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The Venetian Masquerade

On sale

4th April 2019

Price: £8.99

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Selected: Paperback / ISBN-13: 9781472129734

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‘An irresistible concoction of crime and culture’ Daily Mail

A game of blackmail and betrayal is played among the backstreets and canals of Venice . . .

Carnevale is in full swing, the streets and waterways of Venice are crowded with masked revellers and Nathan Sutherland’s birthday is about to be ruined.

A night at the opera at La Fenice is always a memorable experience – and this time it will be so for all the wrong reasons as the curtain call is interrupted by a fatal stabbing. But why is the dead man carrying one of Nathan’s business cards in his wallet?

The mystery of the murdered stranger takes Nathan on the trail of a lost opera by Monteverdi. But what begins as a harmless treasure hunt leads to ruthless criminals asking the highest of prices for the lost score… and then a second body is found in the sanctuary of Venice’s English church.

The quest for the lost manuscript will bring Nathan back to the stage of La Fenice, where a final confrontation has deadly consequences…

Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones

‘I devoured all Philip’s novels and felt transported to Venice with a new intimacy’
Val McDermid

‘Gwynne Jones’ entertaining take on his beloved Venice is as delightful as a Spritz by the Rialto – a must for all Italy lovers’ David Hewson

‘An unputdownable thriller’ Gregory Dowling

‘It is no surprise to find that Philip Gwynne Jones lives in Venice… art and architecture interweave into a story that builds to an almost surreal climax’ Daily Mail

‘Superb – always gripping, beautifully constructed and vivid’ Stephen Glover

Clever and great funThe Times

Sinister and shimmering, The Venetian Game is as haunting and darkly elegant as Venice itself’ L.S. Hilton, bestselling author of Maestra

‘The Venetian setting is vividly described… good, fluid writing makes for easy reading’ Literary Review

Un-put-downable . . . If you love Venice, you’ll love this because you’ll be transported there in an instant. If you’ve not been to Venice, read this book and then go. If you like intrigue, and a clever plot, you’ll love this book’ Amazon reviewer, 5*****

Reviews

L.S. Hilton, bestselling author of <i> Maestra </i>
Sinister and shimmering, The Venetian Game is as haunting and darkly elegant as Venice itself
Daily Mail
An irresistible concoction of crime and culture
Jeff Cotton, Fictional Cities on The Venetian Game
...he puts not one foot wrong with his topography and knowledge... Add a satisfyingly (but not gratuitously) surprising and action-packed ending and you have a book that I can wholeheartedly recommend
TripFiction.com
...a quite excellent book... Philip is entirely knowledgable about the buildings and art of the city. It forms a perfect background to a very well worked thriller
Sue Price, Saga magazine
A crime story that positively thrives among the shadowy streets and canals of Venice... Gorgeous escapism with stacks of atmosphere and double-cross
Jessica Mann, Literary Review
The Venetian setting is vividly described and Gwynne Jones's good, fluent writing makes for easy reading
Daily Mail on The Venetian Game
It is no surprise to find that Philip Gwynne Jones lives in Venice... art and architecture interweave into a story that builds to an almost surreal climax
Gregory Dowling on <i> The Venetian Game </i>
...a playful novel, recounted by a witty and engaging narrator ... as Venetian as a painting by Bellini (or a glass of Bellini). Oh, and it's also an unputdownable thriller
N J Cooper, Bookoxygen.com
a civilized, knowledgeable, charming antidote to the darker reaches of the genre, full of entertaining descriptions of the city... Lovely. Makes you want to book a flight to Venice straight away
The Crime Warp
A crime book for people with sophisticated tastes: Venice, opera, renaissance art, good food and wine... I enjoyed all that and more
Morning Star on The Venetian Game
This entertaining thriller makes good use of its watery setting, introducing readers to a rougher Venice, hidden behind the familiar facade of gondoliers and frescoes
Fictional Cities
The interactions and the locations are the strength . . . and the travelling around full of sights and sparkle . . . one damn smooth and very fine Venetian read