Black Bridge: A Mystery of Venice

Sklepowich's fourth elegant Venice mystery (after Death in a Serene City) reunites amateur sleuth, American expatriate, Proust biographer and art restorer Urbino Macintyre with his dear friend, the lovely and wealthy Contessa da Capo-Zendrini (who last appeared in the series opener, Liquid Desires). At the loveliest time of year (the tourist-free autumn), the contessa summons Urbino from the mudbaths at Abano, where he's treating his gout and fretting about his 40ish age. The contessa, a youthful 60, has gone gaga over vigorous actor-playwright Barone Roberto Casarotto-Re. Just how gaga? She even allows him to smoke in her presence. The barone has received threatening notes accusing him of immorality--much like the hero of his one-man show, writer Gabriele d'Annunzio, who had an older mistress. Urbino hates the barone on sight; the man's nickname, Bobo, sets his teeth on edge. Struggling all the while not to be blinded by jealousy, Urbino deals with another American expatriate and a spa doctor who reeks of sulphur while he uncovers greed and a crime of passion--complicated by a double murder. All ends happily, with the contessa's fortune and her life saved from two men with designs on them. Original characters and a wonderful atmosphere make this an exquisitely subtle mystery. (Sept.)