THE DARK HEART OF FLORENCE by Tasha Alexander

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THE DARK HEART OF FLORENCE
Tasha Alexander

Reviewed by Carol Pennington
Posted March 1, 2021

If you love spy mystery novels, you won’t want to miss THE DARK HEART OF FLORENCE. It is absolutely captivating! The novel is set in Florence with a dual timeline being the late 1400s and 1903. The timeline for the 1400s is told from the point of view of Mina Portinari. The 1903 timeline is told from the point of view of Lady Emily Hargreaves. The story begins with the investigation of home invasions at the home of Lady Emily’s stepdaughter. It then progresses to murders, espionage, and a treasure hunt. There is also a very good portrayal of the Medici reign in Florence.

I found this book to be captivating from beginning to end. The writing style is superb and leaves the reader eager to see what happens next. The descriptions of the environment and the events are simply marvelous. I almost felt as if I were experiencing them firsthand. I was left with a strong desire to visit Florence. The characters were colorful and engaging. I especially found myself enamored with Lady Emily’s friend Cecile. The mystery itself is masterfully done. It wasn’t until the end that I had any idea who was behind the deeds portrayed.

I strongly recommend THE DARK HEART OF FLORENCE to anyone who enjoys a great historical mystery. It would be especially enjoyable for those who have a love for Italy and/or for the era of the Medici. Though there are a few adult situations portrayed in the novel, it is otherwise a clean read. This book is the first I have read in the series and by this author. I am now a big fan and I believe you will be too if you are not already.

SUMMARY

In the latest Lady Emily Mystery The Dark Heart of Florence, critically acclaimed author Tasha Alexander transports listeners to the legendary city of Florence, where Lady Emily and Colin solve a murder with clues leading back to the time of the Medici.

In 1903, tensions between Britain and Germany are starting to loom over Europe, something that has not gone unnoticed by Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves. An agent of the Crown, Colin carries the weight of the Empire, but his focus is drawn to Italy by a series of burglaries at his daughter’s palazzo in Florence—burglaries that have caught the attention of his superiors. He and Emily travel to Tuscany, where they are greeted by a shocking death. Undaunted, they investigate, discovering that the house hides ominous secrets dating back to the days of the Medici—secrets unexpectedly pertinent in the troubled days of the early twentieth century, an uneasy time full of intrigue, duplicity, and warring ideologies.

With the assistance of Darius Benton-Stone, Colin’s trusted colleague and fellow agent, they race to untangle the cryptic clues leading them through the Renaissance city. But an unimagined danger follows closely behind, and much more than a family home is at stake…