In a deserted artist’s studio in the heart of Rome, detectives stumble upon a scene of shocking brutality: two bodies, freshly killed. Loomin...
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reviews
Jul 29, 2011
A thriller in which the old and the new are entwined. Caravaggio and AIDS, the old and modern Italian aristocracy. The detectives are boldly drawn, struggling against lawyers who try to tie their hands. The main character, Nic Costa, has to deal with his wife's death, as well as threats to others from the same aristocratic thug who killed her. The invented material relating to Caravaggio is intriguing but not entirely convincing. Perhaps the most lyrical part of the novel is the portrait of
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Jul 21, 2010
There are several quite popular mystery writers who place their stories in Italy. Deciding it was time for me to make that trip, I picked up The Garden of Evil by David Hewson. This is the sixth in his Nic Costa series. Nic is a contemporary Rome police detective called to a bloody crime scene in a deserted artist’s studio. Early on it’s pretty clear who committed the crime, but the prime suspect is rich and powerful, and seemingly untouchable. The author mixes mystery, history, art, and Ro
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Jul 21, 2010
I’ve recently finished reading the latest novel in a series that I follow, which deals with two of my favorite subjects…Italy and murder. MUAH-HUAH-HUAH!!! Garden of Evil, by David Hewson, finds Roman detective Nic Costa newly and happily married for the first time. His bliss is soon shattered when he and his gruff, kinda disfigured partner Gianni get called to a grisly murder scene, tucked away in a fairly ancient, twisty part of Rome. The bodies quickly multiply (don’t they always?), and the i
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Aug 14, 2009
Lindig
rated it: 
A nicely dense thriller, full of arcane knowledge about the history of Rome and Caravaggio and painting and Italian history and the Medicis etc etc. It was great in this respect. The author has cleverly blended fact and fiction; it's difficult to tell which is which unless you already have some knowledge in these areas. There is an author's note at the end which gives some clues to what's real and what isn't.
This is a thriller for adults. Not only is it dense but it's sophisticated i More...
This is a thriller for adults. Not only is it dense but it's sophisticated i More...
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Mar 28, 2011
Dorothy (Alaskan Bookie)
rated it: 
This book was alright. I listened to this as an audiobook, and I have problems remembering all the names of all the people and places when they are in a foreign language.
This one was set in Italy so many Italian names. That being said, it was almost like a historical novel in that it traced the history of a Renascence Italy times an especially of one artist Caravaggio.
I didn't like that the detective in the story kept making 'mistakes' and got his wife killed. It was like, 'okay I More...
This one was set in Italy so many Italian names. That being said, it was almost like a historical novel in that it traced the history of a Renascence Italy times an especially of one artist Caravaggio.
I didn't like that the detective in the story kept making 'mistakes' and got his wife killed. It was like, 'okay I More...
Nov 23, 2009
Stephanie
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I was in the mood for suspense and mystery, which is why I chose this book. Unfortunately, the killer was spoon fed to you 100 pages in, so you didn't have to work for it (an e-mail was sent to the police identifying the killer? really?), so there was a lack of mystery. The rest of the book is trying to get into the killer's head, and spends more time solving a 400 year old mystery, which takes a lot for granted, with very little solid evidence. Now, I enjoy the massive amount of research to
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Oct 06, 2008
Nancy
rated it:
Although it's not my personal favorite of Hewson's Nic Costa series, The Garden of Evil is a good read all the same, and this was one I did not stop reading until I had finished it completely. As the story opens, a man who picks pockets for a living develops a bit of conscience after he realizes he has picked up among his takings someone's medicine. He traces her to the place he remembers her saying she was going, and finds her in a most bizarre situation; sadly for him. Fast forward a bit to
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Feb 18, 2010
Paula
rated it: 
this mystery takes place in rome, with the roman police and of course, a tortured, talented, and undervalued inspector, nic costa, at the center of a ghastly series of murders. the neat thing about this story is how it weaves renaissance history and the artists that lived and worked at that time into the events of the present in a very clever manner. I've read one other nic costa mystery, which was also quite good, so I think I'll read them all now. a fun thing to look foreward to!
Jan 18, 2012
Dot
rated it:
Hewson's books are fast paced and have a good storyline. Set in present day Rome, the series features Nic Costa as a detective in the Rome Quaestura and usually involve art. This book features a chilling tale of deaths of black prostitutes and the discovery of a previously unknown work by Caravaggio. The information about this artist's life and work provides an engaging backdrop to the plot.
Dec 09, 2009
Mary
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The characters in this were good and the setting (Rome) was different from my usual mysteries. I learned a lot more than I ever expected to about Caravaggio. Definitely a series to look for more of, though once again I have come in at a point where something dramatic happened in the life of the detective. Careless in Red all over again!
Jul 03, 2009
Carol
rated it:
Art lovers and fans of character-driven suspense will be delighted by the latest Nic Costa mystery. A series of grisly killings accompanies the discovery of an unknown painting by Caravaggio in the same Roman street where the painter lived and worked. The keys to convicting the killer lie in the story of Caravaggio's short, violent life. Outstanding!
Apr 06, 2009
Julie
rated it:
This is definitely a thriller for art lovers. Of which I am not one, apparently. I like art, but I roll my eyes at the rhapsodizing about all the little details of Caravaggio's art that was found here. Ugh. I love things set in Italy, but for some reason, this one just didn't work all that well for me. The author took himself far too seriously, as did all of the characters, and it turned me off. Since there's hardly a mystery, it seemed like just a way to show off all the knowledge about paintin
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Jul 25, 2011
Vivienne
rated it: 
I've enjoyed all of Hewson's Nic Costa series but this one proved to be my favourite so far. The main reason for this is that I've loved art history for years and this novel focused on the life and art of Caravaggio along with general Renaissance history and this was woven into the modern day, rather gruesome, series of murders.
It was well-paced and featured a baddie that I really wanted to see get his just desserts.
Jul 27, 2011
Raj
rated it:
Renaissance painters and secret brotherhoods give the impression that the book is all too similar to a certain bestseller that also touches these points, and to say this book does not have the same feel to Dan Brown's novel would be lying. All in all this is a fun book to read but nothing special.
Oct 03, 2010
Denise
rated it:
Art-based mystery played out in modern day Rome. Lots of 16th and 17th Roman history covering the art and personalities of that time (i.e., Caravaggio, Medici, etc.). If ever in Rome I could probably use this book as a travel guide to some pretty interesting places...
Apr 14, 2009
Ross
rated it:
Quality of the prose is good to very good, plot line is interesting, but the authors lack of concern for technical details made it dificult for me to get through the whole book.
Also, you are presented with the most incompetent police force this side of the "Keystone Kops."
Also, you are presented with the most incompetent police force this side of the "Keystone Kops."
Sep 20, 2011
Juliet
rated it:
One of the best Nic Costa novels in the series. A bit different with the killer identified at the beginning and the narrative around how they catch him. Having a degree in Art History I loved the Carravagio aspect to the crime it was well researched. Would recommend this and any of the other Nic Costa novels
Jul 19, 2011
Jason
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This was an intriguing read. I did like the story, but there was something a little off about the whole thing, that left me slightly incredulous about some of the situations. Other than that I loved the characters and was engrossed in the art history.
Nov 28, 2008
Susan
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A thriller in the same vein as "The Da Vinci Code" ~ gives you an art history lesson while taking you on a scary adventure through the back streets of Rome Italy in the 1700's.
Feb 22, 2011
RUSA
rated it:
This was the Reading List winner in the Mystery category for 2009. For the complete list, go to
http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/award...
http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/award...
Jan 11, 2011
X10397
rated it:
O primeiro capítulo é muito bom e original. O resto do livro considero que não sustenta as expectativas geradas pelo primeiro capítulo.
Dec 15, 2008
Ken
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I enjoyed this book, but I found the plot a little convoluted in the way the police were unable to touch Malaspina. A good read with plenty of excitement.
Apr 21, 2009
Allison
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This mystery/thriller was a quick read. I enjoyed it because it involved old master paintings and sculptures in Rome.
Aug 02, 2011
I liked this Nic Costa mystery best of the series. I liked the Caravaggio tie in and the introduction of Sister Agata.
Aug 08, 2009
Becca
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This book had an interesting premise but was horribly executed. Don't waste your time reading this book.
Mar 18, 2009
Wendy
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This is my favorite of the Nic Costa series. I had trouble putting it down. Wonderful ride.
Oct 15, 2010
Lladroluv
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Love Italy & Art, this was my first Nic Costa read & it's #6, so I'll have to read the others!
Feb 05, 2009
Chris
rated it:
It's set incurrent day Rome - murder mystery with an art history twist involving a Caravaggio painting - a litle tough gettingstarted, butI'm enjoying it very much now
