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wayneg's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had no idea about the events this book is based on, but I’m glad I do now. The book wonderfully evokes a 17th century Rome and the reality of life for women in the city. It’s starts off as detective story but becomes more interesting as the true story emerges. It’s well written, moves at pace and if some of the plot lines are a tad predictable, there’s a good twist at the end
myreadingcorner's review
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
isabelmcnicholas's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
thebooktrail88's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have recently come across the story of Giulia Tofana and her involvement in a real life historical mystery. She was a woman who lived in 1600s Rome and who concocted a poison that was then distributed to women who begged her for help in avoiding their abusive husbands. Anna Mazzola has taken this story and turned it on its head – giving Giulia herself a voice as well as letting the women in her circle speak. And the result is quite something!
The scene setting is wonderful if not dark. This is the time of the plague and the dictates of the Catholic Church, of persecution and of a society where women were controlled in every way. When the plague is under control, the authorities start to notice excess deaths where the body was described as looking healthy and ruddy. That of course brings an investigation in itself. Secrets and lies swirl around the dark corners of Rome and the insides of these women’s houses. The writing flows and creates the most vivid of places so that was a real treat for me.
Even though inspired by historical fact, the story is fictionalised and I think Anna has achieved a really good mix. Real people float through the pages and Anna’s imagination does the rest. It was fascinating to see the type of research involved in the author note.
Map of locations in The Book of Secrets
Stefano is one of the few men in the book and for good reason – this is the story of the women and how they suffered and why they felt compelled to do what they did. The tension throughout is palpable. Even though you suspect what is going to happen at the end, there are still questions and time to reflect.
I wish I didn’t read in such a vivid way – I can still smell the stench of the Tor Di Nona prison and hear the dripping water down the walls. Worryingly, I did feel I got to know the women really well and started to ‘understand’ where they were coming from. I felt nervous for them reading Stefano’s chapters and willing them to ‘get a move on’ when they came up next. A great way of writing this story for tension!
A brilliant read which will lead to far too many hours on Google afterwards
The scene setting is wonderful if not dark. This is the time of the plague and the dictates of the Catholic Church, of persecution and of a society where women were controlled in every way. When the plague is under control, the authorities start to notice excess deaths where the body was described as looking healthy and ruddy. That of course brings an investigation in itself. Secrets and lies swirl around the dark corners of Rome and the insides of these women’s houses. The writing flows and creates the most vivid of places so that was a real treat for me.
Even though inspired by historical fact, the story is fictionalised and I think Anna has achieved a really good mix. Real people float through the pages and Anna’s imagination does the rest. It was fascinating to see the type of research involved in the author note.
Map of locations in The Book of Secrets
Stefano is one of the few men in the book and for good reason – this is the story of the women and how they suffered and why they felt compelled to do what they did. The tension throughout is palpable. Even though you suspect what is going to happen at the end, there are still questions and time to reflect.
I wish I didn’t read in such a vivid way – I can still smell the stench of the Tor Di Nona prison and hear the dripping water down the walls. Worryingly, I did feel I got to know the women really well and started to ‘understand’ where they were coming from. I felt nervous for them reading Stefano’s chapters and willing them to ‘get a move on’ when they came up next. A great way of writing this story for tension!
A brilliant read which will lead to far too many hours on Google afterwards
nexerix's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
harleyqueen's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow such a powerful read that portrays the injustices of women perfectly. Set in 17th century Rome we follow Stefano a new investigator trying to uncover what's causing men to die yet still look rosy and fresh. Girolama a woman who helps women with child birth as well as finding solution to the male figures in their lives who choose violence and pain towards the ones they are supposed to protect . We also follow a perspective of Anna a expectant mother who is out of ideas when it comes to her abusive husband. This is a tale of misjustice and a system that only looks out for those of a high class, throughout the book we see how the man in charge doesn't care how he gets the truth and he doesn't care if the women are the truth he just wants the solution to be found quietly whilst secrets are doing there best to be hidden
jmatkinson1's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As Rome recovers from the plague outbreak in the mid-17th Century there are still men dying. However, these men don't show the normal symptoms and their bodies don't decay as they should. Young prosecutor Stefano is tasked to investigate and, keen to make his name, he makes enquiries. These lead him to the 'aqua', a colourless, tasteless poison which originated in Sicily and to a group of women determined to escape from the cruelty of their menfolk.
I really got engrossed in this novel as the writing is really spare and hypnotic. There are aspects of the supernatural of which I am not a fan but not enough to make me dislike the story. Reading the endnotes I was surprised to see that it is based on a true case with only a few minor alterations for plot enhancement and I have to praise Mazzola for weaving such an excellent story.
I really got engrossed in this novel as the writing is really spare and hypnotic. There are aspects of the supernatural of which I am not a fan but not enough to make me dislike the story. Reading the endnotes I was surprised to see that it is based on a true case with only a few minor alterations for plot enhancement and I have to praise Mazzola for weaving such an excellent story.
twiggy77's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0