Sacrilege (Giordano Bruno #3)

Title: Sacrilege (Giordano Bruno #3)

Author: S.J. Parris

Published in: 2012

Date read: Not yet read

Score: /5

Genre: Historical fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Sacrilege," published in 2012, is the third novel in S.J. Parris's historical mystery series featuring the real-life philosopher, former Dominican friar, and spy, Giordano Bruno. The novel transports the reader to 16th-century England, a time of profound religious upheaval, dangerous political intrigue, and hidden conspiracies.

The story begins with Bruno, who is now living in England and secretly working for the spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, being called to a remote and isolated monastery. A young woman, a former novice, has been found dead, seemingly having committed suicide by jumping from a high window. However, the Abbess of the convent, with whom Bruno has a past connection, believes the death was not a suicide but a murder, and she implores him to investigate.

Bruno, a man of sharp intellect and progressive scientific thought in a deeply superstitious age, finds himself in a claustrophobic and hostile environment. The convent is a hotbed of secrets, rivalries, and religious fanaticism. The nuns are suspicious of an outsider, especially one who is a known heretic in their eyes. Bruno must navigate this treacherous social landscape, all while using his keen powers of observation and deduction to uncover the truth.

As Bruno delves deeper, he unearths more than just a murder plot. He discovers a complex web of religious and political intrigue, with tensions between Catholics and Protestants simmering just beneath the surface. The convent is being used as a hiding place for a powerful and dangerous figure, and the young woman's death seems to be connected to a much larger conspiracy that could destabilize Queen Elizabeth I's rule.

The investigation is a meticulous and psychological one. Bruno's philosophical mind is at odds with the religious dogma and superstition that pervade the convent. He must use his understanding of human nature and his unique perspective to expose the motives and secrets of the nuns, the abbess, and the powerful figures who seek to keep their secrets buried.

The climax is a tense and dramatic confrontation where Bruno, facing threats to his own life and freedom, reveals the killer and the larger conspiracy. "Sacrilege" is a sophisticated historical thriller that not only provides a compelling mystery but also offers a vivid and detailed portrait of a fascinating historical period and a brilliant, flawed protagonist.

Comments:

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