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.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

In the winter of 1540, Florentine investigator Cesare Aldo travels into the remote Tuscan hills seeking answers about his own past. His journey leads him to Ospedale de’ Pazzi, a fortified institution for the criminally insane. When a fierce blizzard traps Aldo, his companion Doctor Saul Orvieto, and the hospital’s residents inside, their isolation turns deadly. After their cart driver is found dead and a second, brutal murder follows within the ospedale’s walls, Aldo realises a killer is hidden among patients and staff alike. With suspicion everywhere and no escape from the snowbound asylum, Aldo must untangle madness from malice before the murderer strikes again.

Shadow of Madness is the sixth book in D V Bishop’s Cesare Aldo series and, whilst it would be possible to enjoy this book without having read its predecessors, some of the plot elements will not resonate. If you’re new to the author, start with City of Vengeance and enjoy the treat ahead.
The closed setting of Shadow of Madness gives it a slightly different feel to the other books in the series. That’s no bad thing, helping to keep things fresh. The setting is as vivid, convincing and well realised as ever and characters are nuanced, well-rounded and always a delight to spend time with.

Historical fiction at its finest. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Macmillan, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shadow of Madness is a welcome return for fans of the Cesare Aldo historical Crime Stories. For those new to the stories set in medieval Italy it’s a good book in its own right, but the advice would be to start at the beginning of the series and enjoy the development of the character. Interestingly, then author has made his life rather more difficult than necessary by setting most of the action in a monastery cut off by winter storms, but that has not in any way limited his ability to convey the feeling, sights and smells of sixteenth century Italy. As readers familiar with Cesare Aldo’s adventures will know, wherever he finds himself death and intrigue are never far away.
A strength of the author’s writing is that the reader immediately feels at home with the characters and the clever development of the narrative, with pace and momentum satisfyingly building through the development and eventual denouement of the plot. Shadow of Madness is no exception to this rule, with every prospect of further adventures to keep fans eagerly waiting for more.
Strongly recommended

The Cesare Aldo series of books, set in 16th century Florence, continues to go from strength to strength. The background provides a fascinating time and place, the plots and characters are all well developed and Shadow of Madness, the sixth in the series, is the best yet.

We first meet Cesare Aldo and his companion, Dr Saul Orvieto, travelling to the Ospedale de’ Pazzi, an institution for the criminally insane in the hills around Florence, to carry out an inspection for Aldo’s mentor, Duke Cosimo de Medici. A snowstorm is threatening as they travel and the driver warns them they will need to leave quickly.

Obviously things do not go smoothly and they find themselves trapped by snow in the Ospedale, with the driver lying dead outside and no way to get back to Florence. It turns then into a classic locked room mystery with everyone acting suspiciously, from the monks and nuns who run the place to the guards and inmates inside, and plenty of secrets and past crimes uncovered.

The main storyline of the book is excellent and the atmosphere is superb – the sense of isolation, the cold, the danger, are all very well done and the plot is interesting and involved. It’s given added depth, though, with the background thread that carries through the series, that of Cesare’s background and family, and new secrets are thrown up here too to move that along. There are plenty of links to the earlier books so, although this works perfectly well as a standalone, it’s well worth new readers going back to the first book and enjoying it all from the start. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

D.V. Bishop’s Shadow of Madness is a triumph of historical noir that balances the intellectual depth of The Name of the Rose with a far more engaging cast of characters. In this sixth installment of the series, we find investigator Cesare Aldo traveling north into the biting winter hills of 1540 Tuscany, seeking answers to the mysteries of his own past. His journey leads him to the Ospedale de’ Pazzi, a grim and secure institution for the criminally insane, accompanied by the steady Doctor Saul Orvieto. The atmosphere is immediately thick with tension, which only heightens when a relentless blizzard engulfs the area, effectively sealing the characters within the asylum's stone walls.

The isolation turns deadly when their cart driver is found dead at the base of a cliff. While the local authorities are quick to dismiss the tragedy as a simple accident caused by the whiteout, Aldo’s keen instincts suggest foul play, a suspicion that is violently confirmed when a brutal slaying occurs within the central courtyard. Trapped by the snow and surrounded by those society has cast aside, Aldo must navigate a labyrinth of clever misdirection and dark intrigue to unmask a killer hiding in plain sight.

At the heart of this dark, atmospheric story is Cesare Aldo himself, a flawed but fascinating protagonist whose complexity keeps the reader engaged. Bishop excels at crafting a high-stakes "locked-room" mystery where the setting feels just as dangerous as the murderer. The plot is a relentless page-turner that culminates in a great finish, rewarding the reader with sharp, unexpected twists. For those who have not yet stepped into Aldo’s world, I urge you to start from the very beginning of the series; you have a wealth of brilliant storytelling to look forward to, and Shadow of Madness is a stunning reminder of why this series stands at the top of its genre.

This is my first adventure with Cesare Aldo, and while I did feel odd about jumping in at book six in an established series, I'm pleased to say that I never once felt lost. On the contrary, I've now rushed to pick up the first two books in order to catch up on what I've missed!

This book took hold of me and held on until I lost an entire weekend in its world. Evocative writing, brilliant characters and an engaging mystery in a setting that I had some passing familiarity with; enough to enjoy the little historic touches here and there. I did foresee a couple of the outcomes, but what I would call the most subtle, major twist shocked me deeply (in the best way!) as it seemed to come from nowhere! Yet in hindsight, the clues were there all along.

I also appreciated the subtext of two men in a relationship at a time - and amidst the literal church - that forbade such things, not least because of conflicting beliefs. The open-mindedness and genuine affectionate and humanity of our two protagonists was wonderful to travel with as a reader, and I found myself caring very much for their wellbeing. Aldo needs to wear a helmet more often in future!

While very different in setting and style, this reminded me of the Golden Age 'whodunnits'. The good and the bad, those you can sympathise with or feel anger rise when they simply enter the scene, and holding everything together is the detective and his aide. By the closing pages, Cesare and Saul felt like friends, and I was left with a sense of urgency to catch up with their lives prior to this before the sequel appears.

Hugely enjoyable and a definite recommend.

This series just gets better and better. This book is full of the usual murders, mysteries and Aldo sorting it all out. A great setting in the hospital and a great cast of interesting characters. Lots of looking back at what happened or was mentioned in previous books but this is a series best read in order to get the full character of Aldo. I liked the ending and especially the way it lead into the next book. I would hate this series to end. With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the e-ARC to read and review.

The sixth book in this delightful series with Cesare Aldo and I’ve given it five stars – again. I just cannot get enough of this character, the ‘interesting’ times he lives in, and the writing style. ‘Interesting’ times because life in Italy in 1540 was hard. Aldo is working for Cosimo de’Medici and at the same time trying to find out what happened to his mother, who supposedly died in childbirth. Now Aldo’s 43th birthday is very near and the trail leads him to a secluded place, where a small group of ‘incurabili’ is living with some monks and nuns caring for them.
It is winter 1540 and Aldo and his friend Saul Orvieto are arriving at the Ospedale de’ Pazzi with a letter from Cosimo that says he and Saul are there to inspect the Ospedale. Soon after their arrival the first murder occurs and from then on things go downhill very fast. A snowstorm prevents Aldo and Saul to leave, and within the next few days more murders follow. It is only a small group of people in the Ospedale, and most of them are the incurabili and they are locked up, so who is the killer? And could there perhaps be more than one?
The whole story is set at the Ospedale and everything happens within a few short days. It wasn’t very hard to see what was happening and why, but reading how Aldo and Saul solved it was fun. I loved the different characters (well, the good ones at least) and I’m happy to see that in the end, Aldo and Saul leave the Ospedale a bit wiser and with new hope for the future.
Thanks to PanMcMillan and Edelweiss for this review copy.

The investigator, the asylum and the snow storm - what could possibly go wrong? Far too much, this time, as Aldo, one time investigator for the criminal court of Florence, now working for the Duke, is on a mission with Dr Saul Orvieto, friend, doctor, confidant, and more.

The year is now 1540, but the city of Florence described herein is a wonderful portrait of the Florence of the future; Aldo, usually working well within the city walls, is tasked with looking into the activities of the nuns and monks who run the asylum in the hills above the city, discovers so much in such a short time. when a blizzard turns a visit of a few hours into an enforced stay of days. The dozen inhabitants being cared for are an eclectic collection of individuals, their circumstances often beyond their control and their treatment at the hands of the some of the staff leaving much to be desired.

Aldo is also here under another guise - he has been seeking information on the mother he never knew, and believes the asylum may hold a clue. However, distractions start arriving when first the cart driver who brought Aldo and Orvieto from Florence disappears in the blizzard, and then a gruesome act takes place within the asylum walls; Aldo has to investigate.

This is a historical take on the locked room mystery and DV Bishop does it with much panache. I could feel the claustrophobia of the setting and, as with the previous novels I've read from this series, the descriptions of places are portrayed convincingly, such that I can imagine these characters in the Florence of the 16th century. I did enjoy catching up with two of the nuns who appeared in an earlier volume, too, and seeing how their lives had evolved.

Just over a year ago I stumbled across the Cesare Aldo series by D. V. Bishop and have since played catch up reading the first 5 books in time for the publication of number 6 and Shadow of Madness didn’t let me down.

It’s another excellent book with numerous twists and turns whilst still developing both the main characters and the various underlying story arcs.

The added “weather” character definitely adds to the story and creates more of a locked room mystery which is fine with me.

So it’s a must read from me and now just the wait for book number 7!!

Cesare Aldo has been on a quest to find out the truth about his mother and the circumstances of his birth.
Dr Saul Orvieto, his friend and lover, is worried, the answers that Aldo is seeking may not bring him any happiness.
Saul and Aldo are visiting a former mother and baby hospital in the mountain region above Florence, it is now a hospital for the insane, or incurables. It is staffed by an Abbot, Monks and Nuns, who are not happy about this unexpected visit. Aldo wants to find certain patient records, but what secrets are the staff hiding from him.
Sister Ortenza knows Aldo, he was responsible for her previous convent closing down. If his questions are answered he will leave.
However, a heavy blizzard prevents anyone from leaving the hospital, and when a body is found in the grounds, the snow makes everyone a suspect. The killer has been trapped inside with the innocent people. This creates a palpable sense of tension and unease. Aldo doesn’t know who to trust, and there are many diversions at play. There are cases of mistaken identity, plural murders , which create an atmosphere of suspicion, mistrust with episodes of madness and manipulation.
Aldo himself must have a very tough skull considering the number of times he is attacked and suffers concussion.
This book is so very emotional and is almost tender, despite the murderous situation Aldo finds himself in. The main characters go from strength to strength and they are a continual delight.
If you haven’t read the previous books, then the names, backstories and plot issues may well confuse. The next story hints that a former adversary may well return to torment Aldo further.
A well researched blend of historical facts and fiction, a really immersive read. Five stars given.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Pan MacMillan for my advanced copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK later.

Shadow of Madness is the sixth book in D.V. Bishop's Cesare Aldo series set in Renaissance Florence and I have to say that this is a series which is going from strength to strength, with this one possibly being my favourite of the series to date. Cesare and his companion, Dr Saul Orvieto find themselves trapped by a blizzard in a remote mountain top monastery which is also a prison hospital for the "incurabili" or criminally insane. What started out as a simple inspection, with the added opportunity for Cesare to investigate the truth of his birth at the hospital when it was an institution for unmarried mothers, quickly becomes a murder investigation when the body of their driver is found at the bottom of a cliff.
As settings for a murder mystery go, this really is an excellent one, isolated and ancient, with a whole cast of monks, nuns and prisoners thrown into the mix giving us plenty of potential murders and victims. Readers who have been following the series will be pleased to see how it ties in to some of the earlier books and there is significant progress in the over arching story of the mystery of Cesare's birth. The relationship between Cesare and Saul while not a focus of the book is there as a steadying thread woven through the story, and I loved the inclusion of Saul's diary entries throughout the book as they showed a real depth to his feelings for Cesare. The pacing is on point, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and I found the ending incredibly satisfying. This series is one that I continually recommend to readers and I am always excited to hear that a new book is on the way because I know I am guaranteed an excellent entertaining read with emotional depth.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own .

I really enjoy this series and find Cesare to be an interesting and complex main character. This is one of Bishop's best stories yet, set in a snow-bound monastery and asylum for the incurable. There is also a vital personal dimension for Cesare in this place. Full of mystery and suspense, I highly recommend this story.

Shadow of Madness by D V Bishop
This is another in the series of novels about Cesare Aldo and his secret lover Saul, a Jewish doctor. It is set in the middle of winter when the journey the remote Ospedale De Pazzi which they are going to visit is threatened by snow. The threatened snow arrives and Aldo and Saul are unable to leave. They are cut off at this hospital, presided over by monks, for those who are deemed mad.
Ostensibly Aldo is visiting the Ospedale at the behest fo the Duke but in reality he has his own motives for investigating this place as it may have been where his own mother was incarcerated. It is a dark and intricate story full of magnificent details of the period which the author does so well.
Aldo and Saul gradually peel back the layers to reveal what is hidden in this remote location but there are those who are very keen to keep the secrets hidden and Saul and Aldo’s lives are at risk. The ending of the novel was very satisfying and I will be thoroughly recommending this at my various book groups. Thanks go to the author, the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Snowbound Nightmare in Renaissance Florence. Shadow of Madness by D. V. Bishop

A deadly storm, a locked-down asylum and a murderer hiding among the trapped inhabitants make Shadow of Madness a tense and gripping mystery from the very beginning. As Cesare Aldo searches for answers about his own past, he finds himself caught in a nightmare where trust disappears, danger closes in, and survival depends on uncovering the truth before the killer strikes again. D. V. Bishop has created a chilling historical mystery that combines a brutal investigation with a vivid and atmospheric portrayal of Renaissance Italy.

The story follows investigator Cesare Aldo as he travels into the hills above Florence in 1540, searching for answers about his own past. His journey takes him to Ospedale de’ Pazzi, an institution for the criminally insane, where he is joined by Doctor Saul Orvieto. When a blizzard traps them inside and their cart driver is found dead, what first appears to be an accident quickly becomes something far more sinister. A brutal murder follows, and Aldo realises there is a killer hiding among the isolated group.

I loved the setting of this book. The snowbound hospital, fear and suspicion, and claustrophobic atmosphere made it feel like a classic locked-room mystery with Bishop’s own Renaissance twist. The tension builds steadily, and I was constantly questioning who could be trusted.
Cesare Aldo remains one of the strongest characters in historical crime fiction. He is intelligent, determined and deeply human, with a complicated past that shapes his choices. I particularly enjoyed seeing more of his personal journey alongside the investigation. His search for the truth is not just about solving a crime but about confronting the wounds and uncertainties that have followed him for years, which gives his actions a powerful emotional weight. Doctor Saul Orvieto was also a fascinating character, bringing a different perspective and adding depth to the story. Their dynamic is especially compelling because Orvieto challenges Aldo’s instincts and forces him to question whether reason, morality or personal loyalty should guide his decisions. Rather than simply acting as an ally, Orvieto becomes a mirror to Aldo, revealing the fears and motivations that drive them both.

The supporting cast were equally well drawn, with every character adding another layer of mystery. Bishop does a fantastic job of creating people who feel real rather than simply suspects or victims, making the twists and revelations much more satisfying.
The plot is cleverly constructed, with plenty of secrets, hidden motives and unexpected turns. I didn’t see every twist coming, and the final reveal felt earned rather than rushed. The combination of historical detail, complex characters and a genuinely unsettling mystery made this a book I didn’t want to put down.

Overall, Shadow of Madness is a beautifully written, atmospheric and compelling historical thriller. It works well as part of the Cesare Aldo series but can also be enjoyed on its own. A must-read for fans of dark mysteries, historical crime and unforgettable settings. I want to thank the publisher Pan McMillan and NetGalley. #ShadowofMadness #NetGalley