Ritual of Fire by DV Bishop is the third book in the Cesare Aldo series.
We are once again in Florence in 1538. The weather is hot and the drought continues. If the area doesn't receive significant rain soon, crops will be lost. But there is a more important issue. People's health and sanity are important, especially when lighting a fire.
heat and murder
While most people spend their days trying to remain calm, others are planning murder. A murder that presents the victim as an exhibit. It serves as a warning and foreboding of things to come.
Against this, in this unforgiving heat, authorities must stay one step ahead of the killers. And Florence's main criminal court (which oversees investigations) is the Otto de Guardia e Balia. Being one step ahead means there is no room for ego. Unfortunately, Florence is full of such people.
work together
Due to the death of another officer and the conflict between Otto's constable Carlo Strocchi and Officer Cesare Aldo (Volume 2) involving Aldo's sexual orientation, Aldo is now working in the Autonomous Territories, the countryside around the city of Florence. This means that the police officers most likely to solve murder cases in the city are not around.
Strocchi is now married with a young girl, Bianca. His wife Tomasia has better interpersonal skills and understands her relationships better than her husband. She guides Strocchi during her investigation and even encourages her to solve problems with Aldo. The world is not black and white. She knows it all too well. And if he wants to become an officer, Strocchi needs to learn how to read people.
Strocchi investigates a murder case in the city. The victim is merchant Sandro Dovizi. Aldo investigates the body of a man found inside a burned-out villa in the countryside. The victim is another merchant, Benozzo Scarlatti. After investigating the scene with the help of Dr. Saul Orvieto, it was determined that Scarlatti had died a few days before the fire on his property. In fact, he may have died before Dovizi was murdered. But why? Why did they kill the old man and then hide his body and later bring it to his estate?
motivation
As the case continues to unfold, multiple lines of investigation emerge. Why kill the merchant? What do they have in common? And why is there a proclamation floating around Florence about the monk Girolamo Savonarola at the same time?
Even after 40 years of death, the monk still controls the city. Moreover, the young men and boys who formed his small army, the Fanciulli, are still around. When the third merchant, Luca Uccello, is killed, it is time for Aldo and Strocchi to compare notes and start working as a team. Because what is happening now may be a continuation of what started decades ago.
note
I could go into more detail about the book or give more hints about the plot, but I encourage you to read the book yourself to see how it all unfolds. Volume 3 is much better than Volume 2, and its rival, Volume 1, is better in terms of plot and pace.
Volume 1 sets the scene for the series. It introduces the Otto Institute, introduces the power struggle in Florence, and shows the vulnerability of the series protagonist.
Volume 2 is a bridge to Volume 3 in that it makes you understand how desperately someone wanted to hide “something” and how desperately others try to get their hands on “it.”
What “it” is becomes clear in Book 3, and once exposed, the pace of the story changes. This made Strocchi realize how much he still had to learn. You don't have to agree 100% with everything Aldo says or does to work with him or be his friend. But before he speaks his mind, he has to ask Aldo why he did what he did. Reason, motivation are important. Aldo learns more about himself. He realizes what he does best, where he belongs, and how two people almost lost their lives during this investigation.
Bishop's Aldo series quickly became popular. I pre-ordered his fourth book, A Devine Fury. If you like historical fiction, Italy, Florence ruled by the Medici family, and strong characters, this book is for you. Reading is highly recommended. My other book reviews are here.
P.s:
DV Bishop is active on Instagram and is very accessible. They kindly sent me the bookmark you see in the photo. Thank you again!