Back to Contents. Back to Bibliography. Back to Home Page.
The Sixteenth Century
Renaissance Italy
Italy at the time of the Renaissance.
Silvano, the sixteen-year-old only son of a wealthy family, is found with a dead man at his feet and his dagger between the man’s ribs. Silvano’s father sends him to hide in a monastery hoping that this will give him time to prove his son’s innocence. Then, shortly after arriving in the monastery, there is another murder. A merchant staying in the monastery’s guest quarters is found stabbed to death. Even the abbot begins to think of Silvano.
While in the monastery Silvano works in the colour room under the supervision of Brother Anselmo. The colour room is where various minerals are pounded into powder to provide paint for the artists working on frescoes for the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assissi. Then a secret from Brother Anselmo’s past is uncovered –– a secret which means that Anselmo could have had a motive for the murder of the merchant. But surely the gentle Anselmo could never murder anyone?
Then there is another murder, this time by poisoning. And some of the materials used in the colour room are poisonous. So the evidence against both Silvano and Anselmo is mounting up. Do they manage to prove their innoncence?
Silvano’s story is interspersed with that of Chiara, a young girl. Her parents are dead and her brother cannot afford a dowry for her so he sends her to a convent, although it is much against her wishes. The convent is next to the monastery where Silvano is. The convent also has a colour room and Chiara helps out there.
Although it would seem very unlikely Silvano and Chiara actually manage to meet. They are both sent to Assissi delivering supplies of paint for the Basilica. At first Chiara feels trapped in the convent but later she comes to appreciate the kindness of the nuns and when she is finally offered a chance to leave the convent and carve out a new life for herself she is unsure.
This is a well crafted murder mystery with a well researched and authentic background. There is much detail about how paints were made at the time. The Basilica is well described.
The position of women in Renaissance is particularly highlighted. Chiara has to obey her brother and go to the convent although she does not want to. And the wealthy widow of the merchant has to appoint a mundalus or legal representative to look after her affairs. But despite all the restrictions placed on them a resourceful woman can still get round them.
A thrilling mystery with a background which adds interest to the story.
Teenage
Back to Contents. Back to Bibliography. Back to Home Page.