Description

Set in Renaissance Florence, The Darkest Sin is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop and is the sequel to City of Vengeance.

‘He is fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris’ – Historical Novel Society

Florence. Spring, 1537.

When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the Renaissance city’s northern quarter, he enters a community divided by bitter rivalries and harbouring dark secrets.

When a man’s body is found deep inside the convent, stabbed more than two dozen times, the case becomes even more complicated. Unthinkable as it seems, all the evidence suggests one of the nuns must be the killer.

Meanwhile, Constable Carlo Strocchi finds human remains pulled from the River Arno that belong to an officer of the law missing since winter. The dead man had many enemies, but who would dare kill an official of the city’s most feared criminal court?

As Aldo and Strocchi close in on the truth, identifying the killers will prove more treacherous than either of them could ever have imagined . . .

Winner of the Crime Writers’ Association Historical Dagger Award 2023

Publisher Review

A great insight into Renaissance Florence. What I love about these books is the seamless weaving of factual history with a great story -- Abir Mukherjee, bestselling author of the Wyndham & Banerjee series He is fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris with his page-turning novels. Highly recommended * Historical Novel Society * Pretty much everything I want in an historical thriller - an absolutely terrific read, in a series that's clearly going from strength to strength -- Philip Gwynne Jones, author of the Nathan Sutherland series A real pleasure. A lavender-scented, sun-drenched convent hidden among the backstreets of Florence is the absorbing setting for Cesare Aldo's latest investigation. The conflicting ambitions and ideals of its cast of interesting women make this an engrossing mystery -- Leonora Nattrass, author of Black Drop D.V Bishop transports you to an utterly convincing 16th century Florence, where the best and worst of human nature constantly circle each other in this tense mystery -- S. G. MacLean My first encounter with the investigator Cesare Aldo was immersive and rewarding. The author's knowledge of 16th century Florence - both ecclesiastic and civil - drew me effortlessly into his tale of bloodshed and murder. Thoroughly recommended -- A. D. Swanston History, mystery and the eternal mystique of Renaissance Florence in perfect harmony! * Lancashire Evening Post * Praise for City of Vengeance: A first-class historical thriller with echoes of The Name of the Rose. Bishop's spirited and richly detailed story, layered with issues of humanity that still bedevil society today, is a tour de force -- David Baldacci Praise for City of Vengeance: An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence. Investigator Cesare Aldo is a fascinating and charismatic protagonist. Highly recommended -- Antonia Hodgson