The eighth book in this excellent series set in Venice. I always look forward to a new book in this series and I'm never disappointed. The action takes place during 2020, so the after effects of the covid lockdown are being felt. It was interesting to read of the impact this had on Venice at the time and how the Venetians felt about the situation.
The usual endearing characters are here and the gentle banter they share is so enjoyable to read. I love the humour of these books and the mystery itself always throws up surprises.
Highly recommended and now I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Life is rarely dull for Venice based honorary consul Nathan Sutherland. When a body requires repatriation to England, the unenviable task of notifying the next of kin falls to Nathan. Thwarted in his attempts to track down a relative however, Nathan’s curiosity gets the better of him and before he knows it, Nathan has dipped his toes in to a very murky affair.

Aside from the beautiful backdrop of Venice, Nathan proves to be a shrewd investigator and the twisted plot here not only shows Venice as it lives and breathes but acts as the perfect vehicle for Nathan to break away from translating lawn mower manuals and get his hands properly dirty. I’m lucky enough to have been to Venice on a few occasions but it’s one of those cities where the flimsiest of excuses is enough to draw you back there. The dialogue used keeps you invested with the idiosyncrasies of its’ characters with the added bonus of frequent references to Venetian cuisine.

A contemporary and gripping mystery in a city that never fails to enchant.