About
Reviews
Search
Submit
Home

Mystery Books for Sale

[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]


  

LUCREZIA BORGIA AND THE MOTHER OF POISONS
by Roberta Gellis
ForgeBooks, September 2003
333 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 0765300206


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Lucrezia Borgia is trapped in a seemingly loveless marriage with Alfonso. In front of everyone, he accuses her of murdering his mistress, Bianca Tedaldo. Lucrezia fled Rome due to the rumors that she had a fondness for killing her enemies with poison; it seems her past will once again haunt her. Well, Lucrezia is not one to take things lying down and decides that the only way to end the rumors permanently is to find the true murderer. Unfortunately she quickly realizes that this is not a simple matter of murder and more people will die before she can find the truth. With each clue she finds, Lucrezia must race to clear both her own name and that of her husband.

Lucrezia Borgia has always been a figure that has fascinated society. Was she as murderous as her brother and uncle? Did she kill off her enemies using a mixture of wolfsbane? Was she an innocent pawn they used to satisfy their own need for power, wealth and respectability? Historical critics have been ambiguous over Lucrezia’s true role and character, which forces modern scholars to stumble upon their own ideas. It was never proven that Lucrezia ever poisoned anyone; yet, her reputation as a poisoner remains today.

LUCREZIA BORGIA AND THE MOTHER OF POISONS takes the view that Lucrezia was merely a pawn in the game her family was taking. She merely wanted to be accepted in society as well as she could with the reputation given her. While Lucrezia is clever and knows how to get her way in a male dominated society, she remains unable to have control over her own life.

The only thing that this book truly lacked was a better explanation on the society that existed in Italy at this time. Lucrezia and her women in waiting are just as loud mouthed and opinionated as any modern reader of COSMO or VOGUE, which does not fit the traditional views of the past. While it is true, historical, that previous societies were coarser about their daily lives, Gellis should have mentioned this rather than assuming her readers were aware of the situation. In addition, Gellis does not discuss the politics of the Borgias or Lucrezia’s role in the matter. Although this book was not intended to prove Lucrezia’s innocence, her family history plays a large role in societies perception of her. The copy of the book I read was a galley so it is possible that this problem was corrected in the published version. None of this takes away from the mystery; yet, it is obviously lacking if this book was to help clear Lucrezia’s name.

Roberta Gellis has written numerous mysteries using historical figures as her protagonists. She tends to take women perceived as outside of normal society and transforms them into heroes. LUCREZIA BORGIA AND THE MOTHER OF POISONS is her latest book in this trend.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, November 2003

This book has more than one review. Click here to show all.

[ Top ]


QUICK SEARCH:

 

Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]