THE WOLVES OF ST. PETER'S

An exciting, highly atmospheric historical novel that's also a murder mystery - envisaged as the first of a trilogy with Francesco Angeli as the central character. Set in Italy during the Renaissance, this is perfect for fans of Sarah Dunant, Sarah Walters and Donna Leon.

Rome, November 1508. But not the Rome of historical romances, Renaissance fairs, or Da Vinci Code -style conspiracy theories. This is Rome as it really was then: a violent, corrupt, medieval town of disease -ridden slums, where in the absence of accountable law enforcement, citizens form their own complex – but not always trustworthy – networks of protection and support. Michaelangelo's houseboy, Francesco degli Angeli, is a young man who recently lost his employment as lawyer for Florentine landowner Guido del Mare when he fell in love with Guido's wife. Now Guido is out for revenge, and Francesco's family has sent him away to work for Michelangelo. The taciturn artist, who trusts no one in Rome, not even the Pope, is making slow progress on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Meanwhile his rival, the charming Raphael, is competitively at work in the Vatican Apartments. Francesco spends his nights with Susanna, the maid next door, and his evenings with Raphael and his circle at the Vatican-sanctioned brothel of the courtesan Imperia. But Francesco's comfortable exile ends the day he watches the body of one of Imperia's prostitutes being dragged from the swollen Tiber. She is Calendula, a prostitute whom Francesco has found disquieting because her golden hair gave her an uncomfortable resemblance to Guido's wife Juliet. Francesco becomes obsessed with hunting down Calendula's killer, and quickly discovers that there can be dozens of motives for wanting one prostitute dead. As heavy rains threaten and starving wolves come to the city in search of food, Guido also appears. There are murders, plots and counter-plots – and finally a personal tragedy for Francesco, after which he is forced to leave Rome. As he bids Michelangelo farewell, it appears that the Pope will get his ceiling painted after all. (November 2012 marks the 500th anniversary of the completion of the Sistine Chapel.) GINA BUONAGURO was born in New Jersey and now lives in Toronto. JANICE KIRK was born and lives in Kingston, Ontario. After meeting in a French class in Kingston, they became writing partners and eventually coauthors of The Sidewalk Artist and Ciao Bella (both published by St. Martin's in North America). The Sidewalk Artist, which James McKenn, author of Quattrocento called “An enchanting story of life and art, bringing to life the passion that inspires both”, has been published in Germany and Ciao Bella in Norway.