The Venice Atonement
Newlywed Nancy Tremayne witnessed a woman fall to her death at the opera. It’s brushed aside as an accidental death by authorities, but she knows there is more to this story and is determined to uncover the truth. It is Venice, 1955, and Nancy is on her honeymoon with her new husband, Leo, an art expert distracted by his professional obligations. Or is there more to his story, too?
Investigating this murder takes the reader all over historic Venice, with plenty of scenery and escapades to delight. And while the murder investigation rushes on, providing satisfying descriptions of Venice for the armchair traveler, it is Nancy’s own mysterious past that grounds the story and provides an additional mystery. Scarred from a previously abusive relationship, Nancy finds inner strength in solving this murder, surprising herself as well as her new husband Leo and his assistant, Archie. The mystery, along with a light romantic element, keeps the pages turning and the characters and setting entertain, but the story felt rushed at times at the expense of understanding Nancy’s inner turmoil. Readers looking for full closure in all threads may be frustrated with questions still remaining after the investigation is closed, but this adventure along Venice’s canals and ancient streets still satisfies.
