Herman - Medici Retaliation (Italian Renaissance Mystery) [paperback]

2023

Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo da Pavia return to Florence hoping for peace and quiet. They won't find it. An unwanted gift greets Leonardo as he enters his workshop. The gift he knows comes with "strings" but not accepting it could come with dire consequences. A debt to Cesare Borgia is incurred. Meanwhile, Florence is in turmoil, religious, social and political unrest leads to violence in the streets. Most horrifying - famous paintings are discovered slashed and burned, and sculptures are reduced to rubble. Which one of the disruptive forces terrorizing the city could be responsible. Meanwhile, Leonardo is being stalked. An assassin lurks in the shadows. It seems an old enemy is seeking revenge and Leonardo is not prepared to deal with the threat. Cesare provides a protector to remove the danger, Leonardo incurs another debt. But the vandalism of art disturbs Leonardo more than the danger to his person, and he concentrates his attention on who or why anyone would target these treasures. Remnants of the burned and mutilated paintings produce clues Leonardo uses to investigate the motive behind the carnage. His suspicions can only be confirmed in Rome. Leonardo reaches out to Cesare Borgia for help in getting to Rome where he hopes to find the truth behind the destruction. What he discovers implicates and embarrasses a powerful noble family and puts his own life in danger. Leonardo is not safe anywhere. His orchestrated disappearance will save his life but the accumulated debt to Cesare has finally come due. What will the warlord demand of Leonardo. "A supremely original and inventive historical mystery infused with humor, intrigue and suspense ..." Booklist