I loved this follow up to The City of Vengeance, and Cesare Aldo is quickly becoming one of my favourite characters in historical fiction at the moment. And that’s saying a lot, because I read quite a bit of historical fiction!!

This story picks up not long after book 1, and Aldo is called to a convent that has had reports of an intruder. This isn’t a harmonious convent, though. There are opposing ideas on what sort of convent it should be (with some very unchristian nuns!), and it has it’s share of secrets.

Meanwhile, Constable Carlo Strocchi has taken his new wife home to introduce her to his mother, and he happens to stumble across the remains of a rather unpopular former officer of the city’s criminal court. And it looks as though he has been murdered.

I love this blend of historical fact and fiction: the Medici’s and the roles of nuns (to be enclosed or not?), the inequalities in Italian society at the time, women’s roles and lack of power, the structure of authority and how the catholic church ruled supreme (and not particularly morally). Aldo is the bastard son of a wealthy man, and when he is ‘reunited’ with his family, he’s not exactly welcomed back with open arms. He does however meet his niece, and she is far more accepting of him, even if it is, I think, a way of getting her own way!!

This is such an atmospheric read, and is thoroughly addictive. There are enough twists, turns and threats to Aldo’s life to make it very difficult to put the book down!

So is Aldo a threat to my love of Giordano Bruno or Matthew Shardlake? Err, nope, but he’s joining them - and if you like either of these, you’ll love Aldo Cesare!

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
Book two of this excellent series continues not long after the end of the first, beautifully written and researched with superb characters throughout. Atmospheric clever descriptive especially the smells of ancient Florence, intelligent a quality story with surprises and twists along the way. Gripping from first to last page keeping the reader totally involved. There are references to book one but could be read standalone.
Completely and utterly recommended.

Another great adventure of Cesare Aldo! The setting is so accurate, it feels like we're really there. The mystery is deep and gripping, and the book impossible to put down.

Aldo and Strocchi are back with their next set of investigations. A man turns up naked and stabbed to death in a convent; and another body washes up from the river, that causes some uncomfortable questions.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Cesare Aldo series. The main mystery in this book is completely seperate to what happens in the first, but I would recommend reading City of Vengeance first, as it builds the background for the Otto, and the political powers in Venice.

Cesare Aldo is sent to investigate reports of someone trying to break into a convent - a minor crime that is usually beneath an officer of the Otto; but this leads him to the discovery of a murder.
Aldo has to uncover the secrets of the convent, and who might be a murderer; before the church punishes the wrong nun.

Carlo Strocchi is visiting his old village, to introduce his mother to his new wife, when he stumbles upon a chance clue to a missing man. He confirms a missing officer of the Otto is indeed dead, and investigates who killed him. Unfortunately, the officer was widely hated, leaving Strocchi with many leads to follow.

Aldo's storyline in the main one, and takes up most of the book. Whereas Strocchi's investigation moves swiftly to start with, but moves into the background for the second half of the book (with good reason). There are the occasional Strocchi chapters past 50%, but he's mostly spinning his wheels, waiting for the right moment.

Aldo spends most of his time at the convent, and we are introduced to a a new wave of characters.
I've got to say, in the last book, I was left somewhat disappointed by the lack of likeable female characters - but The Darkest Sin more than makes up for it!
It really focuses on the limited roles open to women at the time, and the price they have to pay for the security of being a wife. The convent has its devoutly religious occupants, but it is also a sanctuary for the beaten and mistreated women; or those that don't fit the mould.

The Abbess in charge, cares deeply for all of her charges; but she is also keenly intelligent, and easily a match for Aldo.
Even within her convent, they are not free from men interfering with their lives. The archbishop rules over everything religious, and has the power to punish nuns, and even disband the convent.

We also learn more about Aldo's family - he's a bastard son, cast out by the family's matriarch; but we get to see some really sweet interactions with his half-sister Teresa, and her daughter Isabella.

Isabella is very head-strong, and despite coming across as somewhat spoilt and shallow to begin with, she's got a good heart, and she's not scared of danger. The more you get to know her, the more similarities she has with Aldo.

It was fascinating following Aldo and the others, as they stripped back all of the misleading evidence, and got to the root of what happened, and why.
It does keep you guessing throughout, with several of the nuns having very strong motives for wanting the man dead.
The big reveal felt a little anti-climatic after all the work towards it, but it was still reasonably satisfying.
Now, we have to wait and find out what repercussions will come from Strocchi's investigation!

Once again another fascinating story by D V Bishop about Cesare Aldo, an officer in the Otto di Guardia e Balia, the most feared Court in Renaissance Florence and it continues the story of his adventures and investigations from the first novel. Florence is a place of corruption, where life is cheap and at the heart of it are certain people in high places that control what is done and belived. Cesare has a hidden life and will do all he can to protect that plus he has been disowned by his father's family in the past but this connect will eventually help hiom solve the lastest crime that of a burgulary in a Convent as well as the discovery of a man's body with two dozen stabs. How could someone get into a locked convent and why were the burgulars interested in that convent.Meanwhile the young officer, Constable Carlo Stroodewho he menored returns with his future bride to his hillside village and recognises the belt brooch of a missing officer who disappeared in the wintertime and whose body has washed up with the spring waters.Aldo and Stroochi close in on the truth and identify killers who are very treacherous and their bond is challended. A carefully crafted historical novel that brings to life the city of Florence and its evil underbelly.

Cesare Aldo is back as we return to 16th century Florence with all it's political intrigue and corruption.. When the naked body of man is found dead and covered in blood inside a convent Aldo, an officer of the Otto di Guardia e Balia is sent to investigate. Is the 'murder' connected to the attempted burglary just a few days earlier or could it have something to do with the pending closure of the convent? Which of the 'sisters of God' could do such a thing and why was a man even in the convent at night?
Elsewhere Strocchi, a constable with the Otto, comes across the remains of a man they have been looking for.
How are the two cases connected?
Once again with his words, Bishop takes us back to Renaissance Florence and puts us right in the middle of the action. This is the second outing for Cesare Aldo and while there is some reference to the first book (which I also heartily recommend) this book works perfectly well as a stand alone.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Florence 1530s. Whilst visiting his childhood home, Constable Strocci sees a recognisable belt buckle that belongs to a missing colleague and upon investigation he discovers that the man's body has been buried in the local churchyard. It is soon obvious that he has been murdered. Meanwhile, in the city, Cesare Aldo is called to investigate a report of intruders in a local convent which escalates when the body of a naked man is found. As Strocci realises that his crime is linked to his mentor, Aldo is forced to confront his family background.
The first book in this series I found a little forced in places as the key themes seemed bolted on. In this book Bishop seems to have found his stride and the back story and personal preferences of Aldo seem to be more comfortable as parts of the plot. Again the sense of time and place is excellent, the politics of Renaissance Florence are touched lightly but show deep research. The juxtaposition of the convent and the city are cleverly played and this series becomes more promising.

This is a cracking whodunnit, a great sequel to City of Vengeance, which I enjoyed equally.

Aldo is back investigating, it's 1537 and he's in a convent in the heart of Florence. A naked man has been found dead, and the conclusion is one of the nuns must be a murderer...

Intriguing and packed full of atmosphere, classic Italian scenery, and a wealth of interesting characters, this is another great read from DV Bishop.

Having enjoyed the first book in this series immensely, I was happy to see that the second story with Cesare Aldo is just as interesting and entertaining. It’s only a few months after the events in The City of Vengeance and Aldo is still trying to come to terms with everything that happened, not to mention his feelings for a certain Jewish doctor…
Meanwhile, young Carlo Strocchi travels home with his lovely new wife but during their stay in his home village he finds something that sets him on the path to finding out what happened with the mysteriously disappeared officer Cerci.
You can practically feel the heat from the Florentine summer coming off the pages, and each and every character comes alive on the pages. The brothel were Aldo lives, the convent where he tries to find the murderer before he will be thrown out by the authorities, and not to forget the motive for the murder – it’s all written in a beautiful engaging style. I can hardly wait to read the third part in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and PanMacMilland for this review copy.

These days it would be easier to locate a needle in a haystack than a decent historical novel amongst the plethora of such books published each year. However, The Darkest Sin is not only a decent historical novel, it is a very good historical novel. Cesare Aldo is main protagonist to die for, and the mystery was taut enough to keep one guessing until the very end, All of the characters had depth and pith, and even Strocci could be forgiven his overweening sanctimoniousness.

This being said, the plot was not without its flaws, the worst being the side-story featuring Strocci. Even those not having read the previous novel (myself being one) will have no difficulty in predicting the outcome of Strocci's investigation, but what is unaccountable is how Strocci came to this conclusion. Nothing he discovered actually seemed to lead him there, and he appeared to form deductions from whole cloth. Despite this, the book is mercifully free of anachronisms, and even Aldo's homosexuality seems perfectly natural, and free from the taint of 21st century mores and attitudes forced into a historical setting.. Small points, such as the fact that a ladies dressmaker was unlikely to have been a man in renaissance Florence, and the ludicrous five-minute discussion as to the possible source of the poison that struck Aldo down before finally getting round to treating him can be forgiven..

As satisfying as this book was, two factors were really annoying. The first was the occasional and completely unwarranted use of strong profanity in the form of the 'F' word. Its use in this book was so unnecessary and each time it came up was as startling as a slap upside the head. The other annoying issue was the constant - and again unwarranted - use of Italian words. These peppered the text and sometimes - not being a speaker of Italian - only by context could I discern what was meant. Since this book is written in English, this is a somewhat pretentious device of the writer, especially when the reader is left to his own devices regarding figuring out what these words might mean. Conversely, the writer takes pains to explain the word 'stigmata', as though his readers could not possibly know what the word meant - first pretentious, then patronising!

A thoroughly enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series

This is an excellent historical mystery series and I loved the well plotted stories and the attention to the details.
It's a highly entertaining mystery but it's also a good way to learn something new about life in Florence at the beginning of the XVI century.
Trust me: I'm Italian born and bread and I can note some details that made me understand how well researched is this book.
The author is a talented storyteller and I liked Aldo and the cast of characters.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a fascinating story about a death in a convent in 15th C Florence. A great cast of characters who brought the story to life and a leading character who has a secret past. The descriptions of Florence made the story seem real. They had very corrupt management systems in those days and the story identified with these. Very appropriate conclusion and a great read.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Darkest Sin’ by D. V. Bishop in exchange for an honest review.

It is Book 2 in a series of historical mysteries set in 16th Century Florence, Italy. Its main protagonist is Cesare Aldo, who serves as an officer of the Otto di Guardia e Balia, the city’s most feared criminal court. He also leads a dangerous secret life.

The story takes place a few months after the events of ‘The City of Vengence’. Some background is provided for new readers though I feel it is well worth reading the books in order.

It is now the Spring of 1537 and Cesare Aldo has been tasked with investigating a report of intruders at a convent in the city’s northern quarter. The situation becomes more complicated when a man’s body is found inside the convent. The evidence suggests that one of the nuns is the killer….

In a separate case while Constable Carlo Strocchi is visiting his family in Ponte a Signa he learns that human remains had been pulled from the river some months previously. He realises that the dead man had been a fellow officer of the criminal court, who has been missing since winter. While the dead man was an unpleasant character with many enemies, Strocchi is determined to find the truth no matter where the trail leads.

Again, I was filled with admiration for Bishop’s ability to create a compelling historical mystery combined with an immersive period setting, including a depiction of life behind convent walls.

In his Historical Notes Bishop gives details of the people and events that had inspired ‘The Darkest Sin’ and suggests a few titles for further reading about convent life during the 15th-17th centuries.

Having enjoyed both books in this series, I look forward to further mysteries for Aldo and Strocchi to investigate in the future.

‘The Darkest Sin’ is a powerful work of historical crime fiction that well deserves my 5-star rating.

The Darkest Sin by D V Bishop
This is the follow up to the wonderful City of Vengeance and it begins only a few months after the first in 1537. The novel opens with a man’s body begin found naked and stabbed to death in the most unlikely of places, a convent. Cesare Aldo is sent to investigate this shocking murder. Gaining access to the convent is difficult and Aldo finds himself unearthing secrets that endanger him.
Whilst Aldo is busy at the convent his young assistant, Constable Strocchi, is set the difficult task of investigating the discovery of a body in the Arno which turns out to be Officer Cerchi, a man hated and dreaded by many. This means there are two mysteries to solve in this vibrant historical novel set in Renaissance Florence. The two cases create a complex but clever, whodunit, with many twists and turns. It is tense and atmospheric; political conspiracy, secrets and old rivalries further complicate the issue.
Florence provides a wonderful setting for the novel where there exists a chasm between the lives of the rich and the poor. The poor live in sewage strewn streets whilst the rich luxuriate in their palazzos. The author’s research of this period is magnificent and he enables you to visualise walking along the streets evoking the sights and smells of the city.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and finding out more about the life of Cesare Aldo. I look forward eagerly to the third book in this series. Many thanks to the author, the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Last year I read and reviewed City of Vengeance , the first book in the Cesare Aldo Series, and it was one of my best reads of 2021. D.V.Bishop has now published the second book in the series The Darkest Sin which is set a couple of months after the end of the first book. This historical thriller sees Aldo investigating the murder of man in one of the cities convents, probably murdered by one of the nuns in a shocking manner. Getting acess to the convent is not easy, but once inside Aldo finds himself looking for secrets that put his own life in danger. Whilst Aldo is at the convent, constable Strocchi finds himself looking into the murder of Officer Cerchi, a man hated and feared by many. Two mysteries to solve in this fantastic historical thriller set in Renaissance Florence.

I loved the first book in the series and The Darkest Sin lived up to all my expectons. The setting of 1537 Florence is a fabulous backdrop, a city where there is a huge lifestyle gap between the rich and the poor, the streets in some areas have sewage running in the streets, whilst the rich live in grand palazzo. At this time the Catholic Church had a lot of infuence in the Italian City states, so a muder of a man in a convent was shocking to all. Interstingly whilst murder would be investigated by the Otto, the judicial body, murder in a convent is under the duristriction of the Church. D.V.Bishop’s knowledge of this period is excellent, capturing the atmosphere of the period as well as the sites and smells of Florence; I actually walked the streets in my head with the characters taking it all in. It was interesting to see the hierarchy of the convent, from the abbess to the servant nuns to the day students who come from good families to be educated. The convent is a community in itself, self sufficient, growing their own food and herbs for the apothecary, an infirmary and a school.

It was wonderful to reconnect with Aldo and learn a bit more about him. I found his beligerance to finding out the truth at all costs and his lack of respect for those in charge admireble and make him likeable as a character. In The Darkest Sin we learn a bit more about Aldo’s background and family, meeting his half sister and niece. This brings out a different side to his character, he obviously cares about his sister and his backstory helps us understand how this has made him the man he is. Fom the previous book we see the return of the merchant Ruggerio who he crossed words with previously and who seems to be pulling strings with the Otto and Aldo still in this book. There is also the return of Constable Stocchi, recently married and tasked with finding the murderer of Otto Officer Cerchi. Stocchi is now married, and like Aldo is a firm believer in justice and dogged in his investigation. Unlike Aldo however, he is naive in a city that has many factions at odds and corruption in places, he only sees black and white, an attitude that could put him in danger.

The Darkest Sin is an amazing sequel to City of Vengeance . Set in my favourite historical period and city this is the perfect historical thriller for me. Rich in detail, beautifully crafted and with an cast of fascinating characters. This compelling and addictive thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait for book three!!!!

The thing that I love about bishop's book is the accuracy of detail that spreads throughout his books and The Darkest Sin is no exception.
It's 1537 in Florence Italy and it takes place a few months after the first book.
But don't worry you don't have to read the first one City of Vengeance to enjoy this book.
Cesare Aldo is back and even though it opens up with a murder in a monastery there is nothing holy about what you will read in this book.
A man is found naked with a pool of blood around his body with several stab wounds.
But why is Cesare at the monastery to begin with?
The book is a fantastic read and so fast paced.
Awaiting the next installment.

Unfortunately, I did not read the first book in the series, City of Vengeance so it took me a long while to get into this book. Aldo is a survivor in the rivalry of 16th century Florentine politics. The bulk of the book is taken up with interviews of the nuns in the convent where a naked male body if found. I did find a lot of it repetitive. I liked the character Strochhi and had hoped he would feature more prominently in future novels.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC. I would have given three and a half stars but rounded up as I had not read the first volume.

The Darkest Sin (Cesare Aldo #2) by D.V. Bishop from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

The Darkest Sin is the second book in D.V. Bishops detective sires about Ceasare Aldo set in renaissance Florance.
The book starts a few months after the first novel continuing some of the threads form the first book.
Now after reading that last sentence, you will think that you must read these books In order, while I would say normally that is the case, if this is the first Cesare Aldo book you have read, than, what you did not know are plot twist in this book.
Having said that D.V. Bishop does give the reader a bit more of the background to Aldo, in the novel as you will meet some of his relations.
While the background to the lead character helps readers with the novel, Historical Detective novels are mainly judged on there use of the Historical setting and the standard of the mystery.
Firstly, like most readers who will read this book I am not an expert on Renaissance Florance, but what D.V. Bishop does for me I give some of the atmosphere and Intrigue that seems to be around that period from what I know.
Particularly in this case with the power of the catholic church and the control over women that, men had at the time. All this along with any issues that happen between people in any organisation.
As for the main mystery itself, in both its setting and complexity, it was always intriguing throughout the book, with enough political intrigue both in the closed area of the crime itself along as well as the wider world.
All this means that once again D. V. Bishop in The Darkest Sin has written a book which will grip readers of Historical detective novels. Depending on if this is your first Ald Book or your second.

A body of a naked man found murdered in a convent of nuns in a controversy of whether they should be enclosed or out reaching to the outside community. With strict enforcement of who can visit so how did he get in. A compelling story of intrigues, rivalry, vested interests that dogs the outcome of an investigation by church authorities and the rival efforts of the state court officer. All entwined with a constable charged with investigating the disappearance of another court officer.

The Darkest Sin by D.V. Bishop is the second featuring charismatic detective Cesare Aldo. Once again the setting is sixteenth century Florence and the book picks up almost immediately where the previous one, City of Vengeance left off. While The Darkest Sin could certainly be read and enjoyed as a standalone book, I would highly recommend checking out City of Vengeance first, not just because some of the actions in that book will have consequences in this one, but because it is a wonderful introduction to the character and a cracking good story in its own right.
In The Darkest Sin Aldo is sent to investigate reports of intruders at a convent, but while there a naked male body covered in stab wounds is found deep inside the convent, and the investigation is soon upgraded to a murder enquiry. As the crime took place within the convent walls, Aldo finds his hands tied by the need to defer to the Church's investigation, but his frustration at their lack of progress soon has him pushing past the limits placed upon him as he uncovers the secrets and rivalries that the Sisters are hiding. Of course Aldo has secrets of his own and it seems some of them may come to light in a most unexpected and unfortunate way.
This was a real page turner of a book, the setting inside the convent was fascinating and I was impressed by the author's ability to create a full community within that setting which gave each woman a unique voice and character. Aldo himself is incredibly charismatic as a protagonist, and I was delighted to learn more about his complicated family history. It is clear that the author has paid great attention to historical detail and research and the fruits of those labours are liberally sprinkled throughout the book, but never in a way that is disruptive to the story being told. Any fan of the works of C.J. Sansom or Ken Follet would likely enjoy this series immensely and I look forward to seeing where the story goes next.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.