Ritual of Fire: From The Crime Writers´ Association Historical Dagger Winning Author

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Ceremonial murder has resurfaced in Florence, and only two men can halt the chaos. Set in Renaissance Italy, this atmospheric historical thriller follows Officer Cesare Aldo. In the summer of 1538, a night patrol discovers a wealthy merchant hanged and burned in the city square, a gruesome act meant to instill fear. This echoes the execution of the puritanical monk Girolamo Savonarola, suggesting his fanatical followers may be reviving his reign of terror. While Aldo is preoccupied with thieves in the Tuscan countryside, Constable Carlo Strocchi is left to investigate the murder. As another merchant is publicly burned alive, the wealthy flee to their estates, but danger lurks in the hills. Amidst rising religious fervor and a relentless heatwave, Florence teeters on the brink of madness. A shadowy figure is targeting powerful men connected to Savonarola's dark past. Aldo and Strocchi must join forces to prevent the city from being engulfed in destruction. This gripping tale weaves themes of religion, lust, money, and politics into a deadly narrative. This is the third installment in the Cesare Aldo series, following City of Vengeance and The Darkest Sin, with A Divine Fury on the horizon.