Dirge for a Doge [Paperback]

Elizabeth Eyre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 1996

Fifteenth-century Venice is a dangerous place. When Sigismondo and his attendant Benno come to the city on a private visit, they find themselves caught up in the affairs of one of Venice's most distinguished families, where a murder has been committed. From the author of BRAVO FOR THE BRIDE and AXE FOR AN ABBOT.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Suspects abound when a Venetian nobleman is slain within the locked confines of his palazzo study. After Niccolo Ermolin, a wealthy aristocrat with a penchant for intrigue and deceit, is stabbed to death shortly after his unpopular remarriage to a calculating young bride, Signor Sigismondo, shrewd Renaissance sleuth and soldier of fortune, is commissioned to solve the murder and expose the culprit. With the ever-faithful assistance of Benno, his dim-witted but exceedingly loyal servant, Sigismondo discovers that the key to the crime lies within the covers of the secret diary in which Niccolo recorded all of his business transactions. When the code is broken, the book reveals a series of sinister deals that could wreak havoc on the Ermolin family, the church hierarchy, and the fractious governments of the rival city-states of Venice and Rome. An exquisitely crafted blend of history, humor, and suspense. Margaret Flanagan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Renaissance is the era; Venice is the place; and the featured hero is Sigismondo da Roca (Axe for an Abbot, 1996 etc.), unofficial Mr. Fixit for papal bigwigs and the aristocracy. In Venice for the funeral of an old friend, Sigismondo is hired by Vettor Darin, father of the late wife of Lord Niccolo Ermolin. Niccolo's stilettoed body has just been discovered in his palace study by his young, pregnant second wife Isabella. While Sigismondo tries to sort out means and motives, Niccolo's brother Lord Rinaldo quickly takes charge of the family's ample fortunes--freezing out Niccolo's wastrel son Marco and arranging matters so that murder charges are brought against Pasquale Scolar, a would-be suitor of Isabella's, the son of a doge whose elevated position is coveted by Vettor Darin. That's just for starters. Throw in a second murder; Niccolo's illegitimate black son, Cosmo; an assassin stalking Sigismondo to avenge a brother's death; the Venetian fleet's forays against the Turks, with rampant corruption at all levels; a procession of corpses--poisoned, stabbed, drowned or decapitated- -and our hero's up-close and personal encounter with the torture chambers beneath the doges' place. With some help from influential friends, Sigismondo pinpoints the original killer and leaves the city in one piece accompanied, as ever, by his clever, insignificant, and devoutly relieved servant Benno. Only the site has changed from the five past adventures in this series: Characters, palaces, and slums have different names, but the tumultuous catalogue of crimes--major and minor--stays the same, leaving the history-challenged reader feeling more besieged than entertained. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Headline Book Publishing (November 7, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747255008
• ISBN-13: 978-0747255000
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,505,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another FANTASTIC book by Elizabeth Eyre!!!!!!, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dirge for a Doge (Hardcover)

Like every other Elizabeth Eyre book I've read, I loved it! I stayed up all night getting through this book. My advice, buy this book and any other she's written. You won't regret it! And to E. Eyre, thanks for the wonderful books. Please write another one quick!