City of the Dead (Nick Zuliani Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Ian Morson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008 | Series: Nick Zuliani Mysteries

An exciting new medieval mystery series - Down on his luck in the Crimea, Venetian entrepreneur Nick Zuliani is dragged out of the gutter by Friar Alberoni. The priest wants him to be his bodyguard for an amazing journey to the court of the Mongol overlord, Kubla Khan, in the fabled city of Xanadu. Zuliani jumps at the chance, but he regrets his decision when he becomes embroiled in solving the murder of the very man Alberoni was seeking . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Morson, author of the Falconer series set in 13th-century England (Falconer's Crusade, etc.), launches the first of a new series in this solid if unspectacular historical set in the court of Kubilai Khan, the legendary Mongol ruler. In 1262, Niccolò Zuliani, a Venetian businessman who's been looking for a fresh start, agrees to serve as the bodyguard for Friar Alberoni, who's journeying to the Mongol empire on the church's behalf to track down the fabled Christian ruler, Prester John. Soon after their arrival in the city of Xanadu, Zuliani stumbles across the corpse of Francesco Pisano, the friar whom Alberoni had been seeking as part of his mission. Zuliani winds up having to identify Pisano's killer, who must be among the select few with access to the Great Khan's inner palace. While Morson is less adept than such other historical mystery authors as Simon Levack and Tom Harper at evoking his chosen place and period, the brisk plot will carry most readers along. (Apr.)
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About the Author

Ian Morson studied at Oxford University and lives in Berkhamsted, England. He is the author of "Falconer's Crusade."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers; First Edition, First Printing edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727865978
• ISBN-13: 978-0727865977
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #482,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars European Adventurers Sleuthing at the Court of Kubilai Khan, October 31, 2008

By 

Phillip Goddard (Barbados) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of the Dead (Nick Zuliani Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Niccolo Zuliani's adventure at the court of Kubilai Khan is a fast paced detective novel that brings to life the intermingling of cultures in the 13th Century superpower of the day. Well written and very readable. I look forward to the further adventures of Zuliani.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Historical Mystery, March 5, 2008

By 

Gerre S. Deibert "writer-to-be" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of the Dead (Nick Zuliani Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I agree with Bernard Knight that Niccolo Zuliani is a "unique character." The story is well crafted and the mystery not easy to determine. Looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope Amazon will soon permit this title to be sold by readers.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Really bad stuff, July 28, 2008

By 

Randy Attwood (kansas city) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of the Dead (Nick Zuliani Mysteries) (Hardcover)

It's really bad stuff. I need only quote one phrase: "...scrutinized me closely." Has anyone been scrutinized any other way than closely? Sentence after sentence of this kind of junk. Thank god, I didn't buy it. Too bad my library did and put it out to tempt me. My bad. But his is worse.