Then a grisly murder - followed by another, and then another -
strikes fear into the close-knit community. Chiara and Silvano cling
together within the terrifying spiral of murder as they, and the
friends they have made, attempt to solve the deadly mystery.
This remarkably rich mystery thriller, with all the pace and action
of a 'whodunnit', is set in the incredibly atmospheric environs of a
friary in 14th-century Italy. Amidst all the action of the murder
mystery, the author depicts in fascinating and intricate detail the
lives and tasks of the friars and nuns, whether it be crushing
pigments to create paints for the fresco artists in nearby Assisi, or
the daily and nightly ritual of the religious services. All the
historical detail is carefully researched.
A huge cast of characters with romantic teen heroes, combined with
the thriller-murder element, ensure a pacy, richly enjoyable read.
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling children's writer and critic, and
the author of the hugely popular Stravaganza series. She is
also the author of the bestselling Amazing Grace picture books.
Mary is the editor of Armadillo, a children's literature review
magazine. She has three grown-up daughters and lives with her husband
in West Oxfordshire.