WHAT I’M READING

The Venetian Legacy by Philip Gwynne Jones, Constable, £8.99

This twisty new thriller set in the floating city of Venice brings mystery, murder and surprises aplenty. Our protagonist is Nathan Sutherland, Honorary Consulate who moved to Italy over 10 years ago where he lives with his new wife Federica and his cat Gramsci. The newly-married couple are surprised when they are given Federica’s family cottage as a wedding present from her late father Elio. Located on the island of Pellestrina, the couple decide to use the cottage as a honeymoon destination and are looking forward to a week of sunshine and relaxation.

However, Elio’s mysterious past threatens to cast a shadow over their dream honeymoon. Despite the idyllic location of Pellestrina, Nathan is unsettled by the old housekeeper who seems to roam freely around his wife’s inherited new house, and even more so by a shocking discovery found underneath the bed by their cat, Gramsci.

When the body of a well-known Venetian lawyer Michelle Ballarin, who has links to Federica’s father, is discovered by a group of fishermen, it becomes apparent to Nathan that his wife’s family are harbouring a dark secret and he takes it upon himself to uncover the truth. However, there are a few members of the local community, including the local policeman, whose interest has been piqued by the young couple showing up and taking over Elio’s old house – around the same time as a murder victim is discovered. Nathan is soon in over his head trying to uncover the truth, and there are numerous figures who see him as a major inconvenience as he edges closer to finding out about Elio’s colourful past.

This is a brilliantly clever page-turner from Philip Gwynne Jones, who creates an enormously likeable protagonist in the form of Nathan Sutherland.

The prose is punctuated with wit, humour and light-hearted moments that bring relief from the undeniably darker elements of this story. I loved the subject matter and the insight given into the Mala del Brenta – the Venetian Mafia – and the legacy they leave behind, even in modern Italy. The author’s passion for the country sings out from every page. The vivid imagery and detailed descriptions transported me to an outdoor bar in Vienna, drinking a ‘spritz’ in the sun.

I loved the clever plot twists, the fantastically complex characters, and the insight we are given into the longstanding control and coercion exerted by the Italian Mafia, and its difficult legacy.

The ultimate form of escapism.