‘The Spy of Venice’ by Benet Brandreth
The debut novel from barrister and rhetoric expert Benet Brandreth features none other than William Shakespeare himself as the protagonist, and is an inventive, thrilling read that draws inspiration from the ‘Lost Years’ between 1585 and 1592, in which very little is known about the young Bard’s life. Brandreth’s novel follows Shakespeare’s adventures from Stratford-upon-Avon to Venice, after one conquest too many leads him into trouble, and he falls in with a lively group of players. His gift with the written word captures the attention of the enigmatic Sir Henry Carr, and he soon finds himself embroiled in a secret, diplomatic mission to Venice.
With Italy being a popular setting for Shakespeare’s plays (‘The Merchant of Venice’ and ‘Othello’ are set in Venice itself), Brandreth has a lot of fun re-imagining the young Shakespeare’s initial reactions as he savours the Venetian food, architecture, and culture, and the book is full of artful references to lines from the plays, and nods to potential inspiration for characters.
The chapters in the book are short and sharp, and it is once Shakespeare arrives in Venice that the plot really gathers pace. Full of action, romance, and suspense, this is a highly entertaining read, and I am intrigued to see where Shakespeare’s adventures lead him next in the second novel of the series, ‘The Assassin of Verona’.
‘Execution’ by S.J. Parris
Published in 2020, ‘Execution’ is the latest instalment and sixth book in S.J. Parris’ riveting Giordano Bruno series. The novels follow the exploits of maverick monk and scholar turned spy Giordano Bruno as he is recruited as an informant for Elizabeth I’s spymaster, Francis Walsingham. As he attempts to navigate the political machinations of Elizabethan England, Bruno often finds himself becoming embroiled in a mysterious murder, and ends up taking on the role of detective at his own peril. For me, having read and thoroughly enjoyed the preceding five books in the series, picking up ‘Execution’ was the literary equivalent of putting on a comfy sweater. This book, like the others, contained all the elements I would look for in a historical fiction/crime novel. Namely, it has a strong, likeable protagonist in Giordano Bruno, with an interesting backstory, an intriguing historical backdrop (in this case, the 1586 Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth I and place Mary, Queen of Scots, on the English throne), and a suitably grisly murder for the protagonist to solve.
In terms of the narrative, I think ‘Execution’ successfully balanced those aspects of the Giordano Bruno novels that readers had come to enjoy, whilst also adding new dimensions to the character arcs and overall plot to keep them fresh. As with the previous books, there was an abundance of suspense, intrigue, and detailed, visceral description of the sights and sounds of Tudor England. With the setting of the previous books having moved from London to Canterbury, Plymouth, and Paris, I thought the decision to return the action to the English capital in ‘Execution’ was a strong one, as it re-introduces Francis Walsingham as a central character to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the way in which ‘Execution’ explores the mechanics of Bruno’s relationship with Walsingham, and the question of whether the two can still trust one another and work together. In this novel, it also felt as though the stakes had been raised in the underlying romantic story arc between Bruno and Sophia.
There were several interesting new characters weaved into the plot of ‘Execution’, with Thomas Phelippes (Walsingham’s enigmatic assistant and cryptanalyst) being one of the striking additions to the series for me. I also very much enjoyed Leila’s bold, spirited character, and hope that she will return to aid and act as a sounding board for Bruno in subsequent adventures.
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