Conspiracy (Giordano Bruno #5)

Title: Conspiracy (Giordano Bruno #5)

Author: S.J. Parris

Published in: 2016

Date read: Not yet read

Score: /5

Genre: Historical fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Conspiracy," published in 2017, is the fifth novel in S.J. Parris's acclaimed historical mystery series featuring the philosopher, heretic, and spy, Giordano Bruno. This instalment takes Bruno back to his homeland of Italy, where he is thrust into a high-stakes and personal investigation that challenges his loyalty and his life.

The story begins with Bruno, now working as an English spy under the guise of an academic, being sent on a secret mission to his home city of Naples, Italy. He is tasked by his spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, with a mission to gather intelligence on the Spanish and the Pope, who are believed to be planning a new military campaign against England.

However, Bruno's homecoming is far from peaceful. He soon discovers that his old friends and family are in mortal danger. His brother has been arrested on a trumped-up charge of heresy, and his sister has disappeared. Bruno realizes that his life is intertwined with a much larger and more sinister plot orchestrated by the powerful forces of the Spanish Inquisition and the Catholic Church, who have long sought to silence him.

As Bruno investigates, he uncovers a conspiracy that goes far beyond a simple political plot. The conspiracy is not just about a military campaign; it is a meticulously planned attempt to assassinate the leader of a powerful Italian city-state and to use his death to create a political crisis that would benefit the Spanish. Bruno, a man of profound intellect and a natural outsider due to his heretical views, finds himself navigating a treacherous world of religious dogma, political backstabbing, and personal betrayal.

Bruno must use all his cunning and intellectual prowess to stay one step ahead of the Inquisition, who are relentless in their pursuit of him. He is forced to confront old ghosts and demons from his past while racing against time to save his family and expose the conspiracy before it can plunge Italy into chaos and threaten England's security.

The climax is a tense and dramatic confrontation where Bruno, facing threats from all sides, must use his unique insights to unmask the true conspirators and prevent the assassination plot. "Conspiracy" is a gripping historical thriller that not only provides a compelling mystery but also offers a deeply personal and emotional journey for its protagonist.

Comments:

Books that we've read by S.J. Parris (1):
Heresy (Giordano Bruno, #1) (2010)