Publisher: Quire Books
Page Length: 394 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis
Naples 1633
Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill.
Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell Giulia the hidden keys to her success. When Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade.
Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi.
The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under Domenico’s thrall, insists that she should be consort to him – the brother of the man she has vowed to kill.
Based on the legendary life of Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how even the darkest desires can be vanquished by courage and love.
‘Her characters so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf’ Historical Novel Society
My Thoughts
When I think of Italian poisoners, the Borgias immediately come to mind. I knew of no others until Deborah Swift, through her latest novel, introduced me to another notorious family plying the same trade. The Poison Keeper is the riveting story of Giulia Tofana, the inventor of 'Aqua Tofana' and her determination to avenge the death of her mother.
Poison is often referred to as being the murder weapon of choice by women. The Poison Keeper certainly supports that but also explores how it was often used as a last resort when other appeals for help failed.
This novel is full of contradictions, which makes it a thought provoking and interesting read. Giulia peddles her murderous potion to help women escape abusive marriages. She knows its wrong, but justifies her actions by telling herself that she only supplies the means to murder and is not responsible for its use. She is a healer, who dabbles in murder. Then there is the choice between murder or suicide that one of Giulia's clients must make. In the eyes of the church, murder appears to be the lesser of the two evils. These are only two examples, but there are more ethical and moral dilemmas the characters face before the story reaches its dramatic conclusion.
Giulia should have been a detestable character, but I liked her and understood her motivation. She is not evil by any means, just out to avenge her mother's death by ridding the world of a cruel and wicked person and offering aid to the powerless the only way she can. She does show remorse for her actions - and compassion in an ironic twist towards the end that could also be described as a bittersweet moment for Giulia.
Deborah Swift has written a compelling narrative around a lesser known, but very intriguing, historical figure. Her familiarity with the period is evident by the ease with which the story unfolds and how it brings Giulia's world to life. I enjoyed seeing Renaissance Palermo and Naples through her words and meeting some very memorable characters along the way who added so much to this novel.
Giulia's story continues in The Silk Worm Keeper. I'm looking forward to it.
Where to Purchase
Is your book on Kindle Unlimited? Yes
Universal Link • Amazon AU • Amazon CA • Amazon UK • Amazon US
Meet the Author
Deborah enjoys writing about ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and most of her novels have been published in reading group editions. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and is a mentor with The History Quill.
Connect with Deborah: Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Pinterest • Book Bub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
Blog Tour Schedule
No comments:
Post a Comment