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Carnival of Lies
Series: Cesare Aldo series
Brief Description
RENAISSANCE ITALY. WINTER, 1539. When Cesare Aldo learns of a conspiracy to assassinate Duke Cosimo de' Medici, he is hired to protect the ruler of Florence. The deadly attack leads to bodies, bloodshed - and something far more dangerous. The instigators obtain a secret journal of...
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See moreA conspiracy to assassinate the ruler of Florence and end a dynasty. Carnival of Lies is an atmospheric and evocative historical thriller set against the backdrop of the Medici dynasty in 1530s Renaissance Italy. From CWA Historical Dagger-winning author D. V. Bishop.
An atmospheric and evocative historical thriller set against the backdrop of the Medici dynasty in 1530s Renaissance Italy from CWA Historical Dagger-winning author D. V. Bishop.
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Description
RENAISSANCE ITALY. WINTER, 1539.
When Cesare Aldo learns of a conspiracy to assassinate Duke Cosimo de' Medici, he is hired to protect the ruler of Florence. The deadly attack leads to bodies, bloodshed - and something far more dangerous.
The instigators obtain a secret journal of Cosimo's thoughts and strategies that - in the wrong hands - could destroy all of Florence. Aldo must hunt down those responsible and reclaim the journal, or face banishment from the city and everyone he loves.
The trail leads him inexorably towards the one place Aldo has sworn to never return, a city of masks and lies where he has no allies and far too many enemies: Venice.
Series: Cesare Aldo series
View all-
City of Vengeance
City of Vengeance was shortlisted for the 2021 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. "An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence" - Antonia Hodgson "A first-class historical thriller . . . Bishop's spirited and richly detailed story is a tour-de-force" - David Baldacci "Richly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place" -...Hardback$2999Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Ritual of Fire
Ceremonial murder has returned to Florence. Only two men can end the destruction. Featuring Officer Cesare Aldo, Ritual of Fire is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris' - Historical Novel Society 'A deft and engrossing historical thriller set in Renaissance Florence'...Hardback$3499Elsewhere:$4799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
A Divine Fury
The Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Winning Author A religious serial killer is haunting Florence, and only Cesare Aldo can stop them. A Divine Fury is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris' - Historical Novel Society Florence. Autumn, 1539. Cesare Aldo...Hardback$3499Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Carnival of Lies
The Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Winning Author Venice. Winter, 1539. When Cesare Aldo learns of a conspiracy to assassinate Duke Cosimo de' Medici, he is hired to protect the ruler of Florence. With his life if necessary. The deadly attack which follows leads to bodies, bloodshed - and something far more dangerous. Those behind the plot obtain a journal...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
The Darkest Sin
Absolutely terrific - Philip Gwynne Jones, author of the bestselling Nathan Sutherland series. D.V Bishop transports you to an utterly convincing 16th century Florence, where the best and worst of human nature constantly circle each other in this tense mystery - S. G. MacLean Florence. Spring, 1537. When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the...Hardback$3499Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Pre-orderShadow of Madness
Tuscany. Winter, 1540. Travelling north into the hills above Florence, investigator Cesare Aldo seeks answers about his past. The trail leads him to Ospedale de' Pazzi, a secure institution for the criminally insane. Soon after arriving, a blizzard engulfs the area, trapping Aldo and his companion, Doctor Saul Orvieto. Even more alarming, their cart driver is found dead. It looks...Paperback$3800Unit price /UnavailableOut 15 Sep 2026Pre-order -
City of Vengeance
Shortlisted for the 2021 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 'An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence' – Antonia Hodgson 'A first-class historical thriller . . . Bishop's spirited and richly detailed story is a tour-de-force' – David Baldacci 'Richly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place' – Ambrose Parry, author of...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September -
The Darkest Sin
He is fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris . . . Highly recommended - Historical Novel Society Florence. Spring, 1537. When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the Renaissance city's northern quarter, he enters a community divided by bitter rivalries and harbouring dark secrets. When a man's body...Paperback$2299Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September -
Ritual of Fire
Ceremonial murder has returned to Florence. Only two men can end the destruction. Featuring Officer Cesare Aldo, Ritual of Fire is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris' - Historical Novel Society Florence. Summer, 1538. A night patrol finds a wealthy merchant...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September -
A Divine Fury
A Divine Fury by D. V. Bishop The Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Winning Author A religious serial killer is haunting Florence and only Cesare Aldo can stop them. A Divine Fury is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Full of dash and atmosphere' - The Times Florence. Autumn, 1539. Cesare Aldo was once...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September -
Carnival of Lies
RENAISSANCE ITALY. WINTER, 1539. When Cesare Aldo learns of a conspiracy to assassinate Duke Cosimo de' Medici, he is hired to protect the ruler of Florence. The deadly attack leads to bodies, bloodshed - and something far more dangerous. The instigators obtain a secret journal of Cosimo's thoughts and strategies that - in the wrong hands - could destroy all...Paperback$3799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781035041954
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 26 June 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Macmillan
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 153.0mm
Height: 234.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 384
About the Author
D. V. Bishop is the pseudonym of award-winning writer David Bishop. His love for the city of Florence and the Renaissance period meant there could be only one setting for his historical thrillers. The first Cesare Aldo novel, City of Vengeance, won the Pitch Perfect competition at the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival and the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Adult Fiction Book. Book two in the series, The Darkest Sin, won the prestigious Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger. He teaches creative writing at Edinburgh Napier University.
Also by D. V. Bishop
View all-
City of Vengeance
City of Vengeance was shortlisted for the 2021 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. "An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence" - Antonia Hodgson "A first-class historical thriller . . . Bishop's spirited and richly detailed story is a tour-de-force" - David Baldacci "Richly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place" -...Hardback$2999Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
The Darkest Sin
Absolutely terrific - Philip Gwynne Jones, author of the bestselling Nathan Sutherland series. D.V Bishop transports you to an utterly convincing 16th century Florence, where the best and worst of human nature constantly circle each other in this tense mystery - S. G. MacLean Florence. Spring, 1537. When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the...Hardback$3499Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Ritual of Fire
Ceremonial murder has returned to Florence. Only two men can end the destruction. Featuring Officer Cesare Aldo, Ritual of Fire is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris' - Historical Novel Society 'A deft and engrossing historical thriller set in Renaissance Florence'...Hardback$3499Elsewhere:$4799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
A Divine Fury
The Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Winning Author A religious serial killer is haunting Florence, and only Cesare Aldo can stop them. A Divine Fury is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris' - Historical Novel Society Florence. Autumn, 1539. Cesare Aldo...Hardback$3499Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Carnival of Lies
The Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Winning Author Venice. Winter, 1539. When Cesare Aldo learns of a conspiracy to assassinate Duke Cosimo de' Medici, he is hired to protect the ruler of Florence. With his life if necessary. The deadly attack which follows leads to bodies, bloodshed - and something far more dangerous. Those behind the plot obtain a journal...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips Monday -
Pre-order
Shadow of Madness
Tuscany. Winter, 1540. Travelling north into the hills above Florence, investigator Cesare Aldo seeks answers about his past. The trail leads him to Ospedale de' Pazzi, a secure institution for the criminally insane. Soon after arriving, a blizzard engulfs the area, trapping Aldo and his companion, Doctor Saul Orvieto. Even more alarming, their cart driver is found dead. It looks...Paperback$3800Unit price /UnavailableOut 15 Sep 2026Pre-order -
City of Vengeance
Shortlisted for the 2021 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 'An impressive and immersive debut set in a beautifully realized sixteenth-century Florence' – Antonia Hodgson 'A first-class historical thriller . . . Bishop's spirited and richly detailed story is a tour-de-force' – David Baldacci 'Richly atmospheric . . . transports you to another time and place' – Ambrose Parry, author of...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September -
The Darkest Sin
He is fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris . . . Highly recommended - Historical Novel Society Florence. Spring, 1537. When Cesare Aldo investigates a report of intruders at a convent in the Renaissance city's northern quarter, he enters a community divided by bitter rivalries and harbouring dark secrets. When a man's body...Paperback$2299Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September -
Ritual of Fire
Ceremonial murder has returned to Florence. Only two men can end the destruction. Featuring Officer Cesare Aldo, Ritual of Fire is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Fast becoming a serious rival to C. J. Sansom and S. J. Parris' - Historical Novel Society Florence. Summer, 1538. A night patrol finds a wealthy merchant...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September -
A Divine Fury
A Divine Fury by D. V. Bishop The Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Winning Author A religious serial killer is haunting Florence and only Cesare Aldo can stop them. A Divine Fury is an atmospheric historical thriller by D. V. Bishop, set in Renaissance Italy. 'Full of dash and atmosphere' - The Times Florence. Autumn, 1539. Cesare Aldo was once...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early September
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