The Poison Keeper, Deborah Swift
The Poison Keeper, Deborah Swift
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The Poison Keeper
An enthralling historical novel of Renaissance Italy

Author: Deborah Swift

Narrator: Diana Croft

Unabridged: 12 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Quire Books

Published: 12/20/2021

Synopsis

Naples 1633Aqua Tofana – One drop to heal. Three drops to kill.Giulia Tofana longs for more responsibility in her mother’s apothecary business, but Mamma has always been secretive and refuses to tell her the hidden keys to her success. But the day Mamma is arrested for the poisoning of the powerful Duke de Verdi, Giulia is shocked to uncover the darker side of her trade.Giulia must run for her life, and escapes to Naples, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, to the home of her Aunt Isabetta, a famous courtesan. But when Giulia hears that her mother has been executed, and the cruel manner of her death, she swears she will wreak revenge on the Duke de Verdi.The trouble is, Naples is in the grip of Domenico, the Duke’s brother, who controls the city with the ‘Camorra’, the mafia. Worse, her Aunt Isabetta, under his thrall, insists that she should be consort to him.Based on the legendary life of Giulia Tofana, this is a story of hidden family secrets, and how vengeance can be overcome by courage and love.'Her characters are so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf' Historical Novel Society

Reviews

Goodreads review by Stephanie on May 19, 2021

Giulia d'Adamo wants nothing more than to learn her mother's craft as an apothecary in 1633 Palermo.  However, Giulia's mother is overly cautious when it comes to training Giulia in anything more than the kitchen arts since the herbs she works with not only have the power to heal, but the power to h......more

Goodreads review by Kathy on September 26, 2021

This is a two-book reading experience. 1600's starting in Palermo. Action moves as troubles increase in the life of a poisoner. Kindle Unlimited......more

Goodreads review by Gara on May 18, 2021

I received an ARC of this story in return for my fair and unbiased review. I enjoyed reading this story, based on real people, and set in medieval Naples. Watching the main character navigate her way through challenging decisions was compelling. Family secrets, made necessary by strict cultural const......more

Goodreads review by A.C. on April 15, 2023

This book was fascinating! I do not read a lot of historical fiction but after reading this it might be my second favorite genre. Couldn’t put it down. The descriptions of Renaissance Italy were so well written. Guilia had a strong character arc and I am excited to read the next one. Highly recommen......more

Goodreads review by Helen on August 18, 2021

Ms Swift is one of those authors who can pick a reader up and simply drop them into any given historical setting, and she's equally at home writing about the 17th or the 20th centuries. The Poison Keeper is a slight departure, in that it's set in Italy, but again, whilst it's clear that the author h......more

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