Over the course of three novella's, S.J. Parris explores the experiences Fra Bruno Giordano had in his early twenties as a novice friar. The first story sees him dissecting a corpse and learning the lengths people in the monastery will go to maintain appearances. In the second he joins a secret society and falls in lust. In the third, Bruno has an audience with the Pope that is nearly the death of him. Throughout his prestigious intelligence and memory are both a blessing and a curse.

in the stories, S.J Parris conjures up a strong sense of Naples in the 1500's. The religious oversight and hypocrisy. The lavishness, lasciviousness and corruption. Fra Bruno Giordano does not come across as a sympathetic protagonist, and whilst there is goodness within him and a sense of right and wrong, there is also a great deal of pride and narcissism.

I enjoyed this collection of stories, but having read some other reviews I suspect my limited knowledge of Bruno Giordano's world might have helped. This might not be the perfect book for staunch fans, but is instead a great introduction to S.J Parris's writing.

A selection of 3 short stories that tell the early life of Giordano Bruno a novice monk who gets involved with murder an early autopsy and an audience with the Pope. He is accused of heresy and is lucky to escape an assassination. These many adventures will put him in good stead for when he will eventually become a spy. A quick read with will lead to the full stories of Giordano.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Read this in one session not overly long but it kept repeating itself. I thought it was how Giordano left his early life and ended up in England during Elizabeth 1 reign but it was about his earlier life in the monastery and not how he left but nearly every chapter repeated parts of the last chapter there is recapping and recapping a bit overdone, so not recapping would have made this book even shorter, but perhaps more interesting, thank goodness all the other Giordano books are not like this.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy to review.

Giordano Bruno, son of a mercenary soldier, is an excellent scholar in the Dominican order. His education includes reading tracts banned by the Inquisition so he is forever treading a fine line between learning and heresy. When the body of a young woman is found in the Friary, Bruno is involved in an autopsy and determines to find her killer.
This is a set of three short novellas which many reviewers claim to have read in other forms. Luckily I haven't! I really enjoy Parris' longer novels and these were an amusing divergence, being quick to read and quick simplistic. In terms of fleshing out the Bruno back-story they were good but left me wanting more.

Enjoyable collection of three short stories about Giordano Bruno before he leaves Naples for Protestant England. To be recommended to anyone interested in late 16th century European history, especially if it involves religion. SJ Parris has written an engaging series about Bruno, and his experiences in England, and these novellas give us his backstory.

Thoroughly enjoyable, and highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC.

For anyone who has read this authors books about Giordano Bruno, this book acts as a prequel for the character. If you haven’t read them, then these are 3 stories about a young novice monk, who is too inquisitive and foolhardy to ever have a peaceful life, constantly being jumped upon by his superiors and elders. He finds that life in the monastery, as well as throughout the Catholic Church hierarchy, is full of intrigue and things are never as they seem. It’s an interesting read, obviously well researched and creates a realistic picture of life in Italy during the time of the Inquisition and religious persecution. It also explains why the character in the earlier books has developed into the man he later becomes,. An enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Unfortunately, I was unable to download this book on my mobile so I'm unable to read and review it.

What a pity !!

Good luck with the book

I am a huge fan of S J Parris so was delighted to be able to read these three stories. Brilliant as always, with great period detail, fantastic characters and a great story each time. This is a definite must -buy as a Christmas present book.

Great short stories from S.J. Parris that feature Giordano Bruno as a young friar in a Dominican Priory in Naples before the later full length novels when he has become a heretic turned spy based in England.
I enjoyed every line of these stories and having already read the series of Bruno novels to date was fascinated to learn more about his back story. I hope that the next Giordano Bruno novel is not far away..

I realised after I requested this book that I actually bought it last year.

It is a collection of three stories detailing Bruno’s early life. As a long-standing fan of this series of novels I enjoyed it a lot, though it may feel quite slight for someone new to the series.

I wanted to. move away from the mean streets of Glasgow and the dark, haunted Closes of Edinburgh’s old town for a change of reading and decided to settle for S J Parris, who never fails to produce the goods.
The Dead of Winter kept me engrossed for a couple of nights and I now have to continue reading about the main character to see what the future held for him in a time, and country, so different from today..
A most enjoyable and highly recommended read.

Bruno is back and up to his eyes in it again.

Netgalley offered me this ARC, then I realised I had borrowed the book from the library months ago. But I didn't mind the chance to catch up with Giordano Bruno once again. In these three (previously published) novellas, we meet a young Bruno, just setting out on his adventures and discovering what a dangerous and devious place the world is.

Somehow, author Steph Merritt, writing as SJ Parris, manages to convey the adolescent Bruno as a different character to the man he will become, making these stories a delight to long-time fans. And we get some insight into the experiences that make him who he is. Wonderful reading.

Definitely recommended for fans and new readers alike.

The Dead of Winter by S J Parris

Easy to read short stories about Brunos early days in Naples great for late night reading when if you are having trouble sleeping.
A good insight to his full novels. Enjoyable.