The Last Castrato [Hardcover]

John Spencer Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1995

Cordelia Sinclair, an American student, arrives in Florence to study a secret Renaissance musical brotherhood as Inspector Arbati confronts the horrific rituals of idealists who tried to revive the Renaissance opera where castrati had sung the soprano parts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This overwritten debut by a Canadian Milton and Coleridge scholar is more gothic romance than mystery. Young American divorcee Cordelia Sinclair has come to Florence to research her doctoral dissertation on the Camerata, a group of 16th-century Italian composers whose work was the beginning of modern opera. She's also come to "confront her hidden self." In a series of stunning coincidences, she meets four of the major players in a string of gruesome throat slashings, in which particular attention has been paid to the victims' vocal cords. She also meets Inspector Carlo Arbati, the handsome detective investigating the bizarre crimes, who is, as well, a sensitive lyric poet. Although Cordelia and Carlo fall in love and the case itself leads to a frightening climax, the tale is sunk by grandiose descriptions, heavy-handed metaphors and tacky evocations of Botticelli and other Florentine wonders.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Cordelia Sinclair, from Evanston, Illinois, takes up temporary residence in the Italian city of Florence, not only to research early Italian opera for a doctoral thesis but also to start life anew, putting her failed marriage behind her. Simultaneous to Cordelia's arrival in this sublime metropolis, Umberto Cardinal Cafferelli is found murdered in one of Florence's most famous churches. Detective Inspector Carlo Arbati, a poet, like P. D. James' Adam Dalgliesh, suspects a connection between the cardinal's brutal death and two previous ones with similar characteristics; readers know his hunch is correct early on--in fact, we meet the murderer almost right away, but what we don't know for a long time is his motive. Cordelia's scholarly research leads her to the body of the next victim, and of course, from that point on, she's involved in Detective Arbati's investigation, and her role is pivotal to the solution of the crimes, which concerns a group of individuals who years ago wanted to restore Italian opera to its Renaissance roots, including the reintroduction of castrati. Hill's first mystery novel makes perfect use of the Florentine setting , presents an engaging character in Cordelia Sinclair, and has excellent pacing. Brad Hooper

Product Details

• Hardcover: 269 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312131070
• ISBN-13: 978-0312131074
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,575,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery novel that's intelligent AND a real page-turner., November 17, 1995

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Castrato (Hardcover)

Set in Florence, Italy, THE LAST CASTRATO is a crime novel with a difference. It concerns the experiences of Cordelia Sinclair, a thirty-two year old graduate student in music from Northwestern University in Chicago, who goes to Italy to research a PhD thesis on early opera and, more importantly, to define a new role for her life after a bad marriage. Hill's knowledge of renaissance music and the cult of the castrati is wonderful (he's an English professor in Canada) and it provides the perfect fodder for a plot. THE LAST CASTRATO is an excellent gripping read as well as being -- and this is rare in the genre -- an intellectually stimulating novel that is elegantly written. I look forward to Hill's next novel with real enthusiasm. THE LAST CASTRATO IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent mystery and more, January 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Castrato (Hardcover)

This is my favorite type of book: a good, solid mystery; set in a beautiful city (Florence); interesting and well-developed characters that you really like; with many allusions to the art world. In short, this book has it all for anyone interested in an absorbing read that has interesting sub-plots. Also in its favor is the fact that all the characters start out in their own seemingly unrelated worlds. But Hill eventually brings them all together in a captivating climax. For lovers of Pears' and Jane Langton's mysteries: get this one and his other Carlo Arbati NOW!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Contrast & Compare your Castratos!, June 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Last Castrato (Paperback)

I haven't read this book yet, but others might also wish to see the more complete collection of mostly more favorable reviews of the hardcover edition. Or you could take the author's invitation and get a 3-chapter sample free on his website.

I don't know him, but wouldn't want a single opinion to make me miss a good read -- if this is one.