The Borgia Portrait: 2

A Venetian Mystery, Book 2

By: David Hewson

Narrated by: Richard Armitage

A noble family, a legendary painting, a cursed palazzo. The new Venetian mystery from master storyteller David Hewson.

When Arnold Clover is recruited by Lizzie Hawker to help her look into her family inheritance, he cannot begin to guess the journey he is about to embark on.

Lizzie's mother, an Italian countess, disappeared thirty years ago, presumed dead. Her father, a famous, some say infamous, music promoter, has just died and now the family home Ca' Scacchi, a leaning palazzo in Dorsoduro, has fallen to her. When her mother vanished so too did a priceless painting, supposedly an erotic portrait of Lucrezia Borgia, which has captivated men for generations.

When a body is discovered in a hidden crypt beneath the checkerboard courtyard of the palazzo, other secrets are unearthed with it. Lying with the body is a document, a story of an episode in Casanova's colourful life, and within it a set of clues that might lead to the location of the painting. But it quickly becomes apparent that Lizzie and Arnold are not the only ones interested in finding the painting.

The search for the lost Lucrezia quickly becomes a race through the secret history of Venice, one with potentially deadly consequences.

©2023 David Hewson (P)2023 W.F.Howes Ltd

The story had potential, the ‘romance’ made my skin crawl

I thought I’d be willing to listen to Richard Armitage narrate anything, but as it turns out - not to a creepy old archivist put the predatory moves on a much younger, vulnerable woman who has requested his assistance in a professional capacity. Total ICK - could not finish it.

Great start, but…

I had great expectations for this, and it was quite enjoyable for about two thirds through, but true to any given pulp fiction, a sex scene tipped this into a predictable and disappointing conclusion, followed by a truly lengthy and tedious epilogue. (PS note that relationship depicted is consensual: Lizzie is a worldly 40, no victim of a “creepy” 60ish academic widower. It’s just not interesting). The heroine became tiresome midway when it was clear that her working class simplicity didn’t ultimately disguise greater depth. Also the protagonist grew stupider than he should have, and finally unlikely events and coincidences of the latter chapters stretched believability past breaking. In addition, major plot spoilers of the previous book were touched on, the writer apparently assumed they’d be read in published order (I hadn’t). Armitage performed well, but there’s just so far one can salvage a mess.

Fun story

I liked this second book more than the first of the series. I enjoyed the riddle solving taking readers all over Venice. It was quite fun. I did not like the romance between Arnold and Lizzie. It’s a bit cheesy and totally unnecessary for the story and ruined the character setting for Arnold Clover. Lizzy is unlikable and annoying. Richard Armitage’s narration was excellent and impeccable.

Murder, Italian treasure hunt

This is so good. I could not stop listening to it. It is even better than the first book in the series. Reminiscent of The DaVinci Code. Excellent history and details of lesser known sights in Venice woven into the story.

Not my favorite so far

This is the third David Hewson book I have read and it is my least favorite so far.

On the plus side, his research, ability to capture the historical stories and legends of Venice, its atmosphere, art and architecture and the people there are all great. I appreciate the time he must have put into this aspect of the book. The narrator is also excellent with the exception of Lizzy. He never made her believable for me, but maybe it is because of the points below.

The reasons I'm not such a fan of this book are:
- I never liked the heroine, Lizzy, because she seemed rather one-dimensional.
- Partly because of the above point, I didn't find the romance between her and the hero to be believable at all.
-The story started to drag for me with the various clues around Venice as they worked to solve the riddle. I think they could have been edited and shortened to help move the plot along.