The Dead of Winter cover art

The Dead of Winter

Three Giordano Bruno Novellas

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The Dead of Winter

By: S. J. Parris
Narrated by: Daniel Philpott
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About this listen

Three gripping tales from No.1 Sunday Times bestseller S. J. Parris.

The Secret Dead
Summer 1556. A girl’s body is found in a Neapolitan monastery. Novice monk Giordano Bruno is determined to uncover what happened, but his investigation could deliver him into the hands of the Inquisition.

The Academy of Secrets
Autumn 1568. An invitation arrives for Giordano Bruno from a secret society of philosophers. Bruno is delighted, but keeping their heretical secrets soon becomes a matter of life or death.

A Christmas Requiem
Winter 1569. Giordano Bruno is summoned by the Pope, who is intrigued by his talent for memory games. But Rome is a den of iniquity, and Bruno will be lucky to escape the Eternal City alive.

*Please note these three novellas are also published as individual stories in ebook.*

‘S. J. Parris gives us a glimpse into the younger years of Giordano Bruno, her 16th-century heretic and spy, in this collection of three beguiling novellas’ Observer

©2020 S. J. Parris (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Crime Thrillers Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime Thriller Pope Suspense

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Critic reviews

‘S. J. Parris gives us a glimpse into the younger years of Giordano Bruno, her 16th-century heretic and spy, in this collection of three beguiling novellas’ Observer

‘Fans of Parris’s superior mysteries featuring cleric-turned-sleuth Giordano Bruno, seen most recently in Conspiracy, will be delighted by this stellar collection of three novellas from his early years. This is an accessible entry point for newcomers’ Publishers Weekly (starred)

Praise for S. J. Parris:

‘A delicious blend of history and thriller’ The Times

‘A tight plot combines with subtly-realised characters and an omnipresent sense of danger … My pleasure in the vividly textured backdrop and a cracking story was accompanied by an uneasy shudder’ Daily Mail

‘Colourful characters, fast-moving plots and a world where one false step in religion or politics can mean a grisly death’ Sunday Times

‘S. J. Parris is one of my favourite authors – and unquestionably our greatest living writer of historical thrillers’ A.J. Finn

‘Vivid, sprawling … Well-crafted, exuberant’ Financial Times

‘Successful historical thrillers need three elements: a killer plot that weaves seamlessly into the history; an engaging protagonist; and an atmospheric sense of place. Parris nails all three’ The Times

‘Pacy, intricate, and thrilling… Full of historical detail and rich with atmosphere’ Observer

‘I can thoroughly recommend Conspiracy, which twists and turns like a corkscrew of venomous snakes’ Stuart MacBride

‘Parris’s Giordano Bruno series has been a joy’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Impossible to resist … Parris creates a convincing sense of the past, woven with so much intrigue that the head fairly spins’ Daily Telegraph

‘It has everything – intrigue, mystery and excellent history’ Kate Mosse

A classy mystery’ Observer

‘Superbly plotted, shimmeringly written, it will have you on the edge of your seat’ Kate Williams, author of The Storms of War

All stars
Most relevant  
16th Century Naples is really brought to life. Narration was a good pace. Loved it.

Evocative and a good story

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Prequel stories introducing the Dominican monk, set in Italy before his journey to England. Excellent narration by Daniel Philpott bringing the places and characters to life. Very enjoyable.

Three short stories introducing Bruno

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This is THE best place to start; a series of 3 novellas with the Italian back-story to Gordano Bruno. Instead of this - unintentionally, I found myself listening to the sixth of the Giordano Bruno adventures listening to it in entirety - and then buying the other full length novels (I was so smitten). I then happened upon this collection of three novellas. I was extremely pleased that I did. It gives an easy introduction and early background to our hero. This is not needed to enjoy the full length novels, I have to say. In ‘The Dead of Winter’ the three novella are, ‘The Secret Dead’, ‘The Academy of Secrets’, and ‘The Dead of Winter’. The novellas are performed convincingly and well. They are sequenced such that they grow in modest complexity for novellas and leave the listener wanting more. If listeners are not yet paid up members to the Giordano Bruno Appreciation Society this release will surely see them standing in the queue for membership. My best advice to listeners is to start with 'The Dead of Winter' and then follow the series through. Enjoy. Performance of the audio-book is extremely good and effective.

A Wonderful Introduction to Giordano Bruno

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Enjoyed all three stories about Bruno Guardino and how he gets himself in scrapes and out again. Very interesting insight into the inquisition in Italy in 1500 and how it affected even the clergy. No one was safe.

3 great stories

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It was great to discover the origins of the character. I enjoyed the cut and thrust of the politics within the Catholic church.

The early life of the character.

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I love the Giordano Bruno books, this set of stories shows his early monastic life and adventures. Had to fast forward through various gory bits as I also skip this sort of description in the written form.

Sets the context for later Bruno adventures

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Well written, well researched and imagined and well read. Very entertaining view of a time long ago when life was cheaper than in modern times.

A great story

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I very much enjoyed this title, three stories in one. The narration was good and I found the stories gripping. There is a lot of detail into the life of a Catholic monastery of the era and the characters you would find there. Neatly wrapped up with the kind of politics of the day.

Excellent

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enjoyed the characters, historical details, and political shenanigans. I hope there is a sequel or two!

dramatic enjoyable story

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A great little series of three stories introducing us to the character of Dr Bruno as we later know him. still a few gaps and mysteries between these stories and the later full novels, but that only serves to peak one's interest!

how it all began

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