like an errant schoolboy, giving him as much leeway as they can while trying to guide him wisely to cope with the complex political machinations of Italy at the time. Needless to say he is oblivious to their tolerance, and indeed, acting much like an errant schoolboy. He always seems to believe that he will be able to persuade some influential (and rich) figure to sponsor his ground-breaking academic research and writings, when it is pretty clear that anyone achieving power and influence at that time cannot afford to see him as anything but a heretic. Sadly that seems to be wholly true of the real character on which the author bases her stories, right through to the end of his life.
The three stories work well read together in sequence, and can be enjoyed whether or not you have read any of Bruno novels previously. If you like historical fiction, you will love these stories.

Three short historical mysteries, set in Italy, the 1560s before the first main book of Giordano Bruno.

"I took the name Giordano, though most people just called me Bruno.
I took my vows as a friar of the Dominican order in the great convent of San Domenico Maggiore, the city’s most influential religious house."

Giordano Bruno was eighteen years old when takes his final vows. He has gifts, a prodigious memory system, and gets himself into trouble.

The Secret Dead (Giordano Bruno #0.5)
Naples in the summer of 1566, Giordano is a witness of an autopsy of a body, a girl, who told is nobody. He couldn't accept that, but the question is, could he do something about it?

The Academy of Secrets (Naples, 1568)
Giordano meets a secret group of the weighty outlaw who wants to reveal the secret of the world. He has a secret now which should be protected, but is it ready for any consequences?

A Christmas Requiem (Naples, 1569)
Although I enjoyed all the stories, this was more interesting and challenging, wallowing in guilt, unappeased conscience.
"They told me the Pope wanted to see me, my first thought was that it must be a joke. My second was that it must be a trap."
I only can say that this wasn't a joke!

This is not a simple mystery that there is someone who is guilty, and other, the smarter one, and most of the time a good one, after suspending and twisting will find the evil person and send to punishment.
No, this wasn't a great mystery though so much beautiful from another point of view.

Is the killer really guilty? Could the victim's life be saved or even bring justice in her/ his death? Are we the right people for performance justice or even allowed to do that? What is above another, a friend vow or bring justice? Always revenge deserve punishment? Is it any different to take a life for justice, revenge, accident, war, or even self-defense?

This is not always so easy, right and wrong, good or evil, white or black, this book is about so many shades! It reminds me of one of my favorite poems, Are you black with white stripes, or white with black stripes ...

Giordano Bruno is my new favorite character in continuous stories. I really enjoyed reading this book, an amazing plot, great writing style, wonderful narration, and touching.

Are you good and do bad things Or are bad and do good sometimes?

Undying Thanks to HarperCollins UK via NetGalley to give me a chance to read The Dead of Winter (Three Giordano Bruno Novellas) by S. J. Parris, I have given my honest review.

Giordano Bruno, renegade monk, believer in alternate universes, and martyr to free speech, is someone I've always found fascinating. On our trip to ROme, we made a trip to Campo de Fiori just to see the monument to him! I didn't know there was a series of books that fictionalised his years at Oxford, and now I want to read all of those. THis collection of 3 novellas is a prequel of sorts to those books, about a much younger Bruno at Naples. It's very evocative of Naples at the time, the constant threat of the Inquisition, and Bruno's hunger for knowledge. Like the best historical fiction, a lot of these events actually happened, such as Bruno's visit to ROme to present his methods of memory, and Parris brings this to life beautifully. HIghly recommended.

3 ½ stars. 3 short stories following Giordano Bruno's early life as a trainee monk. Annoyingly, I found I had already read the first story in another novella. Anyway, always enjoy the Bruno series and it is interesting to read about his youth before he arrives in England. Definitely for a Bruno fan! Thanks to Netgalley.

I have enjoyed this series about Giordino Bruno, but found this book comprising three tales of his younger life to be a little less satisfying. These stories span from his time as a novice, his introduction to a forbidden world of heretic books and his trip to Rome to see the pope.

Bruno is an endearing character, very human, and actually based on a real person. He is caring, wanting to help his fellow man, and not at all ambitious. However, he has a very questioning mind, and Italy at the time of the Inquisition was no time to be anything other than a firm believer of whatever were the currently accepted beliefs.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but probably prefer one book with multiple story lines to three short novellas.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As I read all novels about fra Giordano, I was very keen on reading this prequel to the series! I found it very interesting to read about him in his younger days and to more clearly learn the reasons why he later on left Naples. Much information about the Dominican order, medicine as well as the inquisition make this book really compelling!
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

I was sent a copy of The Dead of Winter by S. J. Parris to read and review by NetGalley. This is a collection of three novellas featuring Giordano Bruno whose escapades I have read about before in three of the author’s full-sized novels. These little stories didn’t disappoint, though I wondered if I had made a mistake by moving straight on to the second novella from reading the first, as there was quite a lot of recapping to begin with. I decided to carry on regardless and these references soon stopped and I got immersed in the following two stories. Well written, amusing and containing a good deal of tension, they are well worth reading. You still can’t beat the intensity of the full blown Giordano Bruno books though.

The early adventures of Giordano Bruno, these also chronicle his interests in medicine and science, astronomy and mathematical theories, that lead to him being regarded as holding heretical views.
Book one, introduces Bruno to the dissection of a body, this knowledge becomes vitally important in his later career as a spy.
Book two, The Academy, Bruno becomes involved in the critical thinking regarding scientific theories of the nature of God, and he realises that the R/C church may not hold all the answers he is searching for.
Book three, Bruno has an audience with the Pope, which reminds him that heretical beliefs can bring a person to the unwanted attention of the Inquisition.
Although these are short novellas, they are the perfect introduction to Bruno, a young monk, who gradually realises that he is unsuited for a life of quiet contemplation and in later, full length novels, becomes a spy in the court of Queen Elizabeth Tudor. I have read all these novels, except for Execution, these brief stories have reminded me of how good they are, and so I find I must purchase this missing book for my collection.
My thanks go to Netgalley and Harper Collins publishers, for my advance copy, given in exchange for my honest review. I have rated this as 4 stars, and will leave reviews to Goodreads and other outlets.

Brilliant collection of three Giordano Bruno novellas, following the young priest’s early adventures. This was the perfect escape during a very stormy weekend and has made me want to reread all the books. Excellent.

Really enjoyed this prequel (I think)? which is a set of short stories from Giordano Bruno’s early life.