A Death in the Venetian Quarter
Feste the Fool and his jester-wife, Aglaia, are back in this new adventure, third in a series, which finds them in Constantinople at the time of the Fourth Crusade, circa 1204 AD. Although the Crusaders’ supposed destination is Jerusalem, their true objective may be the downfall of the Byzantine Empire. The power behind this effort is that of Venice, Byzantium’s trading rival, and it’s in the Venetian Quarter of the city that a minor silk merchant meets his deadly fate. It’s up to members of the Fools’ Guild to discover the connection between these two events, if any.
Gordon is one of a few authors skillful at juggling history, mystery, and humor. The Peter Principle is alive and well in Constantinople, with various rivals to the Purple– all equally incompetent–offing each other right and left so that they might one day ascend the throne. In fact, they’re more foolish than the Fools themselves. Gordon’s latest entry in this series is a fast-paced read, one that I thoroughly enjoyed. More, please!
