The. take of Cesare Aldo continues in Shadow of Madness. I have come to expect an atmospheric and story with many twists and was not disappointed. It draws on threads running through the series to make a highly satisfying read and the last few paragraphs introduce the next adventure. Brilliant.

Out of all Aldo´s books, I think this one has the most satisfying ending, at least for me.
And that´s probably because it hits all my sweet spots (well, not particularly the ending in this case, but the entire novel): We got murders at an isolated spot, religious people involved (I don´t know why, but I always enjoy the most when monks/nuns/priests are involved), Saul finally has more protagonism and... Well, Aldo finds what he was personally looking for.
Not to mention how everything was tied up at the ospedale once murders were solved. 10 out of 10 from me, overall.

But to the point: This story is the 6th of Cesare Aldo´s series.
Set in the winter of 1540, it begins pretty much where we left it last time, with Aldo on his new quest of finding his mother and somehow finding a clue that takes him and his partner, doctor Orvieto, to an ospedale near Florence. Originally they were meant to spend there just a few hours, enough to supervise the patient´s conditions and take a look at the records. But a snowstorm happens and then, a bunch of murders ocurr while no one can leave the building.

Not a very cozy weekend escapade, as you may imagine.

As per usual, this author has managed to create a nicely constructed mystery where no one (except perhaps one of two people that we knew from previous books) could not be trusted. It was hard to know if the crimes were being commited by the staff, the inmates or someone else entirely. And I must say in regards to this, I was surprised about a certain twist regarding the Monsignor (won´t say anything else not to spoil, but what the hell, I expected something in regards of Zati... but not like that).

Anyway, in summary: Very recommended LGBTQ+ thriller. I want more like this, please and thank you.
Also... I kinda want to have Aldo´s head. For more reasons than just his intelligence (if you know, you know)

A deeply satisfying story for long-time fans of the Aldo series.

"Shadow of Madness" opens in Tuscany, 1540, just a few days before Christmas. Aldo and Saul are on their way to visit Ospedale de’ Pazzi, an institution for the criminally insane, in a remote area north of Florence. Ostensibly there to carry out an inspection on behalf of his mentor, Duke Cosimo de Medici , Aldo is, in fact, seeking details of his birth mother. Soon after arriving, a storm engulfs the area, trapping everyone inside. And when their cart driver is found dead. Aldo suspects foul play. But that's just the beginning.

What follows is a fast moving and twisty story of past crimes, hidden secrets, and retribution, all told in the style of a Golden Age locked room mystery. With Aldo and Saul trapped in the institution, alongside monks, nuns, madmen and madwomen, the claustrophobia mounts as does the body count. Aldo encounters a superb cast of suspects - larcenous guards, silent nuns, murderous inmates, and monks with hidden secrets. If this book was a film, it would be a black and white, 1940's noir thriller.

Aldo and Saul experience their own challenges, although it's clear their relationship is as strong as ever, indeed, without Saul, Aldo might never leave the monastery alive. Its good to witness this strength amongst the horror of the institution.

Long-time fans of the series so far will revel in this book - threads from as far back as book one, but especially "Carnival of Lies" are (mostly) tied up in a way that will make readers feel a corner has been turned. But beware - the final few pages promise a whole new set of problems for Aldo and his companions.

My only disappointment was not meeting spy mistress Contessa Valentine Coltello, but I suspect the next book will remedy that.

Heartily recommended.

Again a really gripping thriller featuring Aldo and Orviedo! Set in a dark ospedale/asylum contrasting with the blaring storm of snow outside the walls, this novel delves in an atmospheric murderous situation. Indeed, the darkness is not only found within the ospedale but also within souls and their secrets....
The characters are very convincing and I love Aldo's personality! Can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

As Aldo and Saul make their way up to an isolated ospedale and snow begins to fall it wasn’t difficult to predict that they would be cut off from civilisation while the story played out. But then the reader is taken on a journey back into Aldo’s past both recent cases and deep into family secrets. Tension heightens as the incurabili create an atmosphere of madness that threatens to overtake the nuns and monks who care for them. I really liked the way that Aldo and Saul’s relationship has developed and we see them not just as lovers but close friends who care deeply for each other borne out by Saul’s diary entries which add a different perspective to Aldo’s character. Some of the characters and plot lines are familiar from earlier books in the series but I don’t think it is essential to have read them as enough information is provided for the story to make sense in itself.
As always the historical detail is well researched, the story is believable and the characters, both old and new, are real and well rounded.
I very much enjoyed reading this, the series and central characters continue to mature and develop with interest and I liked the enclosed, psychological type of mystery that contrasts with the style of the previous book.
And the reader is left with a tantalising teaser that could see Aldo return to the Otto…

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read this ARC.