Jewels of Paradise

The New York Times-bestselling author of the Commissario Guido Brunetti series takes readers beyond the Venice police force in her first standalone novel. Caterina Pellegrini is a native Venetian, and like so many of them, she's had to leave home to pursue her career. With a doctorate in baroque opera from Vienna, she lands in Manchester, England. Manchester, however, is no Venice. When Caterina gets word of a position back home, she jumps at the opportunity. The job is an unusual one. After nearly three centuries, two locked trunks believed to contain the papers of a baroque composer have been discovered. Deeply connected in religious and political circles, the composer died childless; now, two Venetians, descendants of his cousins, each claim the inheritance. Caterina's job is to examine any enclosed papers to discover the "e;testamentary disposition"e; of the composer. But when her research takes her in unexpected directions, she begins to wonder just what secrets these trunks may hold. From a masterful writer, The Jewels of Paradise is a superb novel, a gripping tale of intrigue, music, history, and greed. "e;Commissario Brunetti is allowed to take a vacation once in a while, but only if his replacements are as wry and erudite as Caterina."e; The Washington Post "e;Fascinating . . . Boasts the same sensitivity to human behavior that distinguishes her Guido Brunetti series."e; Booklist "e;A veteran mystery maven weaves present-day Venice into a 300-year-old puzzle in this engaging stand-alone . . . Packs the charms of Venice into a smart whodunit."e; Kirkus Reviews "e;Elegant prose, with humorous, wonderfully detailed descriptions as seen through the eyes of her heroine."e; Opera News