Not the best of the series but still an entertaining read. The Strocchi focus just doesn’t work as well as Strocchi lacks the interest and dynamism of Aldo.

The murder mystery is initially intriguing but falters and the resolution is rather weak.

Interested to see how the series moves on, given the events of the final chapter.

What a fascinating book. And a great story!
I haven't read any of the previous ones in this series, so was pleased to find it very easy to pick up the background of the series without it affecting the story at all. I imagine for those who have read the earlier books, it is a must-read! The believable characters were very enjoyable.
It was quite dark and twisty, plenty of action, and there must have been a huge amount of research. I do appreciate authors who have accurate research. I liked the way the Italian words were intermingled with the English ones, it was very cleverly done.
I said it was twisty, and have to add that there were some very good twists in there, particularly near the end. So often late twists are, I find, rather predictable, but these were very good ones.
I am now hooked, and can't wait for the next book! A new favourite author.

3.5 ⭐️ Set in Medici Florence, this detective series featuring demoted detective, Cesare Aldo is an enjoyable romp. There are brief collisions with real historical figures such as Duke Cosimo de’ Medici in a way we have come to expect from the likes of CJ Sansom and SJ Parris.

I did enjoy the period setting and the plot of bodies posed for crucifixion but ultimately the book somehow lacked a sense of jeopardy or sufficient tension to keep me reading.

Similarly, Aldo runs around a lot, like a teenager with ADHD, but his character remained 2-dimensional and I found him as irritating as those who tried to work with him.

Altogether this is a perfectly good historical mystery but wouldn’t make me search out others in the series.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Cesare Aldo has been tasked with night patrol for so month now by secretario Bindi because of a past conflict. But during one of his patrols, he finds a corpse in a public piazza pointing to the church and the man had his tongue cut in two. Together with Carlo Strocchi, he must find the killer of this businessman who seemed to have a taste of men. After a day, all evidence points to an exorcist but they must act quickly because a next body is found.

In this fourth book 'A divine fury', Cesare and Carlo must work together again to find a religious serial killer. This is most complex case they have already had to deal with. Bishop really writes an interesting mystery with lots of subplots. Whereas in the previous three books I always managed to guess the killer, now I had my doubts until the end. That's why I believe this is the best book in the series so far.

Besides the murder mystery, we keep reading about Carlo and Aldo's private lives, their conflicts with Bindi, and this time Cesare is asked by Duke Cosimo himself to approach a Venetian spy. This makes for a highly entertaining mystery novel. This series is getting better and better. And I hope there will be a next book!

If you want to start reading about Aldo and Strocchi I suggest to start with City of vengeance.

.A detective novel full of intrigues set in renaissance Florence
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Divine Fury by D. V. Bishop is the 4th novel in the Cesare Aldo series about an investigator in Florence during the Renaissance. Having to deal with the politics of the day both civil and the church.

In, A Divine Fury Akso is working on night patrol chasing a suspect when he discovers a body, killed and displayed in a way that may mean it is more than a normal murder.

Once again D.V. Bishop brings the world of Florence in the 1530’s alive with Aldo, an investigator that as a member of The LGBT community has to live his personal life in the shadows.

As a reader I feel that yes this is classed as an LGBT novel due to the main character, however while it does have an effect on Aldo’s actions in the novel it never takes over the whole story, which is nice to see in novels let alone those set in historical time periods.

As for the mystery it self with an engaging list of characters both in the clergy and in the lay population of Florence the story is well balanced in the politics of the time period,

As it does have an effect on the investigation in ways that add to the enjoyment and mystery of the puzzle along with D.V. Bishops writing style..

With Aldo even getting involved in the espionage and the political aspects of the setting and time period, while this was only touched on lightly it does give D.V. Bishop a chance to grow the series.

This leads to the question cand A Divine Fury be read as a stand alone or does the reader need to have read the previous books in the Cesare Aldo series.

While the novels do follow on from one to the other, the individual novels can be read in any order as D.V. Bishop is very good at telling new readers what has happened before if it is relevant to the story (also helps readers who have read all the previous books),


Just be aware that there may be spoilers in the later novels from earlier ones and some plot lines go from one book to the next, Allowing readers to read the series in any order.

All this Makes A Divine Fury by D. V. Bishop is a perfect read for those who enjoy historical mysteries that take full advantage of the time period they are set in.

I really enjoy the Cesare Aldo series. Aldo has suffered varied fortunes during his time as an officer for the court. Now, following a period of exile, he is back in Florence, but working in the lowly job of night patrol, where his role is to enforce the curfew and pick up the drunken or the malevolent from the dark streets.

David Bishop does an excellent job of depicting Florence as a town where the shadows contain secrets; where messengers flit through dark deserted streets carrying secret messages to their co-conspirators. This is Medici Florence where conspiracies lie round every dark corner and many a plot is underfoot.

This is a series which keeps getting better. Aldo is an engaging, amiable character. Quick witted and steadfastly loyal to those he loves, Aldo has had his crosses to bear. Not only must he live a double life, but he reports to his crass, bullying boss, Bindi, who would not know a good strategy if it hit him in the face – something Aldo would dearly love to do. But Bindi is vindictive; this is his way of punishing Aldo for sometimes gaining the upper hand. Making him walk the dark streets as a lowly foot constable on night patrol, he keeps Aldo down deliberately.

Out on a routine foot patrol one evening, Aldo and his colleague start to pursue a shadowy figure roaming within the city’s walls. But their chase is abandoned when the pair find the dead body of a merchant beneath Michelangelo’s statue of David. The body of a merchant is posed and mutilated in a very distinctive fashion.

Persuading Bindi to assign Strocci to the case alongside him, Aldo must then suffer the indignity of working to Strocchi’s command, despite being the more experienced investigator. Moreover, Strocchi has yet to come to terms with Aldo’s lifestyle and is not yet comfortable working side by side with him, although things are a little better than they were.

When, the following day, the body of a thief known to Aldo is discovered posed and mutilated in the same fashion, Bindi leans heavily on the duo to get these murders solved.

Leaving Strocchi to carry out the fundamentals of the investigation, Aldo follows his own lines of enquiry which lead him into a web of deceit, intrigue, spies and, as if that were not enough, the role of the Church and how it deals with demonic possession – including the Church’s own version of conversion therapy.

Aldo takes on the role of spy and confidant – at the behest of the new Duke, making the acquaintance of Contessa Valentine Coltello, a woman whose learning and quick wits are a match for Aldo’s own. She is ruthless, and cunning and knows just how to get what she wants. Aldo has a respect for her, despite the fact that she is a high placed source for the Council of Ten. There is steel here that he can admire and a mind that he can enjoy sparring with. Their interactions are delightful and a real pleasure to read the spark that their jousting brings to their relationship.

David Bishop really brings Medici Florence alive with the politics of the time; the rivalry between Florence and its sister city of Venezia. The all-powerful role of the Church and the constant intrigue and power struggles that are rife within the city add to the historical detail to give the reader a vivid and evocative sense of place and time. His sense of the ever shifting power dynamics of the time really brings a force to this series that makes it both fascinating and intriguing.

As the pressure piles on Aldo and Strocchi to solve the murders, so Aldo also takes time to consider his next move. The answers all come together in a way that is illuminating, surprising and in one way, almost inevitable.

Verdict: A Divine Fury is a cracker of a read and my favourite in the series so far. More than that, though, David Bishop has left me excited for where this series goes next and I am really looking forward to developments in the next Cesare Aldo book. Highly recommended.

I know this review is quite late but I wanted to find the right words as I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent historical mystery.
I love Cesare Aldo series as there're a great main character, a vivid and well research historical backgrounds with a lot of attention to the details, solid mysteries with plenty of twists and surpring solutions.
This is the description of any installment and this one is the best so far
I had fun and was hooked and guessing till the end.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It’s 1539 in Florence and Cesare Aldo, formally an officer of the city’s police force known as the Otto, is not enjoying his year long demotion to the night patrol, especially as winter approaches. Chasing someone out after curfew, he comes across the body of a wealthy merchant strangled and posed as if crucified, suggesting a religious motive for his murder. Aldo manages to convince his vindictive boss, Bindi to assign him to help officer Carlo Strocchi investigate the murder. A second murder victim, this time a struggling thief killed and posed in the same manner puts pressure on Aldo and Strocchi to find the killer soon.

Renaissance Italy is well depicted in this historical thriller series set in Florence. The twenty year old Duke, Cosimo de Medici is ruling with a firm hand and has ears and eyes everywhere, although the Church has its own power and is above answering to the Otto. Aldo finds himself recruited by Cosimo to ingratiate himself with a dangerous Contessa who spies for Venice and will need to be careful as she tries to suck him into her web of intrigue and espionage. The complex mystery and the well crafted characters all add to the dynamic making this a lively and engrossing read.

A Divine Fury by D.V. Bishop is the fourth book in the ongoing Cesare Aldo series and features our favourite sixteenth century detective back in Florence, still working nights after his demotion. While chasing a suspect through the city he stumbles across a dead body beneath the statue of David . It is immediately obvious that the man has been murdered and since the body was posed to resemble the crucifiction it suggests that the killer may have a religious motive. Facing pressure from his boss Aldo is roped in to try to solve the case with the help of his colleague Strocci ,but if this is not enough to keep him busy the new Duke also has plans for him, sending him to liase with a suspected Venetian spy and act as a double agent. This new role leads to some of the most fun and sparkling interactions in the book, and I loved the new character Countess Coltello, I hope to see more of her as the series continues,As more dead bodies start to pile up the pressure on Aldo continues, made even more complicated by the involvement of the Church given their penchant for preferring to deal with problems internally cutting out the city officials completely.
This is a complex well plotted mystery that kept me guessing to the very end. Though it is part of a well established series I think it could easily be read as a stand alone, the author weaves enough background into the storytelling to make it easy for a new reader to follow along. Readers who are already familiar with the previous books will be happy to see some familiar faces return, As always the writing is very evocative ,the vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds and most especially smells of the city really help to set the scene for the reader. Not to spoil anything but the ending made me very excited about what the future holds for Aldo.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Set in Autumn 1539, "Divine Fury" returns you to Florence, where Cesare Aldo, back from the wilderness, resumes his night patrol duties. A routine chase leads him and his companion to a corpse posed beneath Michelangelo's David, hinting at something far more sinister when another body surfaces the next day. As Aldo and his colleague Strocci investigate, they become entangled in a web of intrigue involving merchants, the church, and the powerful de Medici family.

The author creates a complex, believable plot while further developing beloved characters. Familiar faces, like Aldo's lover Saul and the pitiful Bindi, return alongside new ones, adding depth to the narrative. The relationship between Aldo and Strocci remains a highlight, as they navigate their frustrations and friendship.

A captivating subplot involving Contessa Valentine Coltello, Venice's spymaster, adds intrigue and hints at future developments. While the final twist might not surprise diehard fans, it satisfies, setting the stage for Aldo's next chapter, and leaving you eager for more.

My thanks to both NetGalley and MacMillan for an e-arc and an honest opinion.

The latest episode in the Cesare Aldo tale of investigations in medieval Florence is a superb depiction of the political power wielded by the Church over the State. Two murders committed in identical fashion but with seemingly no connection between the victims sets Aldo the problem of solving the case as it also offers the opportunity of regaining his previous rank after demotion in previous tales. Acting as assistant to Strocchi the investigation takes lots of twists and turns as Aldo also has a secret job to do for the ruling Duke Cosimo de Medici. Beautifully atmospheric this is a super read with hopefully more Aldo to come as it appears his career will change!

An entertaining read. Although I had read a previous book in the series I did find it hard to get into. The more I read the more enjoyable it becomes. Primarily a murder mystery set in 16th century Florence, it gives an insight into the power of the church over the judiciary and rivalry between cities such as Venice.
Although it works as a standalone, it is a shame to miss the first 3 books.

This is the fourth book in the Cesare Aldo series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
Anyway, once you’ve read this book, you’ll want to read the other three books too. By now, Cesare Aldo is slowly becoming my favourite historical detective. This adventure starts with a very unhappy Aldo – for seventeen months now he’s responsible for nightly patrols around the city. A demotion from officer to night patrol which he didn’t deserve. On a cold November night Aldo finds a dead body; a man who appears to be strangled. With that, a real cat-and-mouse play begins, for this body is not the last one. Soon, there are others but even sooner, Aldo’s superior Bindi demands Aldo and his colleague Strocchi find the killer, preferably within a week. In the mean time Aldo gets a second very unwelcome assignment from the Duke, Cosimo de’ Medici, an assignment that leads him to a very interesting Contessa and another dead body. Are the murders related? And if so, who is behind them and what connects the victims?
A very ‘modern’ plot but with a real historical background. There is talk about cities spying on each other (in 1539 Italy was divided in city-states who were not always friendly with each other) and priests performing exorcisms; many (so not all) victims of this practice were innocent people suffering from certain illnesses – or they just didn’t fit in.
Also needs to juggle all that’s going on in his life: his love for his friend (an absolutely forbidden love), his love for his work (that is, capturing criminals, not being a night guard), the fact that he needs to guide Strocchi and to avoid Bindi… so many things going on at once. Aldo wouldn’t be Aldo if he didn’t find a way to solve (most of his) problems anyway.
This book is a joy to read because of the interesting main characters and the wonderful funny dialogues! Looking forward to the next one in this series.
Thanks to PanMacMillan and Netgalley for this review copy.

• Our hero having been demoted is condemned to be on night patrol, a dull mundane job until he finds a murdered body when he is assigned to assist the young officer, who was previously his junior, to investigate. Thereafter follows a complex case of serial murder with a religious contagion involving priests and the catholic church that also gets him involved with the power politics associated with Venice over Florence. All of which makes him to reconsider his future life and career when thr case is resolved,

This fourth adventure for Cesare Aldo in 16th century Florence was a totally brilliant read.
Aldo has been reduced to the rank of constable and is on continuous night duty after really upsetting his boss Bindi. While patrolling the streets, he discovers a body laid out as if it wss Christ himself. The murder is swiftly followed by a second one that follows the same pattern Aldo manages to get himself attached to the investigation.
It’s interesting to see Strochi take the lead in an investigation and Aldo is forced to take a secondary role which is something that he finds impossible. Things become tense between the two of them until they work out a way to make this new partnership work. I loved seeing how they carried out their investigations and the restrictions that the church’s involvement caused them.
The historical detail as always is excellent and I love the religious and political intrigue, Most of the characters are morally grey as that is what is needed to survive in this city where the Medici rule and everyone is looking to take advantage of any situation. We see again exactly just how powerful the Catholic church at that time was and the element of exorcism was brilliantly shown especially the fear that this created.
I love all of D V Bishop’s characters. Cesare Aldo is the central figure and he is one of my favourite historical protagonists. He will do everything that it takes to solve a crime and bring the criminal to justice. We see a little more of his personal life as well as the effect that he can have on strangers. I really enjoyed the introduction of the Contessa and her meetings with Aldo were some of my favourite parts of the novel. I hope that she continues to feature in any future novels.
I absolutely loved this mystery and stayed up until gone midnight to finish the book. It is the fourth book in the series but I do think that it would probably work as a stand alone. However, I would definitely recommend if you haven’t read the previous books, that you go back and read them as they are all brilliant.
Thank you as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Macmillan, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A different book to the types that I usually read, but I did enjoy reading A Divine Fury. A historical crime fiction set in middle ages Florence, this is the fourth book in a series, which I hadn't realised when I started to read it. Capable of being read as a standalone murder mystery, the worldbuilding was strong, and the investigation felt realistic, and very well-paced.

An interesting story, with good characters in an Italian setting during the middle ages. Liked the twist at the end!

However, its a story where you need a translation dictionary as some of the words are annoying still in Italian, makes the book more of a slog and breaks the immersion as you need to check meanings quite often.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

A Divine Fury by D. V. Bishop is historical crime fiction based in florence and I am so here for it! However, there are 3 previous books so I made the decision to stop halfway with this one purely because I want to relish in the prior three books (and I have a thing about reading books in order)

So, three more books for my basket this moth and based on what I have read so far, utterly fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan | Macmillan UK and the author DV Bishop for this fantastic ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

An intriguing set of similar murders that Aldo has to solve, at great personal risk and under pressure from his horrible superior. The author conveys really well the atmosphere of 16th Century Florence and the power struggles at all levels.

Cesare Aldo is back in Florence, still in the boss’s bad books and forced into the night shift, patrolling the city after curfew. He discovers a body in the piazza one night, posed like a crucifixion, and he has to get together with his old friend Strocchi to solve the murder.

Plenty of murder, espionage and religious intrigue in Renaissance Florence!