Philip Gwynne Jones

I think that Nathan Sutherland, the United Kingdom’s Honorary Consul in Venice, and protagonist of Philip Gwynne Jones’s excellent series of novels set in ‘La Serenissima’, is one of the most engaging fictional characters I have encountered in recent years. However, the real star of these books is Gramsci, Nathan’s bad tempered and perpetually hungry cat (surly to bed, surly to rise).

In this latest and very welcome instalment, Nathan becomes embroiled in the run up to the election for the Mayor of Venice. An ageing British academic has gone missing early I January, and his concerned brother contacts Nathan in his role as Consul, after reports to the police and other authorities have failed to garner must response. The missing man had been investigating archives relating to the fate of his grandfather who have been based in Italy towards the end of the First World War. Nathan is surprised when he finds that several of the candidates for the mayoral election seem to be connected with the missing man, and as he struggles to investigate further, the mystery becomes denser still.

As always, Philip Gwynne Jones paints a highly appealing picture of Venice (even in the freezing depths of winter), and offers a feast of musical, artistic, and architectural delights on offer throughout the city. The plot is as sound as ever, and the characters seem robustly three dimensional and plausible.

My only regret about this book was that having awaited its publication so eagerly, I finished it too quickly, and now have to wait for the next one.… (altro)

“Who sets out to rob a bookshop on the worst night in half a century? For that matter, who sets out to rob a bookshop at all?” (Quotation 153)

Content
In November 2019, Venice, the beautiful, magical city, almost used to “Aqua Alta”, is affected by the worst flooding catastrophe since fifty years. On their way home, after helping Ed in his flooded bar, Nathan Sutherland and Ed notice that the window of an old antique bookshop is totally shattered. Inside they find the body of a dead woman, Dr Jennifer Whiteread, art historian. As she is a British citizen, Nathan Sutherland, British honorary consul in Venice, is officially involved and as she has been murdered, he begins to investigate.

Theme and Genre
The new thriller of the Nathan Sutherland-Series, set heavily flooded Venice, is about human angels staying together and helping people wherever possible to save La Serenissima, and about painted angels attracting just the contrary.

Characters
This time, Nathan Sutherland has more reasons to try to find out what has happened to Jennifer Whiteread and why, because the police is almost overwhelmed by the situation of the flooded city and on the other hand, the grieving father of Jennifer has come to Venice and asks for answers.

Plot and writing
The story takes place in November 2019 when Venice was seriously flooded and in a state of emergency. Besides the gripping, interesting story about angels in art, the author also vividly describes the hours and days between more rain, storms and hope. While a group of young people, calling themselves the mud angels, help wherever needed, rich Giles Markham of Markham Charity Foundation, offers noticeable sums to help to preserve the ancient buildings. There is a second storyline, a story within the story, in form of an internal monologue that gives us more and more hints, but never too much. Therefore, the story is gripping and unexpected twists keep the plot unforeseeable.

Conclusion
Atmospheric, interesting and amazing, in my opinion one of the best books of the series.… (altro)

“This may be so, but surely the important thing – the most important thing – is where is the manuscript now?” (Quotation page 104)

Content:
It is Nathan´s birthday, and it is Carnevale in Venice too with lots of masked people everywhere, but still magical. Tonight Monteverdi´s L’Incoronazione di Poppea is waiting at Opera Fenice, but Isotta Baldan, the famous opera soprano Nathan Sutherland was looking forward to finally see on stage has been cancelled again. The singer now playing Poppea is excellent, but she is no Isotta Baldan. So Nathan´s attention wanders, watching two late arrivals, coming into the opposite box. At the end of the opera applause – and a sudden scream. At the opposite box, a person now is flumped forward over the balustrade, stabbed, and in this wallet, the police finds Nathan´s business card. The events somehow seem to be connected to an original manuscript of Monteverdi´s opera Proserpina rapita, lost a long time ago. Nathan is sent on a special quest.

Theme and genre
This thriller, part of a series, takes place in Venice during the famous Carnevale and the story centers around one of Monteverdi´s lost operas.

Characters
Nathan Sutherland works as a translator, but he too is the British honorary consul in Venice and when his help is needed, he begins to investigate, always attracted by mysteries to be solved.

Plot and writing
The story is an interesting mixture of adventures connected to one of the missing works of Monteverdi and vivid descriptions of every day’s life in Venice, between well-known and hidden places. Although there are captivating twists, there also are some lengths.

Conclusion
I definitely enjoy this entertaining, charming series about Nathan Sutherland, but this one could not completely convince me.… (altro)

“You’ve just been overcome by all the messa in scena, that’s all. A confused old man talking nonsense in an old dark house on a stormy night.” (Quotation page 98)

Content
On November 2nd 2017, the feast of I morti, Nathan Sutherland, Sergio Cardazzo and Lorenzo Bonzio are just leaving San Michele cemetery, when Father Michael Rayner, Angelican Chaplain, asks Nathan to read a few words during the service. In that moment two workman, instead of saving an old headstone, let it crash down on a small white coffin. The name written on the headstone is Gabriele Loredan, he died in 1980, only twelve years old, but his coffin is empty. This time it is the British Ambassador who asks Nathan to find out, what had happened thirty-seven years ago, because Gabriele Loredan, supposed to be buried at San Michele, had British nationality. However, Nathan soon finds out that there seem to be more people interested in this case and others, who are prepared to do everything to stop them.

Theme and genre
This atmospheric thriller, part of a series, is set in Venice during the dark days of November. Themes are hidden family secrets of a noble, well-known Venetian family, a tragic accident many years ago and the mystical Isola Sant’Ariano.

Characters
The British Honorary consul in Venice, Nathan Sutherland, is investigating again and digs deep into secrets, buried long time ago.

Plot and writing
This forth book to the series is told in two storylines, the main story takes place in November 2017, the second story is Gabriele’s story about his childhood and what happened a long time ago. The plot is thrilling and a perfect mixture between action, crime, dangerous situations, mysteries to be solved, unforeseeable twists and Nathans personal life with Federica, his best friend Dario, just moving back from Mestre to Venice and, not to forget, Nathan’s special cat Gramsci. Vivid descriptions of Venice in November, the everlasting beauty of this city and its special, hidden places, interesting facts about the famous island of the death, San Michele, and the mystical Isola Sant’Ariano complete the story.

Conclusion
This dark, haunting story for me is the best book of the series so far, a gripping, unputdownable, enjoyable read.… (altro)