First of all this is the perfect book to read on a holiday to Venice, or a perfect gift for someone going to Venice. This intelligent thriller is basically a race against time, solving a cryptic puzzle to find the location of a missing masterpiece. All the locations are real but are off the usual tourist thoroughfares and so would provide the perfect circular walking tour of hidden parts of real Venice. There is plenty of history and each location has its story, but this is kept to a minimum to avoid boring the average reader who may have no intention of ever visiting the city and is just looking for a good read. David Hewson explains at the end of the book why he didn't include a map, but personally I would have loved a simple pen and ink sketch to enable me to follow the quiet retired archivist and the heiress as they crisscrossed the city in search of their treasure. Having never been to Venice I really didn't know where they were even when they passed famous landmarks. A satisfying read with some twists and turns I didn't see coming.
This is book 2 in a series, but you don't need to have read book one to enjoy this, but spoiler alert, I think the ending of book one is given away in this book!

This is a wonderful crime fiction novel based around a cryptic story and clues and a treasure hunt around Venice to hunt down a missing painting. Lizzie Hawker may have inherited a cursed palazzo Ca’ Scacchi but the city authorities believe the palazzo should be in their hands as well as local businessman who claims it was promised to him by Lizzie’s mother decades before.

Arnold Clover is asked to assist Lizzie in exploring her potential inheritance .The discovery of a body at the palazzo believed to be Lucia Scacchi, Lizzie ‘s mother ,changes events and Arnold and Lizzie are up against time to solve the mystery of the vanished painting believed to have been in in the palazzo.

David Hewson’s meticulous attention historical and geographical detail is excellent ( I won’t deny - I found myself looking at online images and photographs of historical figures and Venetian landmarks ) The plot is fast paced and the interaction between Arnold, Lizzie and Luca the archivist is humorous and keeps the story lively.

This a great read and being a fan of Donna Leon, I was hooked from the start. Highly recommended for fans of Venice, and crime fiction.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance copy