The Venetian Heretic

In a city of masks, no one is what they seem . . . Englishman Richard Hughes has survived a stint as a galley slave and is now a free man in Venice, where he enjoys a modest life as a fencing master. He believes he has long-since left behind the ideals that landed him in slavery...until he stumbles across an attempted murder close to home. As he hunts for the red-masked assassin who is picking off the city's Libertini, Richard and his new rescued friend 'Philip' are drawn into a conspiracy that stretches from Venice to the Vatican and beyond... This is the Venice of waterfront palaces, romance, Carnivale and gondolas - but also of sharp swords, lawless criminals and ruthless assassins; based on real events and richly brought to life by the master of historical fiction, Christian Cameron. 'Cameron is a true master of the genre . . . skilful, humorous and finely wrought' - Ben Kane, bestselling author of The Eagles of Rome series 'Agile and rapier-sharp' - Chris Lloyd, award-winning author of the Occupation series 'A masterclass in historical adventure' - Miranda Malins, author of The Rebel Daughter READERS LOVE THE VENETIAN HERETIC: 'An excellent story, quite different than the usual military stuff for which the author is deservedly renowned so quite refreshing in many ways' 'This book was fantastic . . . Cameron is very quickly becoming a favourite author of mine' 'Cameron's Venice has a sense of place, of history, and feels at once grand and intimately human' 'Absolutely brilliant novel, made deep and real by a massive amount of research, but Cameron's ability to create plausible and interesting characters shines through' 'It is a masterful blend of historical fiction and mystery, further cementing Christian Cameron as one of the very best in the genre'

In a city of masks, no one is what they seem . . . Englishman Richard Hughes has survived a stint as a galley slave and is now a free man in Venice, where he enjoys a modest life as a fencing master. He believes he has long-since left behind the ideals that landed him in slavery...until he stumbles across an attempted murder close to home. As he hunts for the red-masked assassin who is picking off the city's Libertini, Richard and his new rescued friend 'Philip' are drawn into a conspiracy that stretches from Venice to the Vatican and beyond... This is the Venice of waterfront palaces, romance, Carnivale and gondolas - but also of sharp swords, lawless criminals and ruthless assassins; based on real events and richly brought to life by the master of historical fiction, Christian Cameron. 'Cameron is a true master of the genre . . . skilful, humorous and finely wrought' - Ben Kane, bestselling author of The Eagles of Rome series 'Agile and rapier-sharp' - Chris Lloyd, award-winning author of the Occupation series 'A masterclass in historical adventure' - Miranda Malins, author of The Rebel Daughter READERS LOVE THE VENETIAN HERETIC: 'An excellent story, quite different than the usual military stuff for which the author is deservedly renowned so quite refreshing in many ways' 'This book was fantastic . . . Cameron is very quickly becoming a favourite author of mine' 'Cameron's Venice has a sense of place, of history, and feels at once grand and intimately human' 'Absolutely brilliant novel, made deep and real by a massive amount of research, but Cameron's ability to create plausible and interesting characters shines through' 'It is a masterful blend of historical fiction and mystery, further cementing Christian Cameron as one of the very best in the genre'

Venice is alive with the magic and bustle of Carnevale. A city of mysterious masks and gorgeous palaces, of riches, patricians, intellectuals and artists. And amidst it all, something new is being born: magnificent voices are soaring above the spires, astonishing costumes are being crafted, and audiences are being transported, for the first time, by the power of the Opera. And beneath it all: espionage, organised crime, and murder. Swordsman Richard Hughes has arrived on the banks of the Grand Canal looking for a simpler life, only to be plunged - alongside Phillip de Chambray, a remarkable woman unable to show her true self - into the thick of the murkiest, most dangerous European politics, at a moment when someone is trying to destroy the opera, and Venice itself. Rich with authentic detail, this is the story of a complex world not so different from our own, and Christian Cameron, the modern master of historical fiction, brings real history to life in a way no other author can.

Venice is alive with the magic and bustle of Carnevale. A city of mysterious masks and gorgeous palaces, of riches, patricians, intellectuals and artists. And amidst it all, something new is being born: magnificent voices are soaring above the spires, astonishing costumes are being crafted, and audiences are being transported, for the first time, by the power of the Opera. And beneath it all: espionage, organised crime, and murder. Swordsman Richard Hughes has arrived on the banks of the Grand Canal looking for a simpler life, only to be plunged - alongside Phillip de Chambray, a remarkable woman unable to show her true self - into the thick of the murkiest, most dangerous European politics, at a moment when someone is trying to destroy the opera, and Venice itself. Rich with authentic detail, this is the story of a complex world not so different from our own, and Christian Cameron, the modern master of historical fiction, brings real history to life in a way no other author can.