First published 2009
The sultan commands Yashim to locate a missing Bellini painting. The portrait depicts Mehmet the Conqueror, and its disappearance troubles the Ottoman court. Yashim calls upon his friend Palevski to travel to Venice and investigate. Palevski navigates the labyrinthine city of abandoned palaces and shadowy canals. He encounters dubious art dealers, decadent nobles, and an aging blonde woman with theatrical flair. The Venetian art trade proves more dangerous than expected. One by one, Palevski's contacts fall victim to murder. Each death brings him closer to the truth about the stolen masterpiece, but also deeper into peril. Meanwhile, Yashim's own whereabouts become uncertain. The search for artistic treasure transforms into a deadly game where collectors and criminals blur together. Venice's beauty masks corruption that reaches from its grand salons to its forgotten corners.
Genres: art, historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, international-intrigue
Setting: Ottoman Court, Venice
Period: 19th-century
320 pages · Paperback · Bezige Bij, de